Charles (footballer, born 1984)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Diasand the second or paternal family name is de Oliveira.

Charles

Charles in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Charles Dias de Oliveira
Date of birth	(1984-04-04) 4 April 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth	Belém, Brazil
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1996	Santos
1997–2001	Tuna Luso
2001–2002	Feirense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Feirense	50	(12)
2004–2010	Pontevedra	179	(56)
2010–2012	Córdoba	66	(22)
2012–2013	Almería	40	(27)
2013–2015	Celta	58	(15)
2015–2017	Málaga	56	(14)
2017–2020	Eibar	94	(28)
2020–2023	Pontevedra	87	(30)
Total		630	(204)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Charles Dias de Oliveira (born 4 April 1984), known simply as Charles, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He spent most of his career in Spain, representing clubs in La Liga, Segunda División and Segunda División B after starting out at Pontevedra. In the top flight, he achieved figures of 208 games and 57 goals over seven seasons. ^[1]

Club career

Charles playing for Pontevedra in 2007

Born in Belém, Pará, Charles started playing football with Santos FC, then completed his development with Tuna Luso Brasileira still in his country and C.D. Feirense in Portugal. He started his senior career with the latter club, competing in both the second and third divisions. ^[2]

In the summer of 2004, Charles moved to Spain, signing with Pontevedra CF in the Segunda División. He made his league debut on 28 August in a 0–1 home loss against Polideportivo Ejido, being sent off after only three minutes on the pitch. ^[3]

Charles spent the following five seasons with the Galicians in the Segunda División B. ^{[4] [5]} In his last he led them to the promotion playoffs after scoring 15 goals in the regular season, ^[6] but they eventually fell short.

In early July 2010, Charles signed for second-tier Córdoba CF as a free agent. ^[7] He again netted 15 times in his first campaign, notably grabbing braces in wins against Xerez CD (3–1 away) and Albacete Balompié (5–1, home). ^[8]

Charles joined UD Almería – also in Andalusia – for the 2012–13 season, ^[9] after engaging in extensive and fruitless conversations with Córdoba to renew his contract. ^{[10] [11]} On 2 December 2012 he scored a hat-trick past Racing de Santander in a 4–3 away win ^[12] and, already fully reconverted as a striker after having started his career as a winger, was crowned the competition's Pichichi Trophy at 27 goals (plus five in the playoffs) to help his team back to La Liga after two years. ^[13]

On 27 June 2013, Charles penned a four-year contract with RC Celta de Vigo, as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Iago Aspas. ^[14] He scored in his top-flight debut at the age of 29, in a 2–2 home draw against RCD Espanyol. ^[15]

Charles was the author of the first-ever goal at the new San Mamés Stadium on 16 September 2013, but in a 3–2 loss to Athletic Bilbao. ^{[16] [17]} He took his league tally to seven on 11 January of the following year, netting a brace to help the hosts come from behind and defeat Valencia CF 2–1. ^[18]

Charles scored both goals in the 2–0 home victory over Real Madrid on 11 May 2014, which ended his opponents chances of winning the league. ^[19] On 24 June 2015, he signed a two-year deal with fellow top-division Málaga CF. ^[20]

On 3 October 2015, in matchday seven, Charles netted all of his side's goals – also their first of the new season – to help defeat Real Sociedad 3–1 at the La Rosaleda Stadium. ^[21] In July 2017 he joined SD Eibar also from the main division, agreeing to a one-year contract on a free transfer. ^[22]

On 31 July 2020, the 36-year-old Charles returned to Pontevedra. ^[23] Three years later, following the club's relegation to Segunda Federación, he retired. ^[24]

Personal life

Charles' father, Careca, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he played for Paysandu Sport Club, Santos and Clube do Remo before moving to Portugal in 1987. ^[2]

Charles was cousin to two other footballers, Igor de Souza and Yuri de Souza. They too were forwards and also spent several seasons in Portugal and Spain, also representing Pontevedra. ^{[25] [26]}

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ^[27]

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Feirense	2001–02 [28]	Segunda Divisão	8	3	—		—		8	3
	2002–03 [28]		12	5	—		—		12	5
	2003–04 [28]	Segunda Liga	30	3	2	1	—		32	4
	Total		50	12	2	1	0	0	52	13
Pontevedra	2004–05 [29]	Segunda División	33	6	2	1	—		35	7
	2005–06 [29]	Segunda División B	36	13	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	39	13
	2006–07 [29]		33	9	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	36	9
	2007–08 [29]		16	4	2	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	20	4
	2008–09 [29]		26	9	0	0	—		26	9
	2009–10 [29]		35	15	0	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	38	15
	Total		179	56	6	1	9	0	194	57
Córdoba	2010–11 [29]	Segunda División	36	15	3	0	—		39	15
	2011–12 [29]		30	7	3	1	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	35	8
	Total		66	22	6	1	2	0	74	23
Almería	2012–13 [29]	Segunda División	40	27	3	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	5	47	32
Celta	2013–14 [29]	La Liga	30	12	1	0	—		31	12
	2014–15 [29]		28	3	3	1	—		31	4
	Total		58	15	4	1	0	0	62	16
Málaga	2015–16 [29]	La Liga	35	11	0	0	—		35	11
	2016–17 [29]		21	3	0	0	—		21	3
	Total		56	14	0	0	0	0	56	14
Eibar	2017–18 [29]	La Liga	30	8	1	0	—		31	8
	2018–19 [29]		34	14	2	1	—		36	15
	2019–20 [29]		30	6	3	3	—		33	9
	Total		94	28	6	4	0	0	100	32
Pontevedra	2020–21 [29]	Segunda División B	21	5	2	0	—		23	5
	2021–22 [29]	Segunda División RFEF	31	19	0	0	—		31	19
	2022–23 [29]	Primera Federación	35	6	2	0	—		37	6
	Total Pontevedra		266	86	10	1	9	0	285	87
Career total			630	204	31	8	15	5	676	217

1. Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs

Honours

Feirense

• Segunda Divisão: 2002–03 ^[30]

Individual

• Pichichi Trophy (Segunda División): 2012–13 ^[13]

References

1. Jiménez, Sergio (30 January 2023). "Charles, el hijo pródigo regresó a Pasarón para amargar al Castilla" [Charles, the prodigal son returned to Pasarón to upset Castilla]. As (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
2. Bianchini, Vladimir (25 August 2023). "Brasileiro lembra como destruiu Real Madrid e tirou título de LALIGA: 'Emocionante'" [Brazilian recalls how he destroyed Real Madrid and took the LALIGA title: 'Exciting'] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brazil . Retrieved 12 February 2024.
3. Casás, Xaime (29 August 2004). "El 'Poli' enseña al Pontevedra como se juega en Segunda" ['Poli' show Pontevedra how to play in Segunda]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 November 2017.
4. Gómez, P. (15 March 2010). "Iván Carril y Charles lideran al Pontevedra en Sestao y lo meten en las posiciones de ascenso" [Iván Carril and Charles lead Pontevedra in Sestao and place team in promotion zone]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
5. "Charles y Paulino se han pedido disculpas, según el Pontevedra" [Charles and Paulino have apologised to each other, according to Pontevedra]. El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). 31 March 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
6. "El Pontevedra, a por el ascenso" [Pontevedra, hunting promotion]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 10 May 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
7. López, Cisco (2 July 2010). "Charles, refuerzo para la delantera" [Charles, signing for offensive end]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
8. "El Córdoba da un gran paso hacia la salvación" [Córdoba take major step towards salvation]. Marca (in Spanish). 14 May 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
9. Gutiérrez, J. G. (13 July 2012). "Charles, otro elemento para la causa en una UD Almería que 'huele' bastante bien" [Charles, another member for the cause in UD Almería that 'smell' pretty good]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
10. Luque, Ignacio (31 August 2011). "Juan Luna Eslava: "Charles está hecho un mar de dudas"" [Juan Luna Eslava: "Charles is a sea of doubts"]. Diario Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
11. León, José Carlos (12 March 2013). "Charles, amenaza con cifras de récord" [Charles, threat at record pace]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
12. "(Crónica) El Almería se pone a un punto del líder y deja al Racing hundido" [(Report) Almería one point behind leaders and sink Racing] (in Spanish). Te Interesa. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
13. "Los goles del "pichichi" Charles llevan al Almería a primera división" [Goals from "pichichi" Charles take Almería to first division]. Ideal (in Spanish). 22 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
14. "Charles ficha por el Celta para las próxima[sic] cuatro temporadas" [Charles signs with Celta for next four seasons] (in Spanish). Goal. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
15. "Charles makes instant Celta impact". ESPN FC. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
16. "Athletic open stadium with win". ESPN FC. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
17. ""Seremos recordados", dice Mikel San José, autor del primer gol en el nuevo San Mamés" ["We shall be remembered", says Mikel San José, author of first goal in the new San Mamés]. Canal Athletic. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
18. Egea, Pablo (11 January 2014). "Charles acaba con el efecto Pizzi" [Charles ends Pizzi effect]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2014.
19. "Celta de Vigo 2–0 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
20. "Charles to join Málaga Club de Fútbol until 2016/17". Málaga CF. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
21. Cariño, Carlos (4 October 2015). "El Málaga se libera con los tres goles de Charles" [Málaga find liberation with the three goals from Charles]. As (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 October 2015.
22. "Charles, nuevo jugador de SD Eibar" [Charles, new player of SD Eibar] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
23. "Charles vuelve al Pontevedra" [Charles returns to Pontevedra]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 31 July 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
24. "El brasileño Charles Dias se retira después de más de 600 partidos en España" [Brazilian Charles Dias retires after more than 600 matches in Spain]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 May 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
25. "Yuri, "orgulloso" de liderar el Pichichi con su primo Charles" [Yuri, "proud" to top Pichichi with his cousin Charles]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
26. Quixano, Jordi (15 December 2012). "La 'familia Gol'" [The 'Goal family']. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2013.
27. Charles at Soccerway
28. Charles at ForaDeJogo (archived)
29. Charles at BDFutbol
30. "C.D. Feirense com história – 2002/2003" [C.D. Feirense with history – 2002/2003] (in Portuguese). C. D. Feirense. Retrieved 2 April 2019.

External links

• Charles at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Charles at BDFutbol
• Charles at Futbolme (in Spanish)