Flávio Paixão

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Lopes and the second or paternal family name is Paixão.
Flávio Paixão
Paixão with Lechia Gdańsk in 2018
Personal information
Full name Flávio Emanuel Lopes Paixão[1]
Date of birth (1984-09-19) 19 September 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Sesimbra, Portugal[1]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1994–1995 Alfarim
1995–2003 Sesimbra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Sesimbra
2005–2006 Porto B 11 (1)
2006–2007 Villanovense 34 (10)
2007 Jaén 8 (0)
2008–2009 Benidorm 53 (11)
2009–2011 Hamilton Academical 55 (9)
2011–2013 Tractor 61 (20)
2014–2016 Śląsk Wrocław 71 (24)
2016–2023 Lechia Gdańsk 239 (84)
Total 463 (159)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Flávio Emanuel Lopes Paixão (born 19 September 1984) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a forward.

He never played professionally in his own country, and earned his greatest successes in Poland, scoring 108 Ekstraklasa goals for Śląsk Wrocław and Lechia Gdańsk, all-time best for a foreigner.[2][3] Additionally, he had spells in Spain, Scotland and Iran.

Club career

Early years

Born in Sesimbra, Setúbal District, Paixão spent his early career in Portugal and Spain, playing with lowly teams in both countries – his hometown's G.D. Sesimbra, FC Porto B,[4] CF Villanovense, Real Jaén and Benidorm CF.

In the 2006–07 season, he scored ten goals for Villanovense but suffered relegation from Segunda División B, the only level in which he competed in Spain.[5]

Hamilton Academical

Paixão's first taste of professional football came on 6 August 2009 as he signed for Scottish Premier League club Hamilton Academical alongside twin brother Marco.[6] He made his league debut nine days later, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–0 loss away to Kilmarnock.[7]

Paixão was released from his contract with immediate effect on 14 April 2011, alongside his sibling.[8] He appeared in 60 official matches for the Accies, scoring ten goals; his first was in a 2–1 loss at Heart of Midlothian on 26 September 2009.[9]

Tractor

On 2 August 2011, Paixão signed a one-year contract with Tractor S.C. in Iran, for an undisclosed fee.[10] In his first season he netted a club-best ten goals in the Pro League, being voted by Goal.com as best player on the team.[11]

Śląsk Wrocław

Paixão then returned to Europe, joining Polish Ekstraklasa's Śląsk Wrocław at the tail end of the 2013–14 campaign. In his first full season he scored 18 goals, bettered only by Kamil Wilczek from Piast Gliwice;[12] this included a hat-trick on 25 October 2014 in a 4–1 win at Lechia Gdańsk.[13]

Lechia Gdańsk

Paixão celebrating a goal for Lechia Gdańsk in December 2019

On 8 February 2016, Paixão moved to Lechia Gdańsk for a fee of £100,000 with two years left on his contract, with Śląsk unhappy with the player's behaviour and accusing him of being disloyal[14]– he reunited with his sibling, who arrived earlier from AC Sparta Prague.[15][16] He scored a combined 26 goals in his first two and a half seasons, adding ten in all competitions in 2017–18, five of which were against Lechia's main rivals Arka Gdynia in the Tricity Derby.[17]

The 2018–19 campaign proved to be Paixão's best in terms of goalscoring with 15 goals in total, with him being his team's top scorer and the fifth highest in the league as they finished in third position.[18] He broke a long-standing Lechia record of scoring the most goals for the team in the Polish top division, surpassing previous holder Bogdan Adamczyk on 25 November 2018 after finding the net against Jagiellonia Białystok.[19] He also won the Polish Cup, assisting the only goal of the final on 2 May against Jagiellonia for Artur Sobiech in added time, having earlier had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside.[20]

At the start of 2019–20, Paixão started in the Polish Super Cup, helping his side win the match 3–1 after defeating Piast.[21][22] He scored in both legs of the second qualifying round in the UEFA Europa League against Brøndby IF (5–3 aggregate loss),[23][24] and as a result became the first club player to achieve the feat more than once in European competition.[25]

