Victor (footballer, born 1983)

Victor (footballer, born 1983)
Victor Leandro Bagy (born 21 January 1983), known as Victor, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Having started his career with Paulista, where he spent his first six professional years and won the Copa do Brasil in 2005, Victor moved to Grêmio in 2008, where he finished as runner-up of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in his first season, receiving the Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão twice and the Bola de Prata once as best goalkeeper in the league during his spell with the club. He then joined Atlético Mineiro in 2012, where he won the Copa Libertadores in 2013 (being selected as the best goalkeeper of the tournament) and the Copa do Brasil in 2014, while again finishing as runner-up of the Brasileiro twice.
Victor has represented the Brazil national team since 2010, being part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup winning squad, also being included in the 2011 Copa América and 2014 FIFA World Cup teams.
Club career
Paulista
Born in Santo Anastácio, Victor joined São Paulo FC's youth setup in 1997, aged 14. However, a year later he moved to Paulista FC, due to the limited prospect of playing in the first-team. Victor was called up to the main squad in 2000, but had to wait until 2003 to make his senior debut. He served his first years mostly as a backup to Rafael Bracalli, but in 2006, after the latter's move to C.D. Nacional, he was chosen as first-choice; Victor also was a part of the squad which won the 2005 Copa do Brasil, but remained as a substitute for both legs of the final.
Grêmio
On 18 December 2007, Victor joined Grêmio, with the Tricolor paying R$400,000 for a half of his registration rights. He retained a starting spot during his first games at the club, but suffered an injury on 24 February 2008, being sidelined for one and a half month. Victor returned from injury and was an undisputed starter during the year, appearing in all matches during the Brasileirão and winning the Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão for best goalkeeper of the tournament. In 2009, he was again the championship's best, winning both the Bola de Prata and the Craque do Brasileirão, but his contribution was reduced due to call-ups to the national side. In the summer, Victor was linked to Bari and Benfica, but nothing came of it.
On 18 June 2010, he signed a new contract with Grêmio, running until 2015. Victor remained in the starting eleven, and his side finished fourth. However, in the following years, Grêmio struggled to keep the same levels of the past seasons, but he appeared 32 times in 2011.
Atlético Mineiro
On 29 June 2012, Victor joined Atlético Mineiro for a €3.5 million fee, signing a five-year contract. He immediately became the first-choice goalkeeper in his new club, appearing in 29 matches as Galo finished second in the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro. In 2013, Victor was one of the key figures of Atlético Mineiro's 2013 Copa Libertadores winning run. An iconic moment for him and the club happened in the second leg of that competition's quarter-finals, when a penalty kick was awarded to Club Tijuana in injury time. It would have meant elimination for Atlético if it had been scored, but was saved by Victor with his foot. The save, according to sports commentators and fans, represented the kicking out of the club's historic "bad luck". Victor also made saves in the penalty shoot-outs against Newell's Old Boys in the semi-finals and Club Olimpia in the finals, and was elected the competition's best goalkeeper.
International career
On 21 May 2009, Victor was called up for the second time (2005 was the first) to the Brazil national team for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 10 August 2010, he made his debut with the main squad, starting in a 2–0 friendly match win against United States. He was included as a substitute goalkeeper in the Brazilian squad for 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Also, he was part of the squad for 2011 Copa América. On 7 May 2014, Victor was included among the 23-man squad ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life
Victor is Roman Catholic.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Club
Paulista
Copa do Brasil: 2005
Grêmio
Campeonato Gaúcho: 2010
Atlético Mineiro
Copa Libertadores: 2013
Recopa Sudamericana: 2014
Copa do Brasil: 2014
Campeonato Mineiro: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021
International
Brazil
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009
Individual
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2008, 2009
Bola de Prata: 2009
Copa Libertadores Goalkeeper of Year: 2013
References
External links
Official website
1983 births
Living people
Brazilian men's footballers
Brazil men's international footballers
Brazilian Roman Catholics
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
Copa Libertadores-winning players
Paulista Futebol Clube players
Ituano FC players
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense players
Clube Atlético Mineiro players
Men's association football goalkeepers
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players
2011 Copa América players
2014 FIFA World Cup players
FIFA Confederations Cup-winning players