Marcos Senna

Marcos Antônio Senna da Silva (born 17 July 1976), known as Senna, is a Spanish-Brazilian retired footballer who played as a central midfielder.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Senna and the second or paternal family name is da Silva.
Marcos Senna
Senna warming up with Villarreal in 2008
Personal information
Full name Marcos Antônio Senna da Silva
Date of birth (1976-07-17) 17 July 1976
Place of birth São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Rio Branco
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997 Rio Branco
1998 América-SP 4 (0)
1999–2000 Corinthians 16 (0)
2001 Juventude 12 (1)
2002 São Caetano 14 (1)
2002–2013 Villarreal 292 (25)
2013–2015 New York Cosmos 55 (13)
Total 393 (40)
National team
2006–2010 Spain 28 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He was mainly known for his passing range and long–range shooting and was also a penalty specialist. He spent most of his professional career in Spain with Villarreal, appearing in 363 official matches during 11 seasons, ten of which were in La Liga (33 goals scored). He ended his career with the New York Cosmos, with whom he twice won the Soccer Bowl.

Born in Brazil, Senna represented the Spain national team during a four–year spell, appearing at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, and winning the latter tournament as starter.[1]

Club career

Villarreal

Born in São Paulo, Senna began his career with Rio Branco Esporte Clube. After playing for a number of Brazilian clubs early in his career he moved to Spanish side Villarreal CF in 2002, from Associação Desportiva São Caetano. He only made 25 La Liga appearances in his first two seasons combined, however this was mainly due to a serious knee injury he picked up in August 2003.[2] However after recovering from his injury he became an undisputed starter, helping the club reach as far as the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2005–06; eventually, he also gained the club captaincy.

In the summer of 2006, Senna almost joined Manchester United: he had one year left on his contract, and Villarreal were prepared to sell him for a fee of around £4 million.[3][4] However, the deal was put on hold while United pursued Owen Hargreaves, but FC Bayern Munich refused to sell their player and, when United returned with a bid for Senna on transfer deadline day, Villarreal rejected their advances;[5] he had become frustrated with the delays to his proposed move and decided to stay at Villarreal, signing a three-year extension shortly after the transfer window closed.[6][7][8]

On 27 April 2008, Senna scored a goal from inside the centre circle against Real Betis that he deemed "the best goal of my life".[9][10] That season, as the player netted a further three times, in a total of 33 matches, Villarreal finished a club-best second, to champions Real Madrid.

After nearly two seasons marred with physical problems,[11][12] 35-year-old Senna returned to full fitness for 2011–12, as the Valencian Community side's playmaker. On 21 March 2012, he scored from a free kick for the 83rd-minute home equalizer against Real Madrid (1–1),[13] but his team would be eventually relegated after a twelve-year stay in the top level.

New York Cosmos

On 13 June 2013, after helping Villarreal return to the top flight, Senna signed with newly formed North American Soccer League club New York Cosmos for an undisclosed fee.[14] He made his debut in the team's inaugural match on 3 August, a 2–1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers,[15] and scored his first goal on 1 September in a 1–1 draw at FC Edmonton.[16] In his first year with the team he was named the league's player of the week on two occasions, and also helped to wins in the NASL Fall Championship and the Soccer Bowl, scoring the game-winner in the final championship match against the Atlanta Silverbacks.[17]

On 13 November 2013, Senna was awarded a testimonial match by Villarreal, featuring in a 3–0 win over the Cosmos: he started the game and set up Jérémy Perbet for the first goal. In his honour, the crowd broke out in a full minute of applause that started in the 19th minute (the jersey he wore), and he played the second half with the North American before leaving the pitch with 20 minutes to go to another standing ovation.[18][19]

Senna netted his first goal of the season on 12 May 2014, scoring the game-winner in a 1–0 home win over the Spring season champions Minnesota United FC, who were handed their only loss in the competition.[20] His second came on 9 August, as he connected on a spectacular second half free kick to help the Cosmos come from behind to win it 2–1 at the Silverbacks;[21] he helped the club to the third position in the combined standings as well as a berth in The Championship, being nominated to the NASL Team of the Week four times, second best in the squad.

On 10 June 2015, one month shy of his 39th birthday, Senna announced he would retire as a player at the end of the Fall season.[22] His final game was the Soccer Bowl on 15 November, which his team won 3–2 against Ottawa Fury FC, also the swansong of his national teammate Raúl.[23]

International career
Senna training at Euro 2008

Senna was granted Spanish citizenship in early 2006 and was part of the Spanish squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. His debut came on 1 March in a friendly match with Ivory Coast, played in Valladolid.[24]

In the quarter-finals of the latter competition, Senna scored the third of Spain's four converted penalties, which resulted in the nation progressing to the semifinals at the expense of Italy, winning 4–2 in the shootout. He played the full duration of the final – a 1–0 win over Germany – and was named in UEFA's squad for the competition.[25] Some pundits and journalists also named Senna as their player of the tournament.[26][27][28]

