Soccerstarz - Kléper Laverán (Pepe) Figurine (Real Madrid)
Soccerstarz - Kléper Laverán (Pepe) Figurine (Real Madrid)
Description
Kleper Laveran Lima Ferreira ‘Pepe’ was born on 26 February 1983 in Maceio, Brazil. He began his football career with a local neighborhood team and put the finishing touches on his development with Corinthians Alagoano. At the age of 18 he signed for the Portugal’s CS Maritimo B squad on the island of Madeira. Although he had difficulty adjusting to island of life, Pepe made fast progress, which happened to match the attention of European football giant, Porto, who he signed for in 2004.
Pepe has been considered by many as the perfect 21st century centre-back. He is said to have scissors attached to his legs because he cuts off absolutely everything, but he also exhibits uncanny technique, perfect tactical prowess, great placement, strength, intelligence, a dominant aerial game.
Performances like that displayed in Real Madrid’s 0-1 victory in the Camp Nou in 2007/08 only confirm Pepe’s status among the world’s best. His perfect match, and perhaps the best of his blossoming career, garnished him Man of the Match honours.
Real Madrid
On 10 July 2007, Real Madrid signed Pepe to a five-year contract, for a fee of 30 million. On 15 March 2008, he scored the only (own) goal in a 1-0 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruna. Eight months later, he was involved in a fight during training with teammate Javier Balboa. The defender would be nonetheless called-up for Real's next match, whereas the winger was not. As the Merengues were eventually crowned La Liga champions, he delivered a Man of the match performance in a 1-0 win at FC Barcelona.
During the 2009-10 season, Pepe returned to claim his place back in the starting line-ups. On 4 October 2009, he scored his first goal in the league, against Sevilla FC at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, heading home from a Guti free kick in a 1-2 loss. On 12 December, however, during a game at Valencia CF (2-3 win), he landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge, and was stretchered off the pitch in the dying minutes of the first half. Scans later showed that he ruptured his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament, going on to miss the rest of the season and jeopardizing his FIFA World Cup chances.
Pepe has been considered by many as the perfect 21st century centre-back. He is said to have scissors attached to his legs because he cuts off absolutely everything, but he also exhibits uncanny technique, perfect tactical prowess, great placement, strength, intelligence, a dominant aerial game.
Performances like that displayed in Real Madrid’s 0-1 victory in the Camp Nou in 2007/08 only confirm Pepe’s status among the world’s best. His perfect match, and perhaps the best of his blossoming career, garnished him Man of the Match honours.
Real Madrid
On 10 July 2007, Real Madrid signed Pepe to a five-year contract, for a fee of 30 million. On 15 March 2008, he scored the only (own) goal in a 1-0 away loss against Deportivo de La Coruna. Eight months later, he was involved in a fight during training with teammate Javier Balboa. The defender would be nonetheless called-up for Real's next match, whereas the winger was not. As the Merengues were eventually crowned La Liga champions, he delivered a Man of the match performance in a 1-0 win at FC Barcelona.
During the 2009-10 season, Pepe returned to claim his place back in the starting line-ups. On 4 October 2009, he scored his first goal in the league, against Sevilla FC at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, heading home from a Guti free kick in a 1-2 loss. On 12 December, however, during a game at Valencia CF (2-3 win), he landed awkwardly following an aerial challenge, and was stretchered off the pitch in the dying minutes of the first half. Scans later showed that he ruptured his right knee's anterior cruciate ligament, going on to miss the rest of the season and jeopardizing his FIFA World Cup chances.