Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte (born 8 September 1992), better known as Bernard (), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Atlético Mineiro. A left-sided player, he is known for his pace and technical ability.
Born in Belo Horizonte,Bernard is of Greek ancestry through his maternal great-grandfather who emigrated from Santorini to Belo Horizonte.Bernard began his professional career with hometown club Atlético Mineiro, where he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores. He then moved for a reported €25 million fee to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won three Ukrainian Premier League titles. In 2018, he joined Everton on a free transfer.
Bernard made his international debut for Brazil in 2012 and was in the squads that won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-finals on home soil.
Club career Atlético Mineiro Bernard started his footballing career in 2006, joining Atlético Mineiro's youth system, but was released twice because of his short height.Entrevista Exclusiva: Bernard (Exclusive interview: Bernard); Galo de Prata, 12 December 2010 In 2010, he was loaned to Democrata FC (back then, a club which was made up entirely of Atlético Mineiro's youth players), to play in Campeonato Mineiro Segunda Divisão (third level).Democrata já tem grupo definido para o mineiro (Democrata already has a definitive role to play in Mineiro) ; Portal Sete, 13 August 2010
After being the top goalscorer at Democrata (14 goals in only 16 games), Bernard returned to Atlético. Despite being young enough to play in Copa São Paulo de Juniores, he was called up by the manager Dorival Júnior to play for first team.Além de reforços, Dorival Júnior vai receber jogadores da categoria de base (In addition to signings, Dorival Júnior will receive youth team players); Superesporte, 1 January 2011
He made his debut with the club in the match against Uberaba, on 23 March 2011, playing in the right back position due to the squad's injury crisis at the time.201111 Atlético 1 x 1 Uberaba-MG; Galo Digital, 23 March 2011 Elogiado por Dorival, Bernard comemora boa estreia na lateral (Praised by Dorival, Bernard celebrates good debut as a full back) ; Terra, 24 March 2011 He then returned to youth squads, scoring the winning goal of the Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores.
After Dorival's dismissal and the appointment of Cuca, Bernard returned to the first team squad. On 21 May, he made his Série A debut, against Atlético Paranaense. In his first season, Bernard appeared 23 times for Galo (19 starts, 1794 minutes overall). On 14 September, Atlético's president Alexandre Kalil rejected a £3.4 million bid from Al Ahli Doha.
He scored his first professional goal on 29 January 2012, against Boa Esporte.Jovem Bernard desencanta e marca primeiro gol como profissional do Atlético (Bernard scores first professional goal for Atlético); Super Esportes, 29 January 2012 He then scored again against Caldense on 11 February, and twice against América-MG on 13 May, Campeonato Mineiro's final. His first Série A goal came on 23 June, in a 5–1 routing against Náutico.Na estreia em BH, R49 faz um gol, e Atlético-MG goleia o Náutico por 5 a 1 (In BH's debut, R49 scores once, and Atlético-MG thrashes Náutico by 5–1); Globo Esporte, 23 June 2012 He finished the season with 36 appearances (all starts, 3100 minutes overall), scoring eleven times, leading the club (along with Ronaldinho and Jô) to a second-place finish in the league. Bernard also won Brasileirão's Best Newcomer.Eleito revelação do Brasileirão, Bernard atribui feito a Ronaldinho: "Cresci com ele" (Elected Brasileirão's best newcomer, Bernard dedicates trophy to Ronaldinho: "I have learned much with him") ; UOL Esporte, 23 November 2012
In December, Spartak Moscow had an £9.8 million offer rejected by Atlético.Após recusa de proposta pelo Atlético-MG, Bernard segue com futuro indefinido (After bid was rejected by Atlético-MG, Bernard was still has undetermined future); UOL Esporte, 19 December 2012
On 30 July 2013, Atlético accepted a £22 million bid from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. Bernard's agent and father, however, revealed his son was set on joining FC Porto, although Atlético's president Alexandre Kalil revealed Shakhtar were the only club to submit an offer for the player.Atletico Mineiro accept Shakhtar Donetsk's Bernard bid; Goal.com, 30 July 2013
Shakhtar Donetsk
On 8 August 2013 Shakhtar Donetsk announced the signing of Bernard on a five-year deal for a reported €25 million.Shakhtar Donetsk announce Bernard signing; Goal.com, 8 August 2013 He made his debut for the Ukrainian side on 31 August, coming on as a substitute for Douglas Costa, in the 1–1 draw with FC Metalist Kharkiv.Shakhtar vs Metalist: the strongest play out a draw; Shakhtar's official website, 31 August 2013
Bernard was chosen as one of the top 11 South American players 2013 by the Spanish newspaper El País.Неймар и Бернард попали в символическую сборной Южной Америки в 2013 году (Neymar and Bernard were in symbolic team of South America in 2013); UA, 1 January 2014 Жо, Неймар и Бернард попали в символическую сборной Южной Америки в 2013 году (Jô, Neymar and Bernard were in symbolic team of South America in 2013); Sport.ru, 1 January 2014
Commenting on the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, Bernard stated that he was willing to leave Shakhtar if the situation intensified, and had made arrangements for a potential emergency exit.Shakhtar’s Bernard concerned with situation in Ukraine as he links up with Brazil squad; Sambafoot, 3 March 2014 His contract expired at the end of the 2017–18 season, and he became a free agent.