On 23 April 2022, Paixão scored his 99th and 100th goals in the Polish top tier in a 2–0 win against Warta Poznań, becoming the 34th player in the league's history to achieve this feat and the first foreigner to do so.[26] His second was also Lechia's 1000th in the history of the competition.[27]

On 4 May 2023, it was announced Paixão would leave the club at the end of the season which saw Lechia compete in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa Conference League but also struggle domestically, resulting in relegation to I liga.[28] He made his final appearance on 20 May 2023 in a 1–0 victory over Legia Warsaw, and was replaced in extra time of the first half to a guard of honour from both teams.[29]

International career

During their spell in Poland, both Paixão and his sibling were repeatedly poised to be called up to the Portugal national team, but nothing came of it.[30]

Personal life

Paixão's twin brother Marco was also a footballer, Flávio being the younger by five minutes.[31]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Porto B 2005–06[32] Segunda Divisão 11 1 — — — — 11 1
Villanovense 2006–07[33] Segunda División B 34 10 — — — — 34 10
Jaén 2007–08[33] Segunda División B 8 0 1 0 — — — 9 0
Benidorm 2007–08[33] Segunda División B 19 5 0 0 — — 2[a] 0 21 5
2008–09[33] Segunda División B 34 6 4 2 — — — 38 8
Total 53 11 4 2 — — 2 0 59 13
Hamilton Academical 2009–10[34] Scottish Premier League 25 6 2 0 1 0 — — 28 6
2010–11[35] Scottish Premier League 30 3 1 1 1 0 — — 32 4
Total 55 9 3 1 2 0 — — 60 10
Tractor 2011–12[36] Iran Pro League 30 10 0 0 — — — 30 10
2012–13[36] Iran Pro League 31 10 0 0 — 6[b] 1 — 37 11
Total 61 20 0 0 — 6 1 — 67 21
Śląsk Wrocław 2013–14[36] Ekstraklasa 13 1 0 0 — — — 13 1
2014–15[36] Ekstraklasa 37 18 4 1 — — — 41 19
2015–16[36] Ekstraklasa 21 5 4 1 — 4[c] 0 — 29 6
Total 71 24 8 2 — 4 0 — 83 26
Lechia Gdańsk 2015–16[36] Ekstraklasa 16 6 — — — — 16 6
2016–17[36] Ekstraklasa 33 10 2 1 — — — 35 11
2017–18[36] Ekstraklasa 34 10 1 0 — — — 35 10
2018–19[36] Ekstraklasa 37 15 6 0 — — — 43 15
2019–20[36] Ekstraklasa 31 14 6 5 — 2[c] 2 1 0 40 21
2020–21[36] Ekstraklasa 30 12 3 0 — — — 33 12
2021–22[36] Ekstraklasa 32 10 1 0 — — — 33 10
2022–23[36] Ekstraklasa 26 7 1 0 — 4[d] 3 — 31 10
Total 239 84 20 6 — 6 5 1 0 266 95
Career total 532 159 36 11 2 0 16 6 3 0 589 176
  1. ^ Appearances in Segunda División B play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Lechia Gdańsk

