Sandro Ranieri Guimarães Cordeiro (better known as Sandro) is a defensive midfielder of London side Tottenham Hotspur and the national team. He was born in Riachinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The player can also take the position of a centre back and centre halfback.
Sandro was a trainee of Brazilian side Internacional, where he spent two years from 2005 till 2007. In 2008 the player was let on the field with the main squad of ‘Colorados’. First it was a forced measure in a way, as several regular players had caught hepatitis, but later Sandro deserved his place in the first team due to his skills. The midfielder’s importance was emphasized by his shirt numbers: four and eight. Those numbers were given only to the key players of the club. The Brazilian footballer also helped ‘Colorados’ to win the 2008 Copa Sudamericana (South American Cup).
Cordeiro was a captain of the Brazil national U-20 squad when it clinched the 2009 South American Youth Champions title. Later the player was going to participate in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but then head coach of the senior squad Dunga asked to substitute him for Douglas Costa so that Sandro could play for the main Brazil team. On 27 August 2009, the midfielder was invited to the senior Brazil national squad. Soon he managed to make his debut for ‘Pentacampeões’ in the qualifier for the 2010 World Cup against Chile. Cordeiro made his sub appearance during the second half, replacing Júlio Baptista. However, Sandro did not go to the World Cup itself, giving his place in the team to Josué, who had just recovered from an injury.
On 30 August 2009, Internacional rejected an offer of Tottenham, which wanted to buy Cordeiro for £14 million. The midfielder himself extended his contract with ‘Colorados’ till 31 January 2013. Sandro also added that he wanted to concentrate on the Brazilian Championship, because he would have another chance to go to Europe. However, in March 2010 the Brazilian player signed a contract with Spurs, according to which he started to perform for the club in August the same year. The transfer sum was not disclosed, but famous German website transfermarkt.de, which specializes in transfers, estimated the signing at about £8 million.
From autumn 2010 till summer 2012 Sandro made a total of 53 appearances for the London side club and scored a goal.
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