Ester Aparecida dos Santos (born 9 December 1982), commonly known mononymously as Ester, is a Brazilian former footballer. She played as a "volante" (defensive midfielder) for clubs including Chelsea of the English FA WSL and BV Cloppenburg of the German Frauen-Bundesliga. Ester was part of the Brazil women's national football team which finished as runners-up in the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Summer Olympics.

Ester
Personal information
Full name Ester Aparecida dos Santos
Date of birth (1982-12-09) 9 December 1982 (age 41)
Place of birth Guarulhos, São Paulo
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 4+12 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Clube Atlético Juventus
2001–2006 Santos FC
2007 CEPE-Caxias
2007–2011 Santos FC
2012 WFC Rossiyanka 8 (0)
2013 Chelsea Ladies 10 (0)
2013–2014 BV Cloppenburg 16 (0)
2015 Kindermann 3 (0)
2015 São Paulo
2016 Vasco da Gama
2016 União (RN)
2016 Rio Branco (AC)
2017 Foz Cataratas 14 (0)
2017 CRESSPOM
2018 3B da Amazônia
2018 São José 4 (0)
International career
2003–2012 Brazil 56 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Football
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Team competition
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2003 Santo Domingo Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Ester began playing as a child in her neighbourhood near the São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. She was signed for Clube Atlético Juventus after a trial, then moved on to Santos FC.[1]

In 2007 Ester played for CEPE-Caxias in Rio de Janeiro. She rejoined Santos in January 2008, following her successful season away.[2]

In the 2008 WPS International Draft, Ester was selected by Sky Blue FC alongside compatriot Rosana,[3] but did not join the team. Instead Ester found success in the Copa Libertadores Femenina with Santos in 2009 and 2010.[4]

Ester was part of a Brazilian contingent at Russian champions WFC Rossiyanka in 2012, playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League defeat to Turbine Potsdam.[5]

In 2013, Ester made a total of 10 FA WSL appearances for Chelsea, before departing for newly promoted Bundesliga club BV Cloppenburg in September 2013 with three games of the English season remaining. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes sold Sofia Jakobsson to the German team at the same time, saying: "We received an offer from Cloppenburg which we feIt was good business for the club."[6]

When Vasco da Gama relaunched again in 2016, Ester was signed to provide experience to the team's younger players.[7] After her retirement from football Ester settled in Arapongas and worked as a businesswoman.[8]

International edit

Ester was called up to the Brazil women's national football team in 2003.[1] She had been on the fringes of the squad, until winning her place in midfield during Brazil's 2007 Pan American Games campaign. She maintained her position as the team's defensive midfielder for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in the final, which Brazil lost 2–0 to Germany.[9]

Ester played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup as well as the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.[10] At the beginning of the 2012 tournament in London, she had 56 caps and one goal for the national team.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Media Guide – London 2012 Olympic Games" (PDF). Brazilian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Capitã e volante da Seleção Brasileira são destaques entre contratações do Futebol Feminino" (in Portuguese). Santos Futebol Clube. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  3. ^ Bell, Jack (24 September 2008). "In W.P.S., It's the Girls From Brazil". New York Times. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Detalhes do Jogador" (in Portuguese). Santos Futebol Clube. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  5. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (2 May 2012). "Russian Nightmares: Four former WPS players leave clubs abroad following contract disputes". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Duo Depart For Germany". Chelsea Ladies FC. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Equipe adulta do Vasco se prepara para estreia no Campeonato Brasileiro" (in Brazilian Portuguese). CR Vasco da Gama. 16 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Onofre recebe visita da ex-jogadora da Seleção, Ester dos Santos" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Prefeitura Municipal de Arapongas. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Ester" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Ester Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.

External links edit