Aílton (footballer, born 1968)

Aílton Delfino (born 1 September 1968) is a retired Brazilian professional footballer who played as a striker.^[1]

Aílton Delfino

Personal information
Date of birth	(1968-09-01) 1 September 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1993	Atlético Mineiro	72	(8)
1993–1996	Benfica	32	(11)
1994–1995	→ São Paulo (loan)	29	(13)
1996	São Paulo	0	(0)
1996–1997	Cruzeiro	19	(6)
1997–1999	Portuguesa	57	(9)
2000–2002	São Caetano	16	(1)
2003	Santo André
2003	América Mineiro
Total		225	(48)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Belo Horizonte, Aílton is a youth product of Atlético Mineiro, making his debut in 1987, and taking part in the conquest of three Campeonato Mineiro, in 1988, 1989 and 1991, and one Copa CONMEBOL.^[2]

In 1993, Aílton joined Benfica, as the alternative for Adolfo Valencia after negotiations with the Colombian failed.^[3] He made his debut on a friendly against FC Barcelona on 18 August 1993, scoring the 2–1 in the 73rd minute.^[4] His first season in Portugal was a success, as he help the Lisbon-side win the league title, scoring 14 goals in 33 games, notably the first against Porto on 6 February 1994.^[5][6]

In his second season, Artur Jorge made several changes in the squad, with Aílton being loaned out to São Paulo until June 1995. He returned to Portugal for a six-month spell in 1995, without much success, moving permanently to São Paulo in January 1996.^[7]

At São Paulo, he won the Copa Master de CONMEBOL, scoring one goal in the semifinal against Botafogo. He then passed through five more clubs, notably helping São Caetano finish runner-up in the Série A in 2000 and 2001, plus starting both games of the 2002 Copa Libertadores Finals.^[2]

Honours

Atlético Mineiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 1988, 1989, 1991
• Copa CONMEBOL: 1992

Benfica

• Primeira Liga: 1993–94
• Taça de Portugal: 1995–96

São Paulo

• Copa Master de CONMEBOL: 1996

Cruzeiro

• Copa Libertadores: 1997

References

1. «Jogar no Benfica custou-me um divórcio doloroso» maisfutebol.iol.pt
2. "Ailton". Terceiro Tempo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 June 2018.
3. ""El Tren" Valência: "Benfica não tinha dinheiro suficiente para me contratar"" [El tren Valencia: "Benfica did not have enough money for me"]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 October 1999. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
4. "SL Benfica vs. FC Barcelona full match". Footballia. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
5. Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 526. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
6. Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 531. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.
7. Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. p. 547. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.

External links

• Association football portal
• Brazil portal

• Aílton at ForaDeJogo (archived)