Kléber (footballer, born 1990)

Kléber (footballer, born 1990)
Kléber Laube Pinheiro (born 2 May 1990), known simply as Kléber, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
Club career
Brazil
Born in Estância Velha, Rio Grande do Sul, Kléber started his career with Clube Atlético Mineiro, also having finished his development at the Belo Horizonte club. On 21 February 2009, he played his first match for the first team, against Rio Branco Esporte Clube in the Campeonato Mineiro.
Marítimo
In summer 2009, the 19-year-old Kléber left his country and signed for C.S. Marítimo in Portugal, on loan. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 20 September, featuring ten minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Madeira neighbours C.D. Nacional.
Kléber – who also scored three times in only four games with the reserves in the third division – finished his first season with eight goals from 20 appearances, notably netting twice in the last round, a 2–1 away win against Vitória S.C. which meant his team leapfrogged their opponents and finished fifth, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Europa League.
After reported interest from FC Porto, Kléber refused to start 2010–11 with Marítimo, even though he still had another year on his contract. Atlético Mineiro accepted the deal but the Portuguese did not, and he eventually finished the campaign with seven league goals, eight in all competitions.
Porto
Kléber finally moved to Porto on 4 July 2011 for a fee of €2.3 million, signing a five-year contract. He scored five goals in five matches during pre-season, and three in the first seven competitive fixtures, including the winner in a 2–1 home victory over FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
On 7 February 2013, Kléber returned to his country and joined SE Palmeiras on loan. The move was initially until 30 June, extendable if the side advanced to the semi-finals in the Copa Libertadores.
For 2014–15, Kléber was loaned to G.D. Estoril Praia. On 18 January 2015, he helped his team to come from behind at Boavista F.C. and win 2–1.
China
On 14 July 2015, Kléber signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Beijing Guoan FC. He made his Chinese Super League debut six days later, as a late substitute in the 0–0 home draw with Shanghai Port FC.
Estoril
Kléber returned to Estoril in August 2016, on a two-year contract. He scored eight goals in the first season in his second spell, in a tenth-place finish.
Later career
Aged 29, Kléber moved to Japan, where he represented JEF United Chiba (J2 League) and Yokohama FC (both J1 League and second tier).
International career
On 10 November 2011, courtesy of his Porto performances, Kléber made his debut for Brazil, appearing in a friendly with Gabon.
Career statistics
References
External links
1990 births
Living people
Brazilian men's footballers
Footballers from Rio Grande do Sul
Men's association football forwards
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
Clube Atlético Mineiro players
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras players
Primeira Liga players
Liga Portugal 2 players
Segunda Divisão players
C.S. Marítimo players
FC Porto players
FC Porto B players
G.D. Estoril Praia players
Chinese Super League players
Beijing Guoan F.C. players
J1 League players
J2 League players
Yokohama FC players
JEF United Chiba players
Brazil men's international footballers
Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Expatriate men's footballers in China
Expatriate men's footballers in Japan
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in China
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Japan