Walace (footballer, born 1995)

Walace Souza Silva (born 4 April 1995), or simply Walace (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈwalasi]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains Serie A club Udinese.

Walace
Walace at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
Full name Walace Souza Silva[1]
Date of birth (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Salvador, Brazil[2]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Udinese
Number 11
Youth career
2010 Simões Filho
2011–2013 Avaí
2012Bahia (loan)
2013– 2014 Grêmio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Grêmio 77 (1)
2017–2018 Hamburger SV 27 (2)
2018–2019 Hannover 96 26 (1)
2019– Udinese 142 (3)
International career
2015 Brazil U20 5 (0)
2016 Brazil U23 4 (0)
2016– Brazil 5 (0)
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:10, 7 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2018

Club career edit

Grêmio edit

Born in Salvador, Bahia, Walace started his youth career with the academy of amateur Simões Filho Futebol Clube. While playing in a cup, he caught the eye of a scout of Avaí Futebol Clube and subsequently joined the club in the next year. However, he was soon loaned to the under-23 team of Esporte Clube Bahia in the same year. In 2013, Walace joined the under-18 team of Grêmio.[3]

Walace was promoted to the senior squad of the club in 2014 by manager Enderson Moreira.[4] On 27 April, he made his first team debut against Atlético Mineiro.[2] In August, he made his first start for the club in a 2–0 defeat against Sport Club Internacional, where he was assigned to mark Andrés D'Alessandro.[5] At the end of the season, media reports suggested that Italian club SSC Napoli, Portuguese clubs FC Porto and S.L. Benfica expressed their interest to sign him.[6]

After the appointment of Roger Machado as the club's manager in 2015, Walace became an undisputed starter for the club.[7] In June, Grêmio rejected an offer from Swiss club FC Basel to secure his services.[8] On 5 October, his contract was extended till 2018.[7] In July 2016, he scored his first league goal in a 2–1 victory over Figueirense Futebol Clube.[9]

Hamburger SV edit

On 31 January 2017, Walace moved to German club Hamburger SV, signing a contract until 2021.[1] Eleven days later, he scored his first goal in a 3–0 victory against RB Leipzig.[10]

Hannover 96 edit

In June 2018, Walace joined league rivals Hannover 96 on a four-year contract until 2022. The transfer fee paid to Hamburger SV was estimated at €6 million with 10% of the fee going to former club Grêmio.[11][12]

International career edit

In June 2016, Walace was called by Dunga to the senior international squad for the 2016 Copa America as a replacement for Luiz Gustavo (who left the squad citing personal reasons).[13] He featured once in the tournament, in a 7–1 victory against Haiti.[2]

In the next month, Walace was called to the Brazil under-23 squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held at the month of August. He came as a replacement for Fred, whose club FC Shakhtar Donetsk refused to release him for the tournament.[14] He featured four times in the tournament,[2] with his side emerging as the winner.[1]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 7 January 2024
Club Season National League State League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grêmio 2014[2] Série A 19 0 0 0 1 0 20 0
2015[2] 34 0 8 0 8 0 50 0
2016[2] 24 1 8 3 9 0 4[a] 1 45 5
Total 77 1 16 3 18 0 4 1 115 5
Hamburger SV 2016–17[2] Bundesliga 9 1 2 0 11 1
2017–18[2] 18 1 1 0 19 1
Total 27 2 3 0 30 2
Hannover 96 2018–19 Bundesliga 26 1 2 0 28 1
Udinese 2019–20 Serie A 20 0 2 0 22 0
2020–21 30 0 0 0 30 0
2021–22 36 1 2 0 38 1
2022–23 37 0 37 0
2023–24 19 2 1 0 20 2
Total 142 3 5 0 147 3
Career total 234 7 16 3 27 0 4 1 281 11
  1. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores

Honours edit

Club edit

Grêmio

International edit

Brazil

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hamburg sign Brazil international Walace from Gremio". Bundesliga. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Walace statistics". Soccerway.
  3. ^ "Da Bahia ao Maracanã: Walace deixa "bico" de Carnaval e conquista Felipão [From Bahia to Maracanã: Walace leaves "beak" of Carnival and conquest Felipão]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Walace é um dos trunfos do Grêmio contra o Atlético-PR [Walace is one of Grêmio's assets against Atlético-PR]" (in Portuguese). Gauchazh. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Destaque no Gre-Nal, Walace se credencia a seguir no time de Felipão [Highlight in Gre-Nal, Walace credits himself to follow in the team of Felipão]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ^ "GRÊMIO DEFINE O PREÇO PARA VENDER O VOLANTE WALLACE AO FUTEBOL EUROPEU [GRÊMIO SET PRICE TO SELL WALLACE TO EUROPEAN FOOTBALL]" (in Portuguese). JB Filho Reporter. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Grêmio renova contrato e amplia salário de joias Pedro Rocha e Walace [Grêmio renews contract and salary of jewels Pedro Rocha and Walace]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Após recusar 2 propostas, Grêmio se prepara para mais assédio por Walace [After rejecting 2 proposals, Grêmio prepares for more harassment by Walace]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Walace toma gosto por gols e explica comemoração contida pelo Grêmio [Walace takes taste for goals and explains celebration contained by the Guild]" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Leipzig torlos, sieglos und ratlos [Leipzig scoreless, without victory and helpless]" (in German). Franffurter Allgemeine. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Walace-Wechsel zu 96 fix - Vertrag bis 2022". NDR (in German). 26 June 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Wallace swaps Hamburg for Hannover". Xinhua. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  13. ^ "The Olympians: Meet new Brazil star Walace". goal.com. Goal. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Renato Augusto and Walace join Brazil for Olympic games". goal.com. Goal. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

External links edit