Helton da Silva Arruda

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Helton
Personal information
Full name Helton da Silva Arruda
Date of birth May 18, 1978 (1978-05-18) (age 30)
Place of birth    Alcântara, Brazil
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club FC Porto
Number 1
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2000-2002
2002-2005
2005-		 Vasco da Gama
UD Leiria
FC Porto		 52 (0)
67 (0)
55 (0)   
National team2
2006- Brazil 05 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 18:10, 25 January 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 12:00, 16 July 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Helton da Silva Arruda (born May 18, 1978 in Alcântara, Maranhão), or Helton for short, is a Brazilian football (soccer) player at the position of goalkeeper.

Helton is a product of Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama's youth system. Helton was part of the Brazilian team in 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympics football tournament. He first attracted attention when he won the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Mercosur with the club in 2000. In 2002, his contract with Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama expired and he signed with the Portuguese club UD Leiria. At the end of the 2004/2005 season he signed with FC Porto.

It seemed the keeper was destined to spend a long time bench-warming as the legendary Vitor Baia barred his way into the first team. However, Helton got his chance sooner than expected when Dutch coach Co Adriaanse summarily dropped Baia after a mistake against Estrela da Amadora cost Porto a goal and defeat.

Initial criticism for what was seen as excessively harsh treatment meted out to the popular Baia by the coach was soon dissipated as a string of assured performances proved Helton was worthy of the number one spot. He celebrated his first year at the club with the domestic double of Portuguese Championship and Cup.

Helton received his first call up to Brazil team in October 2006. He started in a friendly match against Kuwait club, Al-Kuwait on October 7, 2006. However, it was not his official debut for the team, since the match was not considered as official friendly match by FIFA. Helton finally made his full official debut for Brazil by starting in a friendly match against Switzerland on 15 November 2006. He was a member of the Brazilian team who won back-to-back titles in Copa America 2007, although he didn't played a single match in the whole tournament. The first choice keeper would be Doni, who is currently playing in AS Roma.

[edit] Honours

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v • d • e
FC Porto – current squad

1 Helton • 2 B. Alves • 3 P. Emanuel • 4 Stepanov • 5 Čech • 7 Quaresma • 8 Lucho • 9 Lisandro • 11 Mariano • 13 Fucile • 14 J. Paulo • 15 Lino • 16 Meireles • 17 Sektioui • 18 Bolatti • 19 Farías • 20 L. Lima • 24 Ventura • 25 Kaź • 26 Castro • 28 Adriano • 29 Edgar • 30 Rui Pedro • 33 Nuno • Manager: J. Ferreira
v • d • e
Brazil squad - Copa América 2007 Winners (8th Title)
1 Helton • 2 Maicon • 3 Alex • 4 Juan • 5 Mineiro • 6 Gilberto • 7 Elano • 8 Gilberto Silva • 9 Vágner Love • 10 Diego • 11 Robinho • 12 Doni • 13 Daniel Alves • 14 Alex Silva • 15 Naldo • 16 Kléber • 17 Josué • 18 Fernando • 19 Júlio Baptista • 20 Anderson • 21 Afonso Alves • 22 Fred • Coach: Dunga
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