Player Profile: Emílson Cribari

By: Franco | September 6th, 2009

Full name: Emílson Sánchez Cribari
Date of birth: 6th March 1980 (age 29)
Place of birth: Cambará, Brazil
Height: 1.85 m
Playing position: Central Defender
Shirt Number: 25
Career to date:
1996 Until 1998 – Londrina – 0 Appearances
1998 Until 2004 – Empoli – 103 Appearances (3 Goals)
2004 Until 2005 – Udinese – 8 Appearances
2005 Until Present – Lazio – 100 Appearances (1 Goal)

Cribari started his career in his home state of Paraná, with Londrina Esporte Clube. From Londrina (where he did not get to make any appearances), he moved to Italy where he began his Serie A career with Empoli. At Empoli, the left footed defender started most games and was an important part of their squad securing a total of 103 appearances for the Tuscans and scoring 3 goals in the process during his 6 year stint. Surely enough a “bigger” club stood up and took notice of the Brazilian and in 2004, Udinese signed Cribari from Empoli. The transfer to Udinese however, did not move the world as Cribari found it difficult to break into their starting 11 and as a result only appeared in 8 games for the Bianconeri.

Cribari joined Lazio in 2005 from Udinese. In his first two seasons, he established himself as a regular in the Biancoceleste defence and gained a reputation as a quality and uncompromising player. Cribari was a key man in Lazio’s successful season in 2006-07, when they achieved a third place finish to qualify for the Champions League. Some of you will remember when he fractured his jaw and cheekbone in Lazio’s UEFA Champions League clash with Dinamo Bucharest and was initially ruled out for over two months, but managed to return for Lazio’s second leg win only two weeks later wearing that memorable yet scary mask he has now become popular for.

Unfortunately Cribari’s recent form since returning from that injury has been poor, and not of the high standards he set during his first seasons at the club and as a result ex Lazio manager Rossi opted for the aging Siviglia over the Brazilian in his starting 11. This decision among other things angered the once proud Lazio player and as a result Edmilson handed in a transfer request to the club to only have him remain with no sufficient offers emerging.

It remains yet to be seen whether or not Cribari will once again find his earlier form with Lazio and if he will see out the remaining 2 years of his contract. I personally feel that Cribari still has lots to offer and I would much prefer him to be pairing the likes of Radu and Diakite in the centre of our defence over Siviglia. Time will tell but I wish Cribari all the best for the upcoming season and I for one hope that any issues or grudges he has with the club and fans are ironed out and that he extends his current contract past the 2011 expiry.

Forza Lazio, Forza Cribari!