| Giovanni's game is built on deft touches and extraordinary workrate, a combination which saw him voted the best foreign player in the Greek top flight in the season after his arrival from FC Barcelona in 1999.
National team
Despite fierce competition, Giovanni won 19 caps for Brazil, scoring six goals. He was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and started the opening victory against Scotland before dropping out of the picture as Brazil made it to the final.
Club
After eight goals in 18 games for São Carlense in the 1994 season, Giovanni hit the big time following a move to Santos FC. He spent two hugely successful campaigns with the esteemed Brazilian club, winning one league championship and a cup. In 1995 Giovanni was named the Brazilian footballer of the year.
1996: His exploits attracted interest from glamorous European suitors, Barcelona winning his signature. During his three years at Camp Nou, Giovanni won two league titles, two Spanish Cups and the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, although he was on the bench for the defeat of Paris Saint-Germain FC.
1999: Honours have come in each of his campaigns since joining Olympiacos CFP. He ingratiated himself to the OAKA Spiros Louis crowd by scoring two goals against Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League, but an injury sustained against Iraklis FC threatened to prematurely end his career, although he recovered fully after a six-month absence.
2002/03: Another championship and a best goals return of ten in 22 league matches. He was superb in a defeat of Akratitos FC, hitting a hat-trick, although he again failed to score in the Champions League. |
Brazil