Alan (footballer, born 1989)

Alan Douglas Borges de Carvalho ( born 10 July 1989), or simply Alan and pronounced in Mandarin as A Lan (Chinese: 阿兰; pinyin: Ā Lán), is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Chinese Super League club Qingdao West Coast.[3] Born in Brazil, he plays for the China national team.[4]

A Lan
Alan with Red Bull Salzburg in 2014
Personal information
Full name A Lan
Birth name Alan Douglas Borges de Carvalho[1]
Date of birth (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth José Bonifácio, São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Qingdao West Coast
Number 11
Youth career
2006–2007 Londrina
2007–2008 Fluminense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Londrina 6 (4)
2008–2010 Fluminense 46 (11)
2010–2015 Red Bull Salzburg 88 (59)
2015–2021 Guangzhou FC 78 (40)
2019–2020Tianjin Tianhai (loan) 27 (9)
2020Beijing Guoan (loan) 15 (5)
2022–2023 Fluminense 5 (2)
2024– Qingdao West Coast 22 (11)
International career
2009–2010 Brazil U20 5 (1)
2021– China 14 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 July 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2024
Alan
Simplified Chinese阿兰·道格拉斯·博尔热斯·德·卡瓦略
Traditional Chinese阿蘭·道格拉斯·博爾熱斯·德·卡瓦略
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinĀlán Dàogélāsī Bó'ěrrèsī dé Kǎwǎlüè

After spells in Brazil with Londrina and Fluminense, Alan joined Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2010. There he established himself in the first team and became an intrinsic part of the squad. His playing time was limited in the 2011–12 season owing to an injury. Nevertheless, Alan scored regularly for the club, including many hat-tricks. In 2015, after playing nearly 130 matches for the Austrian side and scoring nearly 100 goals, he signed with Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande.

Club career

edit

Brazil

edit

Born in Barbosa, São Paulo,[5] Alan signed for Londrina, in 2007.[5] In 2008, he was given a professional contract by Fluminense with whom he played for two seasons till 2010.[6] He scored 11 league goals for the club[6] and also won the 2010 Brasileiro.[7]

Red Bull Salzburg

edit

On 11 August 2010, Alan signed for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg for an undisclosed fee, as a replacement for Marc Janko who headed to FC Twente.[8] He made his debut for the club in UEFA Champions League qualifier against Hapoel Tel Aviv which his team lost 2–3.[6] In that match he came as a 67th-minute substitute for Franz Schiemer.[9] In his first season with the club, Alan scored a hat-trick against Sturm Graz on 16 April 2011.[10] Alan also scored braces against Austria Wien[11] and SC Wiener Neustadt[12] as he ended the season with 10 league goals.[6]

 
Alan in action against Kapfenberger SV in October 2010

Alan started the 2011–12 season by scoring a hat-trick against Latvian side FK Liepājas Metalurgs.[13] His goal scoring streak continued as he scored a brace against FK Senica[14] as well as scoring in a defeat against AC Omonia.[15] However his playing time in his second season with the Austrian club was limited as he ruptured his cruciate ligament in a league match against Rapid Vienna on 28 August 2011 and was ruled out of action for at least six months.[16]

Alan got back on training on 20 November 2012.[17] He finished the 2012–13 season with 11 goals in 14 league matches and did not play in any continental match.[6]

The 2013–14 season proved to be the most successful season so far for the Brazilian striker. On 8 February 2014, Alan scored a hat-trick against relegation threatened SV Grodig. In that match, the same feat would also be achieved by his Spanish partner Jonathan Soriano.[18] He also received two red cards - one against SV Ried and another against FC Basel in an UEFA Europa League encounter.[6] Alan ended the season winning the Austrian Football Bundesliga and Austrian Cup - completing a domestic double.[19] He was the second topscorer only behind teammate Soriano.[20]

The following season too, started well for Alan, as he scored regularly for his side.[6] On 23 October 2014, Alan scored a hat-trick as Salzburg won 4–2 against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Europa League group stage.[21] He added another two on 27 November in a 3–1 win at Celtic Park which ensured that Salzburg became the first ever Austrian club to win in Scotland, striking in the 8th and 13th minutes.[22] In his penultimate league match for his club, he scored a hat-trick, scoring in 52nd, 58th and 60th minute against FK Austria Wien.[23] Despite leaving halfway through the season, with eight goals he was the joint top scorer in the season's Europa League, alongside Everton's Romelu Lukaku. This was the second consecutive time that a Red Bull player had achieved this honour, after his strike partner Soriano.[24]