Everton Bernard joined English club Everton on 9 August 2018, signing a four-year deal with the Premier League side. Manager Marco Silva ignored concerns over Bernard's height and physicality, instead signing him for his technical ability. He made his debut on 25 August in a 2–2 draw at AFC Bournemouth, replacing Theo Walcott for the final five minutes.
He scored his first goal for Everton on 5 January 2019 in a 2–1 FA Cup win over Lincoln City in the 3rd round. He then scored his first Premier League goal on 30 March 2019 in a 2–0 victory against West Ham United. On 10 February 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 5–4 win over Tottenham Hotspur after extra-time in the 2020–21 FA Cup 5th round tie.
Sharjah On 22 July 2021, Bernard signed a two-year deal with UAE Pro League club Sharjah for a reported fee of €1 million.
Panathinaikos On 21 August 2022, Super League Greece club Panathinaikos announced the signing of Bernard. He made his debut on 11 September in a league match against AEK Athens, coming on as a second-half substitution in a 2–1 win. He was one of their best players
Return to Atlético Mineiro On 5 February 2024, Atlético Mineiro announced an agreement with Bernard for his return to the club upon the expiration of his contract with Panathinaikos in July 2024.
International career
Bernard was first called up for Brazil on 11 September 2012, to the Superclásico de las Américas, by coach Mano Menezes.Mano Menezes aposta em base paulista e Fabuloso para o Superclássico . Gazetaesportiva.net. Retrieved on 2 December 2015. He made his debut for Brazil as a 74th-minute substitute for Lucas Marques on 21 November 2012, in the 2nd leg of the 2012 Superclásico de las Américas against Argentina, where the Seleção won the title on penalties.
He was selected in Brazil's squad for their hosting of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, making his first appearance in the final group game against Italy for the last 20 minutes in place of Neymar. He also came on as a substitute in the semi-final victory over Uruguay, as Brazil went on to win the trophy.
After being regularly called up by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bernard was named among the final 23-man squad ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup on 7 May 2014.World Cup 2014: Kaka and Robinho omitted from Brazil squad; BBC Sport, 7 May 2014 He played in the opening game against Croatia as a substitute for Hulk, and came on at half-time in Brazil's second group game against Mexico, a 0–0 draw. He was then unused until his first start in a major tournament, playing all 90 minutes of the 7–1 defeat to Germany in his hometown of Belo Horizonte.
He remained an unused substitute in the third place play-off match against Netherlands, which Brazil lost 3–0.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDemocrata-SL2010—1614————1614Atlético Mineiro2011Série A2304010—00—280201236119420———471520133111200—114—257Total621224630—114—10022Shakhtar Donetsk2013–14Ukrainian Premier League182—31—80002932014–15140—42—50002322015–16212—43—130113962016–17244—30—93103772017–18196—11—83102910Total9614—157—4363115728Everton2018–19Premier League341—1110——3622019–20273—1020——3032020–21121—3131——183Total735—5261——848Sharjah2021–22UAE Pro League234—113163—339Panathinaikos2022–23Super League Greece312—40———3522023–243110—70—121—5011Total6212—110—121—8513Atlético Mineiro2024Série A160—50—50—26020253019130—103—525Total4619180—153—785Career total36447492243109287173155598
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBrazil201210201391201440Total141
Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bernard goal.
+ List of international goals scored by BernardNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 16 November 2013 Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States 1–0 5–0 Friendly
Honours Atlético Mineiro Copa Libertadores: 2013 Campeonato Mineiro: 2012, 2013, 2025
Shakhtar Donetsk Ukrainian Premier League: 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18 Ukrainian Cup: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 Ukrainian Super Cup: 2014, 2015, 2017
Panathinaikos Greek Cup: 2023–24
Brazil FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
Individual Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer: 2012 South American Team of the Year: 2013
References
External links
Profile at the Everton F.C. website
Galo Digital