Kanu (footballer, born 1987)

Not to be confused with Nwankwo Kanu.

Rubenilson dos Santos da Rocha (born 23 September 1987), commonly known as Kanu, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club Zelzate.

Kanu

Personal information
Full name	Rubenilson dos Santos da Rocha
Date of birth	(1987-09-23) 23 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Salvador, Brazil
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Zelzate
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Grêmio Barueri	4	(1)
2008	→ Juventus-SP (loan)	11	(2)
2008	→ Anderlecht (loan)	1	(0)
2009–2013	Anderlecht	79	(12)
2009	→ Cercle Brugge (loan)	13	(0)
2013–2016	Terek Grozny	54	(2)
2016	Buriram United	0	(0)
2017–2018	Omonia	22	(0)
2018–2019	Kortrijk	16	(1)
2019	Al-Raed	13	(1)
2020–2021	Xylotymbou	16	(4)
2021	Juazeirense	6	(0)
2021–2022	Rupel Boom	25	(2)
2023	Diest	0	(0)
2023	Rupel Boom	12	(2)
2024–	Zelzate	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 November 2023

Club career

Before signing at Anderlecht, Kanu was on trial with FC Groningen.^[1] On 13 December 2008, he was loaned out to Cercle Brugge and on 30 June 2009 returned to Anderlecht.^[2]

In February 2014, Kanu agree to switch to Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny.^[3]

On 23 June 2017, Kanu signed a deal with the Cypriot First Division club Omonia Nicosia.^[4] He made his debut on 10 September 2017 against Ethnikos Achna on the 2017–18 First Division season and gave an assist to Matt Derbyshire for the winning goal.^[5]

On 31 January 2023, Kanu joined Diest in Belgium.^[6]

Statistics

As of 16 May 2016^[7]

Club statistics

Season	Club	League	League		Cup		Continental		Total
			App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
2012–13	Terek Grozny	Russian Premier League	6	1	0	0	—		6	1
2013–14			25	1	3	0	—		28	1
2014–15			18	0	1	0	—		19	0
2015–16			5	0	2	1	—		7	1
Total	Russia		54	2	6	1	—		60	3
Career total			54	2	6	1	—		60	3

Personal life

Kanu chose his football name as a reference to Nwankwo Kanu.^{[citation needed]}