Who?

The wonderfully-named Eduardo Cesar Daude Gaspar, more commonly known as Edu, spent four-and-a-half-years at Arsenal making 127 appearances – 76 starts – and bagging 15 goals in the process.

The Brazilian midfielder was originally meant to join Arsenal in the 2000, however, it emerged that Edu was in possession of an illegal Portuguese passport, so, the move was postponed until January 2001 after he’d qualified for an EU passport.

Career Highlights

Invincible! Edu is an invincible! There aren’t too many greater achievements in football, so, no doubt, being part of the unbeaten 49-games will rank as the Brazilian’s proudest career moment.

Whenever Edu is mentioned, though, I always think of his brace away in Spain against Celta Vigo – the second one was a particular beauty – giving Arsenal a 3-2 victory and their first win in the Champions League away in Spain.

Arsenal reject! Arsenal reject!

At the end of the 2004/05 season, Edu departed Highbury for the Mestalla, with Valencia signing the midfielder on a Bosman. However, after an injury in pre-season ruled him out until April 2006, it was clear his time in La Liga wasn’t going to be the most successful, eventually leaving Valencia in 2009 through contractual termination.

Edu returned to his homeland of Brazil, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with Corinthians, however, after just four games his contract was terminated and Edu subsequently retired from the beautiful game.

In 2011, Edu was announced as Director of Football for former club Corinthians, a position he still holds now.

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