Maicon Douglas
Maicon Douglas Sisenando, known as Maicon is a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right-back. Maicon began his career in his native country for Cruzeiro after initially playing for Criciúma as a youngster. He played 56 times for Cruzeiro between 2001 and 2004 and earned one Brazilian league title and several other domestic cups before moving to Europe when he signed for Ligue 1 side Monaco. After two years in France, he signed for Internazionale in 2006, where he became an established first team player, going on to win the UEFA Champions League in 2010, four Serie A titles, the FIFA Club World Cup and various domestic competitions. In August 2012, he signed for Manchester City. Maicon failed to secure a regular place in the team, moving back to Italy to play for Roma the following season. A former Brazil international, Maicon made his debut in 2003 and has since represented his nation on 76 occasions, scoring seven goals. With Brazil, he won a runners-up medal at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and has taken part in three Copa América tournaments (winning the competition twice, in 2004 and 2007) and two FIFA World Cups (finishing in fourth-place in the 2014 edition of the tournament on home soil). He was also a member of the Brazilian teams that won consecutive FIFA Confederations Cup titles in 2005 and 2009.
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These boots were used by Douglas Maicon during the season 2009-2010, the unforgettable “treble season” of Internazionale F.C. During this season Maicon continued the good form he displayed in previous seasons. He started the season by scoring a goal against Milan in the 4–0 Derby della Madonnina victory, and then playing well against Barcelona in a 0–0 draw at the San Siro. He subsequently set up Diego Milito on matchday five in Serie A against Napoli, as Inter defeated Napoli 3–1. He also scored the last goal in a 5–0 win over Genoa. He also made a fantastic byline run which resulted in Milito’s match killing goal in a 5–3 home victory over Palermo. In the very next match, he scored a goal against Livorno, where the match ended 2–0 for Inter. During Inter’s home leg of the Derby d’Italia, the right back opened the scoring against Juventus with one of the most spectacular goals of the season, juggling a loose ball over the onrushing defender at the top of the penalty box and volleying it into the opposite corner.Later that month, Maicon scored his first Champions League goal against reigning champions Barcelona when Internazionale registered a famous victory over the Catalans. He reportedly knocked out a tooth after he collided with Lionel Messi. Having overtaken Roma at the summit of the Serie A and winning the league title, Inter went on to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League in the semi-finals, with Maicon earning praise. On 22 May 2010, after beating Roma in the Coppa Italia final weeks earlier, Inter won the Champions League, thus obtaining the treble, with a 2–0 victory over Bayern Munich in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid. He was named the 2009–10 UEFA Club Defender of the Year and his performances earned him a nomination for the Ballon d’Or trophy as Europe’s top player.
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A talented right-sided wingback, Maicon debuted for Cruzeiro in 2001 and after two successful seasons in Brazil, which included winning a championship and being called up for the Brazil national team in 2003. In June 2004, he was signed by Monaco for £2.1 million. Due to his work-rate and stamina, Maicon is known to be capable of aiding his team both offensively and defensively, and has been used both as a full-back and as an attacking wing-back or wide midfielder. He is gifted with outstanding physical attributes, athleticism and excellent technical skills, as well as good vision, crossing ability and a powerful shot, which made him a dangerous attacking threat down the right flank in his prime. Due to his success, strength, pace and power, he earned the nickname “Il Colosso” (“The Colossus”) during his time at Inter, where he developed into one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, forming a notable partnership with teammate Javier Zanetti. On 31 May 2017, Maicon signed with Brazilian side Avaí. After training for a few weeks with Botafogo, he didn’t sign with the Glorioso, instead going to the club from Santa Catarina. Maicon came back to Brazilian football after 13 years, after leaving Cruzeiro for AS Monaco.
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After appearing for Brazil’s under-20 team at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, Maicon made his senior international debut in the team’s opening game of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Mexico on 12 July 2003. He was named in the team of the tournament as Brazil finished as runner-up. He went on to become the first choice right-back for the Seleção, winning the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, and the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009. He appeared in his first FIFA World Cup in 2010 and scored on his tournament debut, a 2–1 win over North Korea. In June 2014, Maicon was selected in Brazil’s squad for the 2014 World Cup. He replaced Dani Alves as the team’s starting right-back for the 2–1 quarter-final win against Colombia in Fortaleza. On 7 September 2014, Maicon was dismissed from the Brazil squad for an unspecified “internal problem”.
