Alessandro Pinto

Alessandro da Conceicao Pinto is a professional Brazilian football player who plays as a defender, specialising in the right back position. Alessandro began his playing career at the youth academy at Americano Futebol Clube, in 1992. For two seasons, he pushed himself up the ladder and caught the eye of Vasco da Gama, who decided to give him his professional debut.

From 1994 to 1998, Alessandro was part of the team that went on to win the 1997 Brazilian Serie A title, the 1998 Taca Guanabara, Taca Rio and the Rio de Janeiro State League titles. Although Alessandro was part of these winning teams, he played a minor role and was forced to look at a smaller club to get more playing time.

He moved to Campo Grande in 1998, followed by a move to Ituano Futebol Clube in 1999. The same year, he shifted again to Mirassol Futebol Clube, all in search of a regular playing spot. That opportunity came in 2000, when he moved to Bangu Futebol Clube and played 27 games for the first team. He made a big impression on Atletico Paranaense scouts and was signed up in 2000.

For the next four seasons, Alessandro would be a regular in the Atletico first team, playing over 90 games and scoring a couple of goals. Towards the end of his tenure at Atletico Paranaense, he was beginning to lose his place in the team and decided that it was better to go out on loan. He moved to Atletico Mineiro for a year, playing in their first team with regularity.

Alessandro helped the Atletico Paranaense line-up win the 2001 and 2002 Parana State League titles as well as the 2001 Brazilian Serie A title. He moved to Sao Caetano in 2005, for a couple of seasons, and played almost every game for the team.

In 2007, Alessandro moved to Botafogo and made the right-back position his own! He helped the team win the 2007 and 2008 Taca Rio titles as well as the 2009 Taca Guanabara title on his way to winning over 115 caps with the team.

At the international level, Alessandro never really got a look in due to the presence of world cup winning captain Cafu playing in his position. With the likes of Maicon and Daniel Alves taking up those duties since, Alessandro never really got an opportunity except in 2001, when he was called up for three games.