Wesley Henrique Lima Silva e Silva (born 7 March 1985), commonly known as Pipico, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for Botafogo-PB.

Pipico
Personal information
Full name Wesley Henrique Lima Silva e Silva
Date of birth (1985-03-07) 7 March 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Botafogo-PB
Youth career
2004 Itaperuna
2004 Angra dos Reis
2005 America (RJ)
2005 Bahia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Bahia
2007 Floresta 28 (27)
2007Operário de Muriaé
2008–2009 Cabofriense
2008CFZ do Rio (loan)
2009–2011 Bangu 46 (17)
2010Quissamã (loan)
2011–2012 Macaé 36 (14)
2012 Vasco da Gama 7 (0)
2013 FC Dallas
2013 Atlético Goianiense 30 (9)
2014 XV de Piracicaba 7 (1)
2014 Red Bull Brasil 8 (1)
2014 Tarxien Rainbows 12 (9)
2015–2016 Macaé 35 (22)
2016 Guarani 22 (5)
2017 Volta Redonda 0 (0)
2017 Tombense 5 (3)
2017–2018 Macaé 3 (5)
2018–2021 Santa Cruz 77 (32)
2022 Madureira 11 (3)
2022 Paysandu 12 (0)
2023 Santa Cruz 21 (8)
2023– Botafogo-PB 4 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023

Pipico began his career as a youth player for Itaperuna, where he played for six months, before moving to Angra do Reis, America and Bahia, when Pipico started his professional career. After this, Pipico played for Floresta, Cabofriense, Bangu and Macaé, always having passages of great prominence, especially in Campeonato Carioca. In 2012, after one and a half year of interest and negotiations, Pipico made a move to Vasco da Gama to play Brazilian Série A, but wasn't very successful. He moved for first time to a foreign team, more precisely to play Major League Soccer for FC Dallas, but weeks later he returned to Brazil, signing with melhorAtlético Goianiense.

Career edit

Vasco da Gama edit

For 1+12 years, Vasco da Gama showed interest in having Pipico in their squad. However, Vasco da Gama's optimal phase team in 2011 season meant that negotiations were postponed. On 20 April 2012, Pipico rescinded his contract with Macaé, to sign a contract for 8 months with Vasco da Gama. On the next day (Brazilian holiday, Tiradentes Day), Pipico was presented discreetly, but with enough optimism, promising to "take this opportunity in the best way possible and helping Vasco da Gama making goals to win titles."[1]

Pipico made his debut for Vasco da Gama on 8 July in a 1-1 draw against Figueirense, entering in the second half subbed Alecsandro. Their games were against in the days following 21 July against Santos, 19 August against Flamengo (Clássico dos Milhões), and 29 August against Grêmio, as always reserve (entering in place of Carlos Alberto, Éder Luís and Carlos Alberto again, respectively). On 1 September, in a 2-0 win over Portuguesa, Pipico receives his first red card of his career, after applying a possible dangerous sliding tackle in Gustavo.[2]

FC Dallas edit

Pipico moved to the United States on 18 December 2012 when he signed for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.[3] Pipico was released by Dallas just 6-weeks later on 1 February 2013 during their pre-season camp.[4]

Style of play edit

Pipico excelled at Fluminense football and is considered by the public as a complete forward. He is described as a quick striker with good technique, tactical commitment with good pace, jumping and heading, despite not being all that tall. Two months before signing for Vasco da Gama, players such as Juninho Pernambucano and Fellipe Bastos asked the striker about a transfer, saying that "it was time for (Pipico) goes to a big club."[5] Journalists like Lédio Carmona and Raphael Rezende, from Globo and SporTV, already was describing Pipico as an "extremely interesting and intelligent forward, with amazing speed, extreme pace and handling, can appear either as a second striker, as a centre forward, making him an extremely dangerous player and deserving a special marking to stop him."[6][7]

Career statistics edit

(Correct as of April 5, 2013)
Club Season State League League Cup Americas Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Floresta 2007 - - - - - - - - 28 27 28 27
Total - - - - - - - - 28 27 28 27
Cabofriense 2008 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2009 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Total - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bangu 2009 - - - - - - - - - - - -
2010 12 3 - - - - - - 16 8 38 11
2011 15 5 - - 3 1 - - - - 18 6
Total 27 8 - - 3 1 - - 16 8 46 17
Macaé 2011 - - - - - - - - 21 8 21 8
2012 15 6 - - - - - - - - 15 6
Total 15 6 - - - - - - 21 8 36 14
Vasco da Gama 2012 0 0 7 0 - - 0 0 - - 7 0
Total 0 0 7 0 - - 0 0 - - 7 0
Atlético Goianiense 2013 12 7 - - - - - - - - 12 7
Total 12 7 - - - - - - - - 12 7
Career total 54 21 7 0 3 1 0 0 65 43 128 65

1Includes other competitive competitions, including the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Copa Rio (state cup) and Campeonato Carioca Série B.

Honours edit

Bangu

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Pipico is presented and speaks about Juninho Pernambucano's incentive" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  2. ^ "Sent off! Pipico made a sliding tackle and receive a red card in minute 80'" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  3. ^ "FC Dallas signs forward Wesley "Pipico" Silva | FC Dallas". Archived from the original on December 20, 2012.
  4. ^ http://www.3rddegree.net/2013/02/01/fc-dallas-parts-ways-with-pipico/ [dead link]
  5. ^ "Pipico is presented and speaks about Juninho Pernambucano's incentive" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  6. ^ "Fluminense 1-3 Macaé" (in Portuguese). YouTube. March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  7. ^ "Macaé 1-4 Vasco da Gama" (in Portuguese). YouTube. March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.

External links edit