Chelsea career
The big Brazilian joined on the eve of the new Premier League season in 2007 after three years playing in Holland at PSV Eindhoven. Chelsea held the first option to sign him when he left.

The international defender put his signature to a three-year deal and was an important reinforcement in a rearguard that had been holed badly by injuries.

His debut season provided 39 appearances in a Chelsea shirt, more than either of the first-choice partnership John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, hinting at his overall importance to the squad.

Alex's first Chelsea goal (and the first by a Brazilian for the club) came at Middlesbrough, thundering home a trademark powerful free-kick from 35 yards, which naturally became a Goal of the Season contender.

He followed that up with another at Rosenborg, before showing an altogether different part of his game with a fleet-footed one-two with Andriy Shevchenko against Aston Villa, which he finished with aplomb. That too earned commendation in the end of season awards.

His second Chelsea season (2008/09) was a mixed one although prolonged injury to Carvalho provided a run in the side, and forays forward continued with goals coming against Sunderland and Coventry, the defender eventually making 41 appearances.

A hernia injury delayed his start to last season, an operation in Brazil over the summer meaning he had to wait until the end of October to make a first appearance.

When he returned to fitness he found Carvalho and Terry in excellent form, and had to be patient , appearing just six times before the turn of the year, and only another five before March.

It was then that Carvalho began to struggle with his own fitness, and he would not play for Chelsea again after damaging ankle ligaments against Portsmouth in late March.

By then Alex had already turned in a number of eye-catching displays at centre-half, notably against Stoke in the FA Cup, where he made two last-ditch tackles and earned a nomination for the quarter-final player of the round award.

Terry admitted the Brazilian was giving manager Carlo Ancelotti a selection headache, which may well have eased slightly when Carvalho was ruled out, allowing the burly defender the run of games his own form merited.

In Alex's 25 appearances, Chelsea conceded only 14 times, as he helped the side to a momentous Double and passed 100 club appearances on the way.

A thigh injury ruled him out of our 2010 pre-season but he was back in the line-up to start his first campaign as first choice, and again his class was a major reason for conceding just once in our first five league matches.

Another free-kick special sealed victory over Arsenal, but in scoring it Alex tore a thigh muscle and missed four weeks of action.

Upon his return it was discovered he required arthroscopic surgery to his knee, a process that requires six to eight weeks of recovery time. Having delayed the operation to cover for Terry's injury, Alex left for Brazil at the end of November to go under the knife, not to be seen again until the new year.

Pre-Chelsea
Prior to PSV, Alex played in his homeland at Santos, the São Paulo club made famous around the globe by Pelé.

After moving to Europe, the young player was part of a side that won three consecutive Dutch league titles with a domestic double completed in 2004/05 under the guidance of Guus Hiddink. In the Champions League of 2006/07 he made the headlines by heading the goal that knocked Arsenal out at the first knockout stage.

International Career
Alex made his international debut in 2003, and was part of the Brazil side that won the 2007 Copa América, playing in the 3-0 defeat of Argentina in the Final.

Excluded from international squads for around 18 months, Alex was again left out as coach Dunga announced his World Cup squad in the summer of 2010.

It was a decision that mystified many around Stamford Bridge, particularly following Brazil's quarter-final exit in South Africa. New coach Mano Menezes brought him straight back into the fold, joining new Chelsea team-mate Ramires in the