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Flávio Paixão" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ Rodrigues, Berta (30 April 2022). "Fez história e agora pensa em parar (mas depois lembra-se de Joaquín)" [He made history and is now thinking of stopping (but then he remembers Joaquín)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Ekstraklasa piłkarska – 108. gol Flavio Paixao (dokumentacja)" [Ekstraklasa football – Flávio Paixão's 108th goal (documentation)] (in Polish). Radio Opole. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Somos ambiciosos" [We're ambitious]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 22 June 2005. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. ^ Medina Morcillo, Santiago (2 April 2007). "El Villanovense, con un pie en Tercera" [Villanovense, all but in Tercera]. Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Hamilton sign up Portuguese twins". BBC Sport. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Kilmarnock 3–0 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Paixao twins released by Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Hearts 2–1 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Traktorsazi signs Flavio Paixao". Persian League. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  11. ^ فلاویو لوپز بهترین بازیکن فصل تراکتورسازی انتخاب شد (in Persian). Goal. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Kamil Wilczek z 20 bramkami został królem strzelców Ekstraklasy w sezonie 2014/2015" [Kamil Wilczek with 20 goals became the Ekstraklasa top scorer in 2014/2015] (in Polish). Gol 24. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  13. ^ "VÍDEO: Flávio Paixão faz quatro golos e lidera goleadores na Polónia" [VIDEO: Flávio Paixão scores four goals and leads goalscorers in Poland] (in Portuguese). Lux. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  14. ^ Osowski, Tomasz (8 February 2016). "Flavio Paixao w Lechii już na wiosnę [AKTUALIZACJA]" [Flávio Paixão to Lechia in spring [UPDATE]] (in Polish). Sport.pl. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  15. ^ "O reencontro dos irmãos Paixão: Flávio ruma ao Lechia Gdansk" [The reunion of the Paixão brothers: Flávio moves to Lechia Gdańsk] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Marco Paixao przechodzi w Lechii Gdańsk" [Marco Paixão cleared at Lechia Gdańsk]. Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). 9 January 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  17. ^ Galiński, Tomasz (25 May 2018). "Flavio Paixao goni Bogdana Adamczyka. 50 goli w ekstraklasie, 26 dla Lechii" [Flávio Paixão chases Bogdan Adamczyk. 50 goals in the first league, 26 for Lechia]. Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Pieczęć króla strzelców" [Seal of the top king] (in Polish). Piłka Nożna. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  19. ^ Osowski, Tomasz (25 November 2018). "Flavio Paixao w życiowej formie. Ściga się z bratem, który po opuszczeniu Lechii też strzela gola za golem [WIDEO]" [Flávio Paixão in the form of his life. He is racing with his brother who after leaving Lechia also scores goal after goal [VIDEO]]. Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  20. ^ a b "VÍDEO: Flávio Paixão vê golo anulado mas vence Taça da Polónia" [VIDEO: Flávio Paixão sees goal disallowed but wins Polish Cup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Kulisy zdobycia Superpucharu Polski! [WIDEO]" [Polish Supercup win backstage! [VIDEO]] (in Polish). Lechia Gdańsk. 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  22. ^ Główczyński, Jacek; Sumowski, Rafał (13 July 2019). "Superpuchar Polski 2019: Piast Gliwice – Lechia Gdańsk 1:3" [Polish Supercup 2019: Piast Gliwice – Lechia Gdańsk 1:3] (in Polish). Sport.pl. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Lechia Gdansk 2–1 Brondby". Sky Sports. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Highlights fra sejren over Lechia Gdansk" [Highlights from the victory over Lechia Gdansk] (in Danish). Brøndby IF. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Legia nie przegrywa, Piast i Lechia odpadają" [Legia do not lose, Piast and Lechia are out] (in Polish). Ranking UEFA. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Flávio Paixão w "Klubie 100"" [Flávio Paixão joins "Club 100"] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Historyczny wieczór w Gdańsku!" [Historic evening in Gdańsk!] (in Polish). Lechia Gdańsk. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Flávio Paixão odejdzie z Lechii" [Flávio Paixão will leave Lechia] (in Polish). 90 Minut. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Na pożegnanie Flávio Lechia zwyciężyła z Legią | RELACJA" [Lechia beat Legia in Flávio's goodbye | REPORT] (in Polish). Lechia Gdańsk. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  30. ^ Pinto, José Pedro (26 September 2016). ""Manos" Paixão fora da Selecção é tema de debate na Polónia" [Paixão "Bros" out of national team debate material in Poland] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Reid gets brothers on board". ClubCall. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  32. ^ Flávio Paixão at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  33. ^ a b c d "Paixao: Flavio Emanuel Lopes Paixao". BDFutbol. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  34. ^ "Games played by Flávio Paixão in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. ^ "Games played by Flávio Paixão in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Flávio Paixão". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  37. ^ Mogielnicki, Paweł. "Totolotek Puchar Polski 2019/2020 – strzelcy" [Totolotek Polish Cup 2019/2020 – scorers] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  38. ^ Kondrat, Mateusz (31 October 2014). "Flavio Paixao piłkarzem miesiąca w ekstraklasie!" [Flávio Paixão is the Ekstraklasa player of the month!] (in Polish). Śląsk Wrocław. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Błaszczykowski doceniony. Został piłkarzem miesiąca" [Błaszczykowski said thanks. He was voted player of the month] (in Polish). TVP Sport. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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