Lúcio (Part 1)

Lúcio, born Lucimar Ferreira da Silva on May 8, 1978, is a former professional footballer from Brazil who primarily played as a centre-back. Known for his towering stature and physical strength, Lúcio was a dominant presence in defense. He was also recognized for his remarkable ability to make long, powerful runs with the ball, earning him the nickname "O Cavalo" or "The Horse."


Lúcio began his professional career with Internacional in 1998, where he spent three successful years before making a move to Bayer Leverkusen. At Leverkusen, he reached the pinnacle of European football by featuring in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. Despite scoring a goal in the final, his team ultimately lost 2–1 to Real Madrid.
In 2004, Lúcio transferred to Bayern Munich, where he enjoyed immense success, winning three Bundesliga titles and three cups during his time at the club. However, he later moved to Inter Milan in 2009, seeking new opportunities after falling out of favor under coach Louis van Gaal at Bayern Munich. At Inter Milan, Lúcio achieved the remarkable feat of winning the treble in 2010, which included the prestigious UEFA Champions League, where he faced his former club Bayern Munich in the final and emerged victorious.


On the international stage, Lúcio represented Brazil with distinction, winning several major trophies including the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2005 and 2009 editions of the Confederations Cup. Following Kaká's retirement, Lúcio remained as the last active player from Brazil's victorious 2002 World Cup squad, a testament to his longevity and enduring quality as a footballer.
Lúcio's football journey began in his hometown club, Planaltina, where he initially played as a forward. However, his talent was soon recognized, and in 1997, he made the transition to a defender. During this time, he was loaned to Guará, a club that was the reigning champions of the Campeonato Brasiliense, for a crucial match against Internacional in the 1997 Copa do Brasil tournament.


Despite Guará suffering a heavy 7-0 defeat at home against Internacional, Lúcio caught the eye of the Porto Alegre-based club with his impressive performance. As a result, Internacional decided to purchase him, marking the beginning of Lúcio's professional career at a higher level. This move proved to be a pivotal moment in his career, setting him on the path to success at both the domestic and international levels.
Lúcio made a move to the Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. During his time at Leverkusen, Lúcio emerged as one of the best defenders in the league, playing a pivotal role in the team's success.


In the 2001-2002 season, Leverkusen finished just behind Bayern Munich, with Lúcio's stellar defensive performances contributing significantly to their strong campaign. However, the following season proved to be bittersweet for Leverkusen. Despite holding a five-point lead atop the Bundesliga, they faltered in the final matches, allowing Borussia Dortmund to snatch the title by just one point. Additionally, Leverkusen suffered defeat in the 2002 DFB-Pokal Final, losing 4–2 to Schalke 04.
Lúcio also played a crucial role in Leverkusen's journey to the 2002 UEFA Champions League final. In the final against Real Madrid, he scored a vital goal, cancelling out Raúl's early opener with a powerful header. However, Real Madrid ultimately secured a 2–1 victory with a stunning volley from Zinedine Zidane just before half-time.


Despite the disappointments of that season, Lúcio's outstanding performances caught the attention of several top European clubs. In July 2003, Roma made an official bid for him, but the deal ultimately fell through, and Lúcio continued his career elsewhere.
Lúcio made a significant move to Bayern Munich, signing a six-year contract with the club. At Bayern, he quickly established himself as a crucial component of the team's defense, showcasing his exceptional skills as a center-back.
Following the retirement of Oliver Kahn in 2008, Lúcio was appointed as the vice-captain of Bayern Munich under Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel, highlighting his leadership qualities and importance within the squad.


During his tenure at Bayern Munich, Lúcio delivered memorable performances in important matches. In the Round of 16 of the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League, he scored a crucial goal against Real Madrid in the 66th minute, helping Bayern secure a 1–0 victory and advance to the quarter-finals. However, Bayern ultimately lost to the eventual champions, AC Milan, in the next round.
In the 2008–09 DFB-Pokal (German Cup), Lúcio found the back of the net in the quarter-finals against his former club, Bayer Leverkusen. Despite his goal, Bayern suffered a 4–2 defeat to Leverkusen, with Stefan Kießling sealing the victory for his team.


Lúcio made a significant move to Italian giants Inter Milan, joining the Serie A champions on a three-year contract. He was assigned the number 6 shirt at the club. Lúcio wasted no time in making an impact, scoring his debut goal for Inter on 23 September 2009 against Napoli with a powerful header from a corner kick.
During his time at Inter, Lúcio formed a formidable defensive partnership with Walter Samuel, earning praise for their solid performances throughout the season. This was particularly evident on 22 May, when Lúcio played a crucial role in Inter's historic Champions League triumph. In the final against his former club Bayern Munich, Inter secured a 2–0 victory, clinching a historic treble and ending a 45-year wait to be crowned European champions.


Lúcio's contributions did not go unnoticed, as he was selected in the FIFA FIFPro World XI of 2010 for his outstanding performances. Additionally, on 24 September 2011, Lúcio celebrated his 100th appearance for Inter Milan, marking the occasion with a goal in a 3–1 victory against Bologna in Serie A. However, Lúcio's time at Inter came to an end on 29 June 2012, as it was announced that he would be leaving the club following a mutual agreement to terminate the final two years of his contract.
Lúcio embarked on a new chapter in his Serie A journey by signing a two-year contract with Juventus, the reigning Serie A champions. His move to Juventus marked him as one of the few players to have represented both Inter and Juventus, two of Italy's most storied clubs.
Initially, Lúcio featured prominently in Juventus's three-man defense, starting in key matches such as their 4–2 victory over Napoli in the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana on 11 August. However, his time at Juventus was marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, which ultimately led to him falling out of favor with the first-team.

References

1.  "Lúcio" (in Portuguese). Palmeiras Official Site. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
2. ^ "São Paulo acerta com Lúcio por duas temporadas" (in Portuguese). São Paulo. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
3. ^ "Trajetória de sucesso" (in Portuguese). São Paulo. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012
4. a b c "Trajetoria". l3lucio.com.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
5. ^ "Guará 0 x 7 Internacional, 18/02/1997". futpédia (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
6. ^ "Bola de Prata Placar 2000". Placar (in Portuguese). 7 August 2015. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
7. ^ "Statement regarding Brazilian footballer Lucio" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 10 July 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
8. ^ "DFB-Pokal 2008/2009" (in German). DFB. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
9. ^ "Lucio to Inter". Bayern Munich. 16 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
10. ^ SW Lim (29 August 2015). "Miranda: Murillo and I are like Lucio and Samuel". goal.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
11. ^ "Bayern Munich 0 – 2 Internazionale". ESPN Soccernet. 22 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
12.