Brazil has given the footballing world many gifted talents throughout history. One of them plied his trade during a 13-year-spell and caught the imagination of each club he played for. His name is Luis Eduardo Schmidt, better known as ‘Edu.’
The Brazilian grew up a huge football fanatic. “My idol growing up was Rai who had so much class and quality. He played in my infant team of São Paulo, who were world champions at the time. We defeated Cruyff’s Barcelona and Milan,” recalls Edu.
The Prince of Style: Edu
Brazil Call-Up
His senior career path would start at São Paulo in 1998 where he would make 11 appearances. He entered the international fold with a call up to the Brazil national team, debuting against Thailand in February 2000.
“Playing with your national team is really beautiful and satisfying. The fact of being chosen from within so many footballers to represent your country gives you a lot of pride.
“That journey started with the national team when I was just 17-years-old and playing for São Paulo.”
Europe Calling
The player’s talents were generating growing interest. Europe came calling and he signed with Spanish La Liga outfit Celta de Vigo in summer 2000.
It was a summer where he represented his nation at the Sydney Olympics. Edu would score two goals and qualify for the quarter-finals, but Brazil would narrowly lose to eventual winners Cameroon 2-1 in extra time.
“Although we didn’t win the tournament, the Olympics were very beautiful and I performed very well. Scoring those two goals gave me a lot of joy.”
The flying start to the new Millennium and his move to Spain were his big break. He would take it with both hands, amassing 117 games during a fruitful four-year spell and scoring 27 goals.
During his time in North West Galicia, he would appear in the UEFA Champions League. Notably, he scored against Arsenal in their Round of 16 encounter.
“It was a great game from a personal perspective where I scored with a great headed effort. Even better to be in the Champions League too.
“That Celta team were very good and personally we didn’t deserve to lose that game. Still, Arsenal had a great team with spectacular players who took advantage of their chances on the night.”
In 2004, the Brazilian would make the move south of Spain and to Andalucía, signing for Seville based club Real Betis. It was initially a two-year-loan deal but it would turn into five seasons, which became the becoming of Edu.
Trophy Delight
His first season at the club would prove highly successful, scoring 14 goals with ten assists. He created a prolific telepathic tandem with fellow Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira. Both were scoring the goals on many occasions which catapulted Betis to fourth place and a Champions League qualification berth.
“My connection with Ricardo was the fruit of what can happen in football and in life. With time, we understood each other perfectly both inside and outside of the pitch.
“Having said that, I also had a great relation with my other teammates like Dani, Marcos Assunçao, Juanito, Joaquín, Fernando, Toni Doblas and David Rivas. In short, a great feeling with all my colleagues.”
That same 2004/05 season, Real Betis would end the campaign clinching the Copa Del Rey too and it was a glorious time for Edu.
“After so long without winning a title, it was very special in my first season at Betis to win the cup and qualify for the Champions League. A great season which we enjoyed very much with that team.”
Hero Status for ‘The Prince’
Real Betis would successfully qualify for the Champions League group stage by defeating AS Monaco over two legs. The Brazilians were at the heart of the success – Edu scoring the only goal in injury time of the first leg home game before Oliveira would score twice in Monaco and secure a 2-2 draw and achieve their European target.
Edu, by now a fully-fledged Betis player following his €2 million purchase in 2006, would achieve cult status in the seasons after with a knack for crucial goals. In 2007 with the club celebrating its centenary anniversary, Betis were involved in a relegation battle.
The drama would go down to the final day and against opponents Racing Santander, Betis were virtually relegated for ten minutes with results going against them.
Cue Edu, the saviour with two crucial goals to save Betis from relegation and achieve hero status amongst the Betis faithful.
“The pressure was palpable of course. It was a unique match with everything on the line for us as the next season would be our 100 year anniversary. Also, the B team of rivals Sevilla gained promotion to the Second Division. Therefore, it would have been a huge blow for us to be relegated and play our centenary season against the 2nd team of our eternal rivals. Thank goodness we stayed in La Liga and didn’t have to go through that.”
