September, he obtained his UEFA A coaching licence, which allows him to serve as a head coach of youth teams and Serie C teams, or as an assistant coach for Serie B and Serie A sides. International career Although he was never capped for Brazil at senior level, Matuzalém represented Brazil at youth level, playing alongside Ronaldinho. He was a member of the Brazil U17 team that won the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Brazil, and also took part at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship with the U20 side; in the former tournament, he played a key role in his team's success, scoring three goals in six games, including the decisive goal in the final victory. Style of play Described as a "classic playmaker" in the Italian media, Matuzalém is an energetic offensive–minded midfielder, known in particular for his passing, creativity, and technique, as well as his tactical intelligence, which earned him the nickname "The Professor". A diminutive and hard-working left–footed player, with a slender build and significant stamina, his usual position is that of a central midfielder, although he is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, due to his eye for goal from midfield, or as a left–sided midfielder; he has also been deployed as a defensive midfielder, a position in which he usually functioned as a deep-lying playmaker. Despite his ability, he also earned a reputation for being overly aggressive, due to his physical and tenacious playing style, and for lacking discipline on the pitch; during his time in Italy, he earned 11 red cards between Serie A and Serie B. He earned the name Matuzalém due to his maturity and precocious performances as a youngster. Personal life Matuzalém was hospitalised in Viterbo in March 2019, after being found in a confused state. Honours Club Shakhtar Donetsk Ukrainian Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06 Lazio Coppa Italia: 2008–09 Supercoppa Italiana: 2009 Vitória Campeonato do Nordeste: 1997, 1999 International Brazil Under-17 FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1997 Footnotes References External links 1980 births Living people People from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Brazilian footballers Brazil under-20 international footballers Brazil youth international footballers Brazilian expatriate footballers Association football midfielders Esporte Clube Vitória players AC Bellinzona players S.S.C. Napoli players Parma Calcio 1913 players Piacenza Calcio 1919 players S.S. Lazio players Brescia Calcio players FC Shakhtar Donetsk players Real Zaragoza players Genoa C.F.C. players Bologna F.C. 1909 players Hellas Verona