Robson Ponte

Robson Ponte (born 6 November 1976) is a Brazilian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He spent most of his career at Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany and Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.

Robson Ponte

Personal information
Date of birth	(1976-11-06) 6 November 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1996	CA Juventus
1997	América-SP
1998–1999	Guarani	32	(16)
1999–2005	Bayer Leverkusen	79	(6)
2001–2003	→ VfL Wolfsburg (loan)	61	(13)
2005–2010	Urawa Reds	144	(33)
2011	Grêmio Barueri	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Ponte was born in São Paulo.

After impressing in a friendly match between his club Guarani and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in early 1999, he was offered a contract by Bundesliga club in August 1999.^[1] He played for three seasons at Leverkusen. In the month of his transfer, German techno label Kompakt released a single entitled 'Robson Ponte'.^[2]

Before the 2001–02 season started, Ponte moved on loan to another Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. At Wolfsburg, he managed 61 appearances in two seasons and scored 13 goals.

Ponte signed on free transfer with Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds before his contract with Leverkusen expired in July 2005.^[3] He, an all-around midfielder, took both penalty kicks and corners for Urawa for five seasons. In 2007, he received the Most Valuable Player award of the season.

Ponte ended his playing career with foreign professional leagues in 2010 and returned his country Brazil to spend his last years. He joined Grêmio Barueri on 26 May 2011.^[4][5]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
CA Juventus	1995	Paulista	24	14					-
	1996		26	12					-
	Total
América FC	1997	Paulista	4	1					-
Guarani	1998	Série A	16	7					-
	1999		16	9					-
	Total
Bayer Leverkusen	1999–00	Bundesliga	24	2	8	2	1	0	5	0	38	4
	2000–01		12	0			1	0	3	1	16	1
	2003–04		20	2	2	2	-		-		22	4
	2004–05		23	2	2	1	1	0	8	1	34	4
	Total		79	6	12	5	3	0	16	2	110	13
VfL Wolfsburg (loan)	2001–02	Bundesliga	31	8	3	1	-
	2002–03		30	5	2	0	-		-		32	5
	Total		61	13	5	1	0	0	0	0	66	14
Urawa Reds	2005	J1 League	16	8	5	0	3	1	-		24	9
	2006		22	4	4	2	3	0	-		29	6
	2007		33	7	0	0	2	0	12	5	47	12
	2008		16	1	2	1	2	0	4	0	24	2
	2009		28	4	1	0	4	1	-		33	5
	2010		29	9	2	2	6	2	-		35	11
	Total		144	33	14	6	20	4	16	5	194	47
Career total

Awards and honours

Club

Urawa Red Diamonds

• AFC Champions League: 2007^[6]
• J1 League: 2006
• Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006
• Japanese Super Cup: 2006

Individual

• J. League Most Valuable Player: 2007
• J. League Best Eleven: 2007