Ânderson Corrêa Polga (born 9 February 1979) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
He spent most of his professional career with Sporting in Portugal, appearing in 327 official games (four goals) and winning four major titles. He started playing for Grêmio.
Polga represented the Brazil national team at the 2002 World Cup, winning the competition.
Club career Groomed at Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Polga was born in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, being an important defensive unit from early on and helping the club to two trophies in 2001: the Rio Grande do Sul State Championship and the Brazilian Cup. He moved to Sporting CP in 2003, becoming the first World Cup champion ever to play in the country.
Polga quickly became a defensive stalwart for the Lisbon-based side, helping them to the UEFA Cup final in his third year – after a run-in with coach José Peseiro, he was an unused substitute in the decisive game, a 3–1 defeat against CSKA Moscow– as well as to four consecutive Primeira Liga runner-up finishes.
Not prone to score, Polga netted his first two goals for the Lions in the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, in both group stage matches against Dynamo Kyiv.Polga strike downs Dynamo; UEFA.com, 3 October 2007Sporting bow out with a win; UEFA.com, 13 December 2007 He played in 43 games in all competitions during the season and, in 2009–10, as Sporting could only finish fourth, he lost his starting position to Tonel – who previously had lost his to youth graduate Daniel Carriço – but still managed to appear in 25 official matches (1,983 minutes). He left in June 2012 at the age of 33, and returned to Brazil.
On 5 September 2012, Polga signed for Corinthians who had just sold Leandro Castán and loaned Marquinhos, both to Roma.Corinthians acerta contratação do zagueiro Anderson Polga (Corinthians agree signing of stopper Anderson Polga); Lance!, 5 September 2012 (in Portuguese) At the end of the campaign, the club decided against renewing his contract.À espera de reforços para zaga, Corinthians não renovará com Polga (Waiting to strengthen back sector, Corinthians will not renew Polga); Surgiu, 9 December 2012 (in Portuguese)
International career Polga made his debut for Brazil in 2002 against Bolivia, being subsequently summoned for that year's FIFA World Cup. He made two complete group stage appearances for the eventual champions.
After 2003, although he displayed good club form in several seasons, Polga was not recalled again.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGrêmio1999Série A10–102000Série A183–1832001Série A170–931702002Série A191–901912003Série A91–6091Total645000024300888Sporting CP2003–04Primeira Liga290100040003402004–05Primeira Liga2603000100–3902005–06Primeira Liga300500040–3902006–07Primeira Liga280500060–3902007–08Primeira Liga2505050102104622008–09Primeira Liga280203080104202009–10Primeira Liga150201090–2702010–11Primeira Liga200600081–3412011–12Primeira Liga2006020130–410Total2210350110723203413Corinthians2012Série A3000–––30Career total28853501109662043211
International Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Polga goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Ânderson PolgaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 31 January 2002 Estádio Serra Dourada, Goiânia, Brazil 6–0 6–0 Friendly2 7 March 2002 Estádio Governador José Fragelli, Cuiabá, Brazil 1–0 6–1 Friendly3 6–0
Honours Grêmio Campeonato Gaúcho: 1999, 2001 Copa do Brasil: 2001
Sporting Taça de Portugal: 2006–07, 2007–08; Runner-up 2011–12 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2007, 2008 Taça da Liga: Runner-up 2007–08, 2008–09 UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2004–05
Corinthians FIFA Club World Cup: 2012
Brazil FIFA World Cup: 2002
Individual Primeira Liga: Player of the Month May 2007
References
External links
PortuGOAL profile