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Rodrigo Juliano Lopes de Almeida (born 7 August 1976) is a former Brazilian football midfielder, commonly known as Rodrigo Beckham due to having various similarities to David Beckham.[2][3][4]
Rodrigo started his career at local club Portuguesa Santista in 1995, having played for the club in Campeonato Paulista matches[5] and was loaned to Guarani for the 1997 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. After returning to Portuguesa Santista, he was loaned to Gama and was a key player for the club as they won 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, scoring 9 goals in 14 matches.[6]
In 1999, Rodrigo joined Botafogo, shining at national level and becoming the club top goalscorer at the 2000 and 2001 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A editions, also being touted to a call-up to Brazil national football team.[7] In 2002, he was loaned to Atlético Mineiro, where he injured his right knee in a match against Cruzeiro.[8]
Rodrigo was signed on loan for Everton in July 2002,[9] choosing his name to be printed as Rodrigol.[10] However, his knee injury was not properly diagnosed[11] and he suffered a ruptured ligament in September[12] and did not play for the club again before being released in May the following year, having played only four matches.[13] He went on trial with Leeds United in the summer of 2003.[14]
After returning to Brazil, he joined Corinthians in 2004, but he dealt with persistent injuries and surgeries to his knee and could not recover his previous form.[15] Later, he had unsuccessful spells at Juventude, Atlético Paranaense, Vasco da Gama, Paraná and Boavista, before ending his playing career at Red Bull Brasil in 2010.
After retiring, Rodrigo worked as a pundit and, in 2014, became an assistant manager for Boavista, being promoted to manager in the following year.[16] He stayed as manager in 2016[17] and was replaced by Joel Santana in 2017.[18]