Senna's first international goal came against Armenia on 10 September 2008, a 4–0 win in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.[29] On 20 May 2010, after an irregular season with Villarreal, with several physical problems, the 33-year-old was left out of Spain's final 23-man squad, with FC Barcelona's Sergio Busquets starting in his place as the national team went on to win the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[30]

Personal life

Senna's younger brother, Márcio, was also a footballer.[31] Marcos Assunção, who represented A.S. Roma and Betis amongst other clubs, is his cousin, and both were also midfielders.[32]

Senna is a Christian, and he spoke about his faith in the documentary "The Prize: Chasing the Dream", along with Kaká. He is also a member of the International Christian ministry Athletes in Action.[33][34]

Along with Raúl Albiol and Guillermo Franco, in 2008 Senna founded Evangélico FC, an organisation consisting of 140 athletes and 16 coaches which sought to promote Christian values among young athletes in Spain.[35]

Career statistics

Club
Sources:[36][37]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Corinthians 2000 160----160
Juventude 2001 121----121
São Caetano 2002 141----141
Villarreal
2002–03 1620000162
2003–04 900010100
2004–05 29200100392
2005–06 30300131434
2006–07 3302010360
2007–08 3445141436
2008–09 2720082354
2009–10 3013073404
2010–11 2011060271
2011–12 3151060385
2012–13 3350000335
Total 2922512156736033
New York Cosmos 2013 1351100146
2014 2041000214
2015 1833000213
Total 511251005613
Career total 3853917256745848

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.10 September 2008Carlos Belmonte, Albacete, Spain Armenia4–04–02010 World Cup qualification[29]

Honours

Club

Corinthians

Villarreal

New York Cosmos

International

Spain

Individual

See also

References
  1. "Los 11 jugadores nacidos fuera de España con más partidos" [The 11 players born outside of Spain with the most matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 5 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. "Senna ruled out for season". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. "Ferguson admits interest in Senna". BBC Sport. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  4. "Villarreal prepared to sell Senna". BBC Sport. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. "Ferguson reveals failed Senna bid". BBC Sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. "United close on Hargreaves". The Guardian. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  7. "Star in yellow Senna might have been a Red". The Guardian. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. "Senna signs three-year Villarreal extension". ESPN Soccernet. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  9. "Senna: The goal of my life". Setanta Sports. 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  10. "Real Betis 0–1 Villarreal". ESPN Soccernet. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  11. "Marcos Senna estará diez semanas de baja por una lesión" [Marcos Senna to miss ten weeks due to injury]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 28 December 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  12. "Marcos Senna recae de su lesión de isquiotibiales" [Marcos Senna relapses on quadriceps injury]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). 19 February 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  13. "Nine-man Madrid held to a draw". ESPN Soccernet. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  14. "Villarreal legend Marcos Senna signs with New York Cosmos". New York Cosmos. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  15. NY Cosmos 2–1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers; NASL, 3 August 2013
  16. FC Edmonton 1–1 New York Cosmos; NASL, 1 September 2013
  17. Lohr, Luke (10 November 2013). "New York Cosmos claim 2013 NASL Soccer Bowl behind goal from Marcos Senna". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  18. "Senna comandó el 'Submarino' una última vez" [Senna in charge of the 'Submarine' one last time]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  19. "Villarreal takes Senna tribute match 3–0". New York Cosmos. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  20. NY Cosmos 1–0 Minnesota United FC; New York Cosmos, 12 May 2014
  21. Atlanta Silverbacks 1–2 NY Cosmos; New York Cosmos, 9 August 2014
  22. "Marcos Senna to retire at end of season". New York Cosmos. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  23. "New York Cosmos bid farewell to Raul with NASL title victory". The Guardian. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  24. "Cesc guía a España en el triunfo ante Costa de Marfil" [Cesc guides Spain in win against Ivory Coast]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 March 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  25. "Spain dominate Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  26. "Steven Beacom: Best and worst of Euro 2008". The Belfast Telegraph. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  27. Wilson, Jeremy (30 June 2008). "Euro 2008: Highs, lows, hits and misses". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  28. O'Neill, Martin (30 June 2008). "BBC pundits on Euro 2008 final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  29. "Villa double helps Spain to easy victory". CNN. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  30. "Spain omit Marcos Senna from 2010 World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  31. "Discípulo do irmão "espanhol", Márcio Senna também quer ser naturalizado" [Disciple of "Spanish" brother, Márcio Senna also wants naturalization]. Gazeta do Povo (in Portuguese). 1 July 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  32. "Marcos Senna, estrella de Champions" [Marcos Senna, Champions star]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 2 October 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  33. "Marcos Senna". Beyond the Ultimate. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  34. "World Cup athletes' real goal—finding fulfillment beyond the field". Athletes in Action. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  35. "Marcos Senna presentó el Evangélico FC, equipo de fútbol inspirado en los valores cristianos" [Marcos Senna presented Evangélico FC, football team inspired by Christian values] (in Spanish). Protestante Digital. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  36. "Senna". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  37. Marcos Senna at ESPN FC
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