Djalminha


Djalma Feitosa Dias, known as Djalminha, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Blessed with superb skill and technical ability but possessing a troublesome character, he represented among others Flamengo and Deportivo de La Coruña, and was also a Brazil international.

Club career

Brazil

Son of former footballer Djalma Dias, Djalminha was born in Santos, São Paulo, while his father was playing for Santos FC. He started his career at Flamengo, based in Rio de Janeiro.
Afterwards, Djalminha played for Guarani and then Palmeiras, where he received the Bola de Ouro award in 1996.

Deportivo de La Coruña

In July 1997, Djalminha joined Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña, and proceeded to score 26 La Liga goals in 87 appearances in his first three seasons there, playing a significant role in the club's first La Liga conquest in 1999–2000. After that, however, the emergence of Juan Carlos Valerón, signed upon Atlético Madrid's relegation, and a May 2002 heated confrontation during training with Depor manager Javier Irureta, prompted his loan to Austrian Football Bundesliga side FK Austria Wien in the summer of 2002.
After just 11 appearances for Deportivo in the 2003–04 campaign, Djalminha finished his career with Mexico's Club América, retiring at 34.

Indoor football

In 2008, Djalminha returned to Depor, joining its indoor football team alongside club greats Donato, Fran, Noureddine Naybet and Jacques Songo'o.

International career

The stiff competition in Brazil in Djalminha's position of attacking midfielder, combined with his somewhat difficult temperament, limited him to just 14 full international caps in six years, the vast majority coming while at Deportivo. He was part of the squad that won the 1997 Copa América, and of the Brazil team that played in Le Tournoi, also in 1997.
Djalminha was due to be called to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but was finally not chosen by Luiz Felipe Scolari after his incident with Irureta days before the announcement of the final squad, losing his place to Kaká.

Career statistics

Club

Spain statistics according to ; Brazil statistics according to

International

Honours

Football

Club

;Flamengo
;Palmeiras
;Deportivo
;Austria Wien
;Brazil

Club

;Deportivo
;Flamengo
;Brazil