With a name like Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, it’s small wonder that the player is known as Pepe, but few fans know little more about the flamboyant new signing charged with a task that has seen seasoned veterans ripped to shreds by press and fans. Starting with the basics, Pepe was born on February 26th 1983 in the town of
Maceió is the capital of the state of Alagoas, and it was in his home state that the young Pepe made his debut as a footballer. Although it may not appear so at first glance, this coastal location was a defining factor for Pepe as he used the sandy beaches – sunny almost all-year round – to train, honing his now trademark power and speed on the demanding and unforgiving surface.
His father was relentless in the background as he instilled a fierce, quasi-military sense of discipline and a quest for perfection in his son. The sand sculpted his leg muscles and the sea was used to force him to leap against extra force to perfect his headers, the father raising the bar even further by strapping weights to his legs.
This harsh regime paid off as Pepe began his career at modest local outfit Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano at just 17 years of age. SC Corinthians Alagoano may ring a bell for some, and was, in fact, was named in honour of
Most of Pepe’s team-mates made the leap to Europe via Portugal and minor teams in the Superliga, a.k.a. Bwin Liga, such as Alexandre (Acadêmica de Coimbra), Balu, Ytalo and Olberdam (Marítimo), Cássio and Rodrigo Silva (Nacional da Madeira), Elias and Willams (Paços de Ferreira), Junior (Desportivo Aves), Marco Antônio (União de Leiria).
Some others went to
Both signed for CS Marítimo B team on the Atlantic
As his profile was raised, Turkish giants Galatasaray tried to sign him but the talks fell through and Pepe went on to flourish under new Coach Anatoliy Byshovets, showing his polyvalent versatility by propping up the rearguard as a holding midfielder and even venturing into attack to prove he wasn’t merely a clumpy chopper with youth on his side.
Pepe's growing prowess and evident potential brought FC Porto knocking at his door, Marítimo selling the defender on with what – at the time – seemed like a phenomenally good offer from the Dragões: One million Euros! The move was celebrated by the player as his chance to make it really big with the Champions League winners at a tender age and he left for the mainland with high hopes.
His first season under humourless Dutch Coach Co Adriaanse was a mixed bag, Pepe going through the typical transition year with neither roaring success nor funereal failure. He was benched in favour of established centre-backs Pedro Emanuel, Jorge Costa, and Ricardo Costa and had to wait his turn for a place in the first eleven, only starting 14 times.
It would be the following season that the chance came – and Pepe was confirmed as a real star defender in his own right with 24 first eleven appearances. Co Adriaanse followed in the footsteps of other Dutch Coaches such as Cruyff and Van Gaal by adopting a risky three-man defence and saw the Brazilian as the perfect man to be his lynchpin.
Adriaanse – who many, including fellow Brazilians Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) and Diego (Werder
Pepe proved capable of holding up to the intense pressure of being the ‘last man standing’ in Adriaanse’s 3-3-4 formation, protecting Vitor Baia and then Helton from most attacks with consistent performances that dripped class and concentration combined with refined talent and a maturity way beyond his years.
The press raved about Pepe as an immense tower of strength, speed and virtually unbeatable in one-on-ones – on the ground or in the air – even against the best that both Portuguese and European competition could throw at him. At the start of the 2006/07 season Pepe, generally averse to public speaking, attained EU status via acquired Portuguese citizenship and spoke of his desire to play for his adopted home.
Although his mentor Co Adriaanse left under a cloud, Pepe showed that he was no longer dependent on guidance to triumph. Playing under the orders of ex-Boavista helmer Jesualdo Ferreira, Pepe appeared 25 times in the starting team and continued to impress with great showing on a clockwork basis.
After meeting with fellow Brazilian ex-pat Felipão (Luiz Filipe Scolari) the player looks set to follow Deco once more and turn his back on the Brazilian Seleção in favour of the Portuguese Selecção das Quinas. At club level he became the object of desire of most European greats, although the vast majority balked at an extremely high asking price.
Real Madrid appeared where others slammed phones down and locked their club coffers in response to what was seen as the ludicrous demands of sulphurous FC Porto President Pinto da Costa (with a reputation for rivalling Satan in his bidding strategies). According to reports from the Portuguese CMVM (Price Regulation Body) Real will cough up €30 million for the ex-FC
Player Profile – PEPE
Full Name: Képler Laveran
Nickname: Pepe
DOB: 26/02/1983
POB: Maceió,
Nationality: Brazilian / Portuguese (Dual Nationality)
Height: 186cm
Weight: 74 Kg
Position: Centre-Back / Centre-Half / Midfielder (right-sided bias, but able to play on both sides)
Professional Clubs
2001-2002: SC Corinthians Alagoas
2002-30/06/2004: Marítimo
01/07/2004 – 10/07/2007: FC Porto
10/07/2007 – : Real
Trophies
Portuguese League (Superliga / Bwin Liga: 2006, 2007
Copa de Portugal: 2006, 2007
Supercopa de Portugal: 2006
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