Guangzhou Evergrande

edit

On 16 January 2015, Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao officially announced they had signed Alan from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €11.1 million. He was issued the number 7 jersey.[25] On 14 February 2015, he made his official debut in the 2015 Chinese FA Super Cup against Shandong Luneng, coming on as a substitute for Gao Lin. On 3 March 2015, Alan suffered a cruciate ligament rupture while training before the 2015 AFC Champions League match against Western Sydney Wanderers, ruling him out for at least five months.[26] After Paulinho and Robinho joined the club in July, Alan, who was still recovering from injury, was degraded to the reserve team squad for the second half of the season due to foreign player limit.[27] He was named in the 23-man squad for the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup but didn't play in the tournament, while manager Luiz Felipe Scolari explained that he just recovered from injury and was not ready to play.[28]

Alan made his return on 6 March 2016, 370 days after his injury, in a Super League match against Chongqing Lifan, coming on as a substitute for Huang Bowen.[29] Alan scored his first goal in his fifth appearance for Guangzhou on 24 April 2016, in a 4–0 away victory against Tianjin Teda.[30] He went on to score in the next five matches, including 2–1 win over Shanghai Greenland Shenhua,[31] 2–1 win over Hangzhou Greentown,[32] 2–0 win over Hebei China Fortune,[33] 3–0 win over Liaoning[34] during Guangzhou Evergrande's 9-league winning streak and 2–0 win against Nei Mongol Zhongyou in the CFA Cup.[35] Alan scored 18 goals in 35 appearances as Guangzhou won the double of 2016 Chinese Super League and 2016 Chinese FA Cup.

On 22 February 2017, Alan started the season with Guangzhou Evergrande in an emphatic 7–0 home victory over Hong Kong side Eastern in the 2017 AFC Champions League. He missed a penalty in the first half but scored in the second half.[36] On 25 February, he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win against Jiangsu Suning in the 2017 Chinese FA Super Cup and was awarded the most valuable player of the tournament.[37][38] He made 43 appearances and scored 21 goals in the 2017 season, acting an important part of Guangzhou Evergrande's winning their seventh consecutive title of the league.

Alan scored his first goal in the 2018 season on 26 February 2018 in a 4–1 victory over Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to win the 2018 Chinese FA Super Cup.[39] He was awarded the most valuable player for the second time.[40] On 2 March, he scored his first hat-trick in China in a 5–4 home loss to city rivals Guangzhou R&F in the first league match of the season.[41] Alan continued his impressive performance in March, scoring eight goals in five matches until 30 March, he was sent off during a league match against Tianjin Quanjian for throwing an elbow at Liu Yiming.[42] On 10 April, he was handed an 8-match suspension in the Super League by the CFA.[43] On 17 April, Alan scored twice in a 3–1 win over Cerezo Osaka, which ensure Guangzhou's qualification to the Knockout stage of 2018 AFC Champions League.[44] On 2 May, he scored a penalty at the second half but missed his penalty shootout attempt in the fifth round of 2018 Chinese FA Cup against Guizhou Hengfeng as Guangzhou eliminated from the tournament by 4–1 in the penalty shootout.[45] Alan made his 100th cap for Guangzhou on 3 November 2018 in the league titles deciding match against Shanghai SIPG. He scored twice but Guangzhou finally lost 5–4.[46]

Loan to Tianjin Tianhai

edit

On 7 February 2019, Alan was loaned to fellow first-tier club Tianjin Tianhai for the 2019 season.[47] He made his debut for the club on 1 March 2019, playing the whole match in a 3–0 away defeat against his former club Guangzhou Evergrande.[48]

Loan to Beijing Guoan

edit

On 29 February 2020, it was announced that Alan would be loaned to Beijing Guoan for the 2020 season.[49] He scored his first goal for the club on 6 August 2020 against Tianjin TEDA.[50]

Return to Fluminense

edit

On 21 June 2022, Alan rejoined Fluminense on a two-year deal.[51] On 18 August 2023, Alan's contract with Fluminense was terminated by mutual consent.[52]

Qingdao West Coast

edit

On 24 February 2024, Alan returned to China and signed a with Chinese Super League club Qingdao West Coast.[53]