The following season Edu was at it again with vital goals, this time scoring twice once again in a famous comeback for Betis against Barcelona.
A classic game of two halves it proved to be with Betis roaring back with a spirited second-half showing from the Green and Whites. Edu was the beacon of hope with his two majestic strikes to further enter Betis folklore. In his own words, the player clearly cherished his special night.
“With regards to my match in Santander, this match had a different pressure to line up against a top team as is Barcelona. It was a magical night and personally I loved playing against big clubs. The sensations and emotions of that night I will never forget for how we came back from 2-0 to win 3-2.
“The stadium went crazy when I scored the winning goal. It was tremendous to live that with our fantastic supporters. Barcelona is actually one of the teams which brought out the best in me in terms of goals and assists.”
The Prince, as he was coined by supporters, firmly showed he was the royalty of a club whose name has royalty inscribed within its name. (Real is Spanish for royal and this title was anointed to Betis in the 1900s).
A Time to Reminisce
It was, however, to be an unhappy end to his Betis and Spanish football career as in May 2009 and after years of Betis flirting with danger, the club were relegated on the final day of the season; a cruel way to end what was a highly successful spell with Betis and in La Liga. Yet, Edu remains philosophical about his time in Spain.
“The memories of playing in La Liga are of gratitude and being very thankful. To be able to play in the best league in the world was fantastic with wonderful players which I was around and playing for and against. What stimulated me even more was to be the best every day and find ways to improve all areas of my game so when matchday arrived I was fully prepared and at the level expected of me.
“I remember that I have played 80 matches without receiving not one yellow card and had one of the best disciplinary records in the league. In one year I also held the record for most headed goals in La Liga, which was very nice.”
The Brazilian would wind down his footballing career with spells in Brazil with Internacional and Vitoria before a season in the MLS with Colorado Rapids.
Looking back, Edu reflects with joy upon his career. When asked about his favourite goal, he says it is difficult to choose just one. He notes the first goal in the career of any professional footballer is very special.
The Brazilian also remembers with great fondness his favourite matches playing against Barcelona, Racing Santander, AS Monaco and verses Real Madrid where he scored the first goal and assisted the second in a 2-1 victory.
Asked whether he had any regrets from his playing days, Edu was clear:
“When I look back, I don’t regret anything. I believe in a lot of occasions I gave my all to be the best on the pitch. Obviously I couldn’t be 100% all the time.
“I left home when I was 16-years-old from a humble and simple family. I wanted to give them better living conditions and thank goodness I achieved it. Luckily, I have managed to overcome the obstacles, the challenges and improve day by day through discipline and drive.”
New Beginnings and Next Footballing Chapter
Nowadays, Edu keeps his toe in football working as a representative presiding over footballers. It is a job which gives him a lot of satisfaction to give back to football:
“After I finished my playing career, I started to work inside what I love, which is football. I have a company which looks after footballers who are at the likes of Real Madrid and some based in Russia. I work with my great friend from school, my brother-in-law and the ex-footballer Fabio Aurélio.
“We want to create a different job with these young footballers. To give them security and develop them into adults who are capable to deal with this life and the difficulties they may come across both from a mental and psychological perspective. It is fundamental they possess these characteristics as they can focus on playing football to the best of their ability. The question isn’t to work in quantity but with quality.
“A winning mentality and discipline are necessary tools to realize that the quality, in the end, makes the difference and ultimately win football matches.”
Edu indelibly left his mark in the game throughout his career with 300 appearances and 64 goals to his name. He successfully blended silk through his footballing style of flicks and tricks allied to steel with a battle-hardened approach and combative playing style, perfectly demonstrated by carrying on through the pain barrier with a bloodied head in one game.
His gracefulness in which he moved around the pitch very much confirmed the nickname he lived up to as the Prince.
A royal Rolls Royce player who left a notable footballing legacy.
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