Marcos Pizzelli

Marcos Pinheiro Pizzelli (Template:IPA-it, Template:Lang-hy, born 3 October 1984), commonly known as Marcos, is a Brazilian-born Armenian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek club Xanthi and the Armenia national team.

Club career

Ararat Yerevan

He started his career at the Brazilian club São Carlos as a youth from 2000 to 2005. In 2006, the young talent spotted by an agent from Ararat Yerevan, which soon recruited Pizzelli. His debut took place on 30 April in a game against Ulisses. Pizzelli entered the field in the 58th minute of the match, replacing Tigran Yesayan. His first goal for Ararat happened on 16 June in another game against Ulisses. For the first season Pizzelli focused on adaptation, and the next was on scoring goals. With its high performance, Pizzelli was the leading scorer in the Armenian Premier League twice with Ararat, scoring 22 goals during the 2007 Armenian Premier League and scoring 17 goals during that 2008 Armenian Premier League.<ref name="PS">Template:Cite web</ref> As a result of the financial problems that have befallen Ararat, the club has decided to loan Pizzelli to the amateur club of the French 5th Division - Ararat (Issy-les-Moulineaux).

Pyunik Yerevan

Six months later, in the summer of 2009, Pizzelli's contract with Ararat ended, and, as a free agent, he accepted the invitation of FC Yerevan Pyunik. In July, a long-term contract was made. With Pizzelli playing for Pyunik, the club won the 2009 Armenian Premier League and 2010 Armenian Premier League, won the 2009 Armenian Cup and 2010 Armenian Cup and won the 2010 Armenian Supercup. In the 10th round of the 2010 Armenian Premier League, Marcos had his 100th match in the Premier League in the history of his performance.<ref name="PS" /> That season, Pizzelli became the top goalscorer for a third time along with Armenian Gevorg Ghazaryan, with both scoring 16 goals. In the middle of the 2011 Armenian Premier League, Pizzelli had scored 6 goals, but was then transferred to Metalurh Donetsk.

Metalurh Donetsk

In June 2011, he signed a contract with Metalurh Donetsk, along with Pyunik teammate Gevorg Ghazaryan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his first official match for the Donetsk club, Pizzelli scored a goal, and this goal, scored against Chornomorets Odesa, was the only one in the match. In the higher level championship, Pizzelli became much more difficult to play. Scoring as it was possible in the Armenian Premier League had not worked. However, the reduction of statistics is not only related to this factor. In Metalurh, according to the plans of the coach, he had Pizzelli not to act as a central striker and instead play the position of attacking midfielder. In rare cases, crossing the center line on the flanks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kuban Krasnodar

In January 2012, Pizzelli joined Kuban Krasnodar. In 2011, in a match between Russia and Armenia, the head coach of Team Kuban Dan Petrescu spotted Pizzelli and was interested in the player. After a long observation of the game of Pizzelli, Petrescu has agreed to acquire the player. On 13 January, they signed a contract for three years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 18 March, Pizzelli scored the first goal in the Russian Premier League and brought Kuban the win over Rubin Kazan. Pizzelli was voted player of the month for Kuban a second time in May 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Krasnodar

In May 2013, Pizzelli agreed to join Kuban Krasnodar's rivals FC Krasnodar on a two-year contract starting on 10 June 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After six months with Krasnodar, Pizzelli joined Kazakhstan Premier League side Aktobe on a season-long loan in January 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aktobe

In October 2014, Pizzelli made his loan move from FC Krasnodar a permanent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the conclusion of the 2015 season, Pizzelli was transfer listed by Aktobe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Al-Raed

On 18 January 2016, Pizzelli moved to Saudi club Al-Raed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Al-Fujairah SC

On June 27, 2016, Pizzelli was transferred to Al-Fujairah of the UAE Arabian Gulf League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

International career

In May 2008, he received Armenian citizenship and became a member of the Armenia national team. He made his first appearance on 28 May 2008 and scored on his debut in a friendly away game against Moldova. The match ended with the score 2-2. After playing 3 games that year, he was briefly no longer invited to the national team. After moving to Yerevan to play for Pyunik, he again came to the attention of coaches and 12 August 2009 Marcos again played for the Armenian national team regularly. On 8 October 2010 in a match against Slovakia, he made a scoring pass to Yura Movsisyan, and a few days later, he scored Armenia's 4th goal in a game against Andorra. That victory then went on to secure Armenia's by that time highest ever FIFA World Ranking as 42nd. For his second goal for the national squad, Pizzelli scored in an away match with Russia (1:3). His third goal for the team scored in am away match against Andorra in which Armenia won 3-0. His fourth goal for the national team scored in the match against Macedonia, in which Armenia won 4-1. In a friendly game, which was held 29 February 2012 against Team Canada, marked the first time in his double gate rivals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 11 September 2012, Pizzelli was controversially sent off in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 11 October 2014, Pizzelli had a penalty saved by Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match, after which Zoran Tošić scored a late equaliser to give Serbia a 1–1 draw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International goals