International career

edit

Alan played three matches for the Brazil under-20 team in an unofficial tournament.[54]

In March 2013, Alan described himself as half-Austrian and expressed his desire to play for the Austria national football team.[55] He said "Maybe I'll play sometime for Austria." But according to FIFA rules he had to play at least five years in Austria to be able to represent the national team.[54] However his move to Guangzhou Evergrande dented the hope of playing for Austria as he was only six months shy of five years while joining the Chinese outfit.[56]

In 2019, Alan obtained Chinese citizenship via naturalisation, which makes him eligible to play for the China national football team.[57]

He made his debut for China on 30 May 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Guam, he came on as a substitute and scored twice in a 7–0 victory.[58]

Style of play

edit

A statement by Guangzhou Evergrande described Alan as a "blade", who is physically very strong and make wise use of opportunities. He has also been said as "strong, energetic, skilled" and a player with good control of the ball. Alan is equally adept in his both left and right foot. He is also known for his first-time lay-offs.[25]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of 7 September 2024[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State League National Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fluminense 2008 Série A 13 1 2[b] 3 0 0 1 0 16 4
2009 23 6 5[b] 2 3 1 0 0 31 9
2010 10 4 14[b] 4 4 2 10 2 38 12
Total 46 11 21 9 7 3 11 2 0 0 85 25
Red Bull Salzburg 2010–11 Austrian Bundesliga 24 10 2 0 6 0 32 10
2011–12 5 3 1 2 5 6 11 11
2012–13 14 11 0 0 0 0 14 11
2013–14 29 26 5 6 12 5 46 37
2014–15 16 9 2 7 8 8 26 24
Total 88 59 0 0 10 15 31 19 0 0 129 93
Guangzhou Evergrande 2015 CSL 0 0 0 0 1 0 1[c] 0 2 0
2016 27 14 8 4 0 0 0[c] 0 35 18
2017 27 10 5 3 10 7 1[c] 1 43 21
2018 12 13 1 1 8 4 1[c] 1 22 19
2021 12 3 0 0 0 0 12 3
Total 78 40 0 0 14 8 19 11 3 2 114 61
Tianjin Tianhai (loan) 2019 CSL 27 9 0 0 27 9
Beijing Guoan (loan) 2020 15 5 1 2 6 4 22 11
Fluminense 2022 Série A 4 1 0 0 4 1
2023 1 1 6[b] 1 1 0 3 0 11 2
Total 5 2 6 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 13 3
Qingdao West Coast 2024 CSL 22 11 0 0 0 0 22 11
Career total 281 137 27 10 35 28 68 36 3 2 414 213
  1. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Austrian Cup, Chinese FA Cup
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in Campeonato Carioca
  3. ^ a b c d Appearances in Chinese FA Super Cup

International

edit
China PR
Year Apps Goals
2021 8 3
2022 2 0
2024 4 0
Total 14 3
Scores and results list China's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 30 May 2021 Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Suzhou, China   Guam 6–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 7–0
3. 11 June 2021 Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates   Maldives 3–0 5–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

edit

Club

edit

Red Bull Salzburg[6]

Guangzhou Evergrande[6]

