Club career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Felipe joined Vasco da Gama at the age of six, for their futsal team. He moved to the fields in 1990, aged 12, and made his first team debut on 3 November 1996, starting in a 2–1 win over Botafogo. [1]
Felipe scored his first senior goal on 30 August 1997, in a 3–2 win over Sport Recife. [2] He became a regular starter in that year, being an important unit in Vasco's successful spell.
In May 1999, Vasco sold Felipe to Roma for a fee of US$ 20 million, but manager Fabio Capello refused the player. Roma tried to cancel the deal, but Vasco refused, and Felipe only received clearance to play for Vasco in September. [3] Roma was later deemed to pay US$ 2 million to Vasco on compensation in 2002. [4]
In 2001, after spending a part of the previous season sidelined due to injury, Felipe was separated from the squad of the Cruzmaltino after having altercations with the club's board, after considering himself underpaid. [5] He was subsequently loaned to Palmeiras to play in the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship, but was released in July, a few months after the tournament was cancelled. [6]
On 31 October 2001, Felipe moved to Atlético Mineiro on loan for the remainder of the year. [7] He returned to Vasco in January 2002, [8] where he again became a starter.
In 2002, Felipe moved abroad and joined Turkish side Galatasaray, but rescinded his contract in November of that year, after featuring rarely. [9] He signed for Flamengo on 16 January 2003, after agreeing to a two-year deal. [10]
Felipe was an undisputed starter for Fla in the 2004 campaign, being often deployed as a right winger; despite winning the 2004 Campeonato Carioca, the club narrowly avoided relegation in the 2004 Série A. On 10 January 2005, he was presented at Fluminense. [11]
Felipe struggled with injuries at Flu, being also suspended for 120 days after assaulting a player from Campinense during a Copa do Brasil match. [12] In October, after missing out two training days in the week and disagreeing with the subsequent fine, he had his contract rescinded. [13]
On 2 November 2005, Felipe moved to Al Sadd in Qatar. [14] He spent five seasons in Middle East, winning several collective and individual accolades.
On 9 June 2010, Felipe agreed to return to his first club Vasco, after his contract with Al Sadd was due to expire. [15] An immediate starter, he had altercations with director René Simões in the latter months of 2012, and had his contract rescinded by the director on 21 December of that year. [16]
On 19 January 2013, Felipe returned to Fluminense. [17] Despite being regularly used, he was unable to establish himself as a starter, and left the club on 17 December. [18]
On 15 March 2014, after spending three months without a club, Felipe announced his retirement at the age of 36. [19]
Coaching career
On 4 July 2016, Felipe was named head coach of Tigres do Brasil for the upcoming season, having former Vasco teammate Pedrinho as his assistant. [21] The duo resigned the following 11 February, after a 4–0 loss to Cabofriense. [22]
On 6 February 2019, Felipe joined Ponte Preta as a football coordinator. [23] He left the club on 27 November, [24] and spent more than a year unemployed before returning to coaching duties on 27 April 2021, after being named at the helm of Bangu. [25]
On 14 April 2022, Felipe left Bangu to take over Série C side Confiança. [26] He resigned on 18 June, [27] and returned to his previous club Bangu on 21 October. [28]
Bangu announced the departure of Felipe on 28 March 2023, after not renewing his contract. [29] On 23 October, he agreed to become Volta Redonda's head coach for the ensuing season, [30] but was dismissed on 15 February 2024. [31]
On 3 June 2024, Felipe returned to Vasco as a technical director. [32] On 24 November, he was named interim head coach of the club for the remaining three matches of the season, replacing Rafael Paiva. [33]