As of match played 11 October 2016. Armenia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pizzelli goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref
1	28 May 2008	Sheriff Stadium, Tiraspol, Moldova	1	Template:Fb	1–0	2–2	Friendly	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2	15 October 2010	Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	10	Template:Fb	4–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
3	4 April 2011	Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia	13	Template:Fb	1–0	1–3		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
4	2 September 2011	Camp d’Esports d’Aixovall, Aixovall, Andorra	15	Template:Fb		3–0		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
5	7 October 2011	Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	17	Template:Fb		4–1		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
6	29 February 2012	Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus	19	Template:Fb	1–1	3–1	Friendly	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
7					2–1
8	13 June 2015	Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	42	Template:Fb	1–0	2–3	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
9	11 October 2016	National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland	53	Template:Fb	1–1	1–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Marcos is married to his wife Natalia. They met in Brazil and she moved with him to Armenia. Marcos and Natalia do not have children yet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pizzelli can speak Portuguese, Armenian, English and is currently learning Russian. He identifies himself as Brazilian-Armenian. Pizzelli says he feels more Armenian than Brazilian. Marcos says he would never forget about Armenia, which gave him an opportunity to develop his skills. "I am grateful to this country for everything. I would play for Armenia as long as the squad needs me."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Marcos and his wife Natalia have a dog named Liza.

Career statistics

Club

Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NFT Stats"/>

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ararat Yerevan	2006	Armenian Premier League	24	5			-		-		-		24	5
	2007		26	22			-		-		-		26	22
	2008		28	17			-		2	0	-		30	17
	Total		78	44			-	-	2	0	-	-	80	44
ASA Issy (loan)	2008-09	CFA 2							–		–
Pyunik	2009	Armenian Premier League	12	9			-		2	0	-		14	9
	2010		26	16	4	3	-		2	0	-		32	19
	2011		11	6	0	0	-		-		-		28	16
	Total		49	31			-	-	4	0	-	-	53	31
Metalurh Donetsk	2011–12	Ukrainian Premier League	18	4	1	0	–		–		–		19	4
Kuban Krasnodar	2011–12	Russian Premier League	10	3	0	0	–		–		–		10	3
	2012–13		21	5	2	1	–		–		–		23	6
	Total		31	8	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	33	9
Krasnodar	2013–14	Russian Premier League	6	0	2	2	–		–		–		8	2
Aktobe (loan)	2014	Kazakhstan Premier League	28	8	5	2	–		5	0	1	0	39	10
Aktobe	2015	Kazakhstan Premier League	27	5	3	1	–		2	0	–		32	6
Career total			237	100	17	9	-	-	13	0	-	-	267	109

International

National Team	Year	Apps	Goals
Armenia
	2008	2	1
	2009	3	0
	2010	5	1
	2011	8	3
	2012	7	2
	2013	9	0
	2014	6	0
	2015	6	1
	2016	7	1
Total		53	9

Statistics accurate as of match played 11 October 2016<ref name="NFT Stats">Template:NFT player</ref>

Honours

Club

Ararat Yerevan

• Armenian Premier League Runner-up (1): 2008<ref name="soccerway">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Armenian Cup (1): 2008<ref name="cup08">Template:Cite web</ref>

Pyunik Yerevan

• Armenian Premier League (2): 2009,<ref name="soccerway" /> 2010<ref name="soccerway" />
• Armenian Cup (2): 2009,<ref name="cup09">Template:Cite web</ref> 2010<ref name="cup10">Template:Cite web</ref>

Metalurh Donetsk

• Player of the Month (1): July 2011<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aktobe

• Kazakhstan Super Cup (1): 2014<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Individual

• Armenian Premier League Top Goalscorer: 2007 (22),<ref name="atg">Template:Cite web</ref> 2008 (17),<ref name="atg" /> 2010 (16)<ref name="atg" />

External links

• Profile at FFA website
• Template:Soccerway
• Profile at footballdatabase.eu
• Profile at armfootball.tripod.com