Fluminense

Individual

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Futebol - Elenco Profissional" (in Portuguese). Fluminense Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Alan Facts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  3. ^ "China PR - Guangzhou FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. ^ 新浪体育 (12 March 2020). "曝阿兰洛国富已具备为国足出战资格 高拉特待确认". sports.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Sambafoot profile". Sambafoot. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Alan". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. ^ "2010 Brasileiro". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Red Bulls sign Brazilian striker Alan". Red Bull Salzburg. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Salzburg vs Hapoel Tel Aviv". UEFA. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Moniz boekt eerste overwinning met Red Bull Salzburg". Voetbal International. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Austria Wien vs Salzburg". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Wiener vs Salzburg". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  13. ^ "Hattrick von Alan bei Salzburger 4:1-Triumph in Liepaja". Krone. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Senica vs Salzburg". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Omonia vs Salzburg". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Kreuzbrandiss bei Alan". Salzburg. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Alan in back". Salzburg12. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Salzburg vs Grodig". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  19. ^ "Salzburg pip St Pölten to Austrian Cup". UEFA. 18 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  20. ^ "2013-14 Austrian Bundesliga". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Alan hat-trick helps Salzburg overpower Dinamo". UEFA. 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Salzburg secure Austrian first at Celtic". 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  23. ^ "Austria Wienn vs Salzburg". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Alan and Everton's Lukaku finish as top scorers". UEFA. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  25. ^ a b "阿兰(Alan)正式加盟广州队". Guangzhou Evergrande. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  26. ^ "关于阿兰、曾诚、金英权伤病情况的通报". Guangzhou Evergrande. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  27. ^ "阿兰被下放恒大预备队 一年踢121分钟挣2500万". NetEase. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  28. ^ "斯科拉里:阿兰要明年复出 球员必须有30天假期". Sohu. 19 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  29. ^ "J马处子球延续恒大一传统 阿兰时隔375天再登场". Sohu. 6 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  30. ^ "中超-郜林双响阿兰处子球 恒大4-0客胜泰达登顶". Sina. 24 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  31. ^ "中超-阿兰完美个人秀双响 恒大2-1胜申花保榜首". Sina. 30 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  32. ^ "中超-阿兰闪击高拉特头槌 恒大2-1绿城豪取7连胜". Sina. 8 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  33. ^ "中超-阿兰5场6球于汉超破门 恒大2-0华夏取8连胜". Sina. 14 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  34. ^ "中超-9连胜!阿兰5场连斩 恒大3-0辽足平队史纪录". Sina. 21 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  35. ^ "足协杯-于汉超阿兰进球 恒大2-0苦战胜10人中优". Sina. 11 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  36. ^ "亚冠-三外援破门两将梅开二度 恒大7-0横扫东方". Sina. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  37. ^ "超级杯-阿兰斩天外飞仙 恒大1-0胜苏宁卫冕成功". Sina. 25 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  38. ^ a b "斯帅率队第6冠成就超银狐 阿兰夺MVP进球大满贯". Sohu. 25 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  39. ^ "超级杯-黄博文神仙球+伤退 恒大4-1申花勇夺3连冠". Sina. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  40. ^ a b "阿兰表现高光回击质疑 恒大外援仍能碾压中超". Tencent. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  41. ^ "中超-扎哈维阿兰戴帽肖智定胜 富力客场5-4恒大". Sina. 2 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  42. ^ "中超-郜林破门阿兰染红 恒大1-0权健双线五连胜". Sina. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  43. ^ "重罚!阿兰因肘击对手遭足协禁赛8场 罚款5.6万". Sina. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  44. ^ "Matchday Six - Group G: Guangzhou Evergrande FC beat Cerezo Osaka to advance unbeaten". AFC. 17 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  45. ^ "足协杯-阿兰点射唐诗建功 恒大点球3-6贵州遭淘汰". Sina Sports. 2 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  46. ^ "阿兰百场献礼!点射+头球梅开二度 恒大最稳定射手". Tencent Sports. 3 November 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  47. ^ "恒大四将租借至天津天海一年 阿兰离开但不是交换". Sina Sports. 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  48. ^ "中超-冯潇霆替补爆射韦世豪破门 10人恒大3-0天海". Sina. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  49. ^ "北京国安租借阿兰成功--体育--人民网". www.sportsonline.com.cn. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  50. ^ "阿兰首球!比埃拉开天眼传球撕2防线 董路:丁丁附体" [First Goal for A Lan! Viera's Imaginative Pass through Defense, Dong Lu Likens The Pass to Kevin de Bruyne]. Hanxianwang (in Simplified Chinese). 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  51. ^ "Fluminense anuncia retorno de Alan, e atacante comemora: "O moleque de Xerém está de volta"". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 21 June 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  52. ^ "Alan assina rescisão e não é mais jogador do Fluminense". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  53. ^ "官方:阿兰、段刘愚、谭凯元等17人加盟青岛西海岸" (in Chinese). dongqiudi. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  54. ^ a b "Die Causa Alan ist eine Grundsatzfrage". Laola. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  55. ^ "Salzburgs brasilianischer Stürmer kann sich vorstellen für Österreich zu spielen. Der ÖFB hat bereits ersten Kontakt aufgenommen". Die Presse. 3 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  56. ^ "Alan geht nach China". Goal. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  57. ^ "归化球员的2019:生涯转折点 六大归化全面退步..." Titan24. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  58. ^ "Guam v China game report". ESPN. 30 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  59. ^ "Experts' UEFA Europa League squad of the season". UEFA. 28 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
edit