Kléber Laube Pinheiro (born 2 May 1990), known simply as Kléber, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played 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.Com um a menos, Atlético-MG vence Rio Branco e sobe no Mineiro (With one less, Atlético-MG beat Rio Branco and go up in Mineiro); Universo Online, 21 February 2009 (in Portuguese)
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.Nacional vence "derby" Madeirense (Nacional win Madeira derby); Diário de Notícias, 20 September 2009 (in Portuguese)
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,Liga 2009/2010: lista dos melhores marcadores (2009/2010 League: top scorers table); Diário de Notícias, 9 May 2010 (in Portuguese) 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.Assobios para Paulo Sérgio, que deixa o Guimarães fora da Europa (Boos for Paulo Sérgio, who leaves Guimarães out of Europe); Público, 9 May 2010 (in Portuguese)
After reported interest from FC Porto, Kléber refused to start 2010–11 with Marítimo, even though he still had another year on his contract.Kléber força saída do Marítimo (Kléber wants out of Marítimo) ; Diário de Notícias, 28 June 2010 (in Portuguese)Caso Kléber segue na FIFA (Kléber affair to continue in FIFA) ; Record, 15 July 2010 (in Portuguese) Atlético Mineiro accepted the deal but the Portuguese did not,Insulares podem comprar passe de Kléber (Islanders may buy Kléber's sporting rights) ; Record, 7 September 2010 (in Portuguese) 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.Kléber assinou por cinco anos e tem cláusula de 40 milhões (Kléber signed for five years and has a 40 million clause); Público, 4 July 2011 (in Portuguese) He scored five goals in five matches during pre-season, and three in the first seven competitive fixtures,O primeiro golo (The first goal); O Jogo, 8 September 2011 (in Portuguese) including the winner in a 2–1 home victory over FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.Porto see off nine-man Shakhtar; UEFA, 13 September 2011
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.Palmeiras confirma atacante Kléber, que se apresenta nesta sexta (Palmeiras confirm forward Kléber, announced this Friday); Gazeta Esportiva, 7 February 2013 (in Portuguese)
For 2014–15, Kléber was loaned to G.D. Estoril Praia.Kléber chega por empréstimo (Kléber arrives on loan); O Jogo, 2 September 2014 (in Portuguese) On 18 January 2015, he helped his team to come from behind at Boavista F.C. and win 2–1.Boavista-Estoril, 1–2: Cambalhota natural no carrossel da linha (Boavista-Estoril, 1–2: Natural twist in the line's carousel); Record, 18 January 2015 (in Portuguese)
China On 14 July 2015, Kléber signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Beijing Guoan FC.国安官方宣布克莱伯加盟; Sohu, 16 July 2015 (in Chinese) 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.Kléber assinou por duas épocas (Kléber signed for two seasons); Record, 2 August 2016 (in Portuguese) He scored eight goals in the first season in his second spell, in a tenth-place finish.Kléber: «Vamos lutar pela Liga Europa» (Kléber: "We will fight for the Europa League"); Record, 26 June 2017 (in Portuguese)
Later career Aged 29, Kléber moved to Japan, where he represented JEF United Chiba (J2 League)JEF United Ichihara Chiba em 2019: Dupla de ataque entrosada; todo o resto, um desastre (JEF United Ichihara Chiba in 2019: In-tune attacking duo; everything else, disastrous); Globo Esporte, 27 December 2019 (in Portuguese) and Yokohama FC (both J1 League and second tier).クレーベ選手 契約満了のお知らせ (Notification of contract termination with the player Kléber); Yokohama FC, 29 December 2022 (in Japanese)
International career On 10 November 2011, courtesy of his Porto performances, Kléber made his debut for Brazil, appearing in a friendly with Gabon.Gabon 0–2 Brazil: Sandro & Hernanes lead Selecao to success in Libreville; Goal, 10 November 2011Brasil com seis "portugueses" ganha ao Gabão (Brazil with six "Portuguese" beat Gabon); Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, 11 November 2011 (in Portuguese)
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAtlético Mineiro2009Série A405110———101Marítimo (loan)2009–10Primeira Liga208—0010——2182010–11Primeira Liga187—2100——208Total3815—2110——4116Porto2011–12Primeira Liga219—1030612033102012–13Primeira Liga50—31002000101Total269—413081204311Palmeiras (loan)2013Série B215100—40—112Porto B2013–14Segunda Liga153—————153Estoril (loan)2014–15Primeira Liga218—103252—3012Beijing Guoan2015Chinese Super League70—00—00—702016Chinese Super League40—00———40Total110—00—00—110Estoril2016–17Primeira Liga268—5200——31102017–18Primeira Liga176—1010——1962018–19Primeira Liga52—0011——63Total4816—6221——5619JEF United (loan)2019J2 League3817—00———3817JEF United2020J2 League277—00———277Total6524—00———6524Yokohama FC2021J1 League203—1142——2562022J2 League123—00———123Total326—1142——379Career total262821021551351732031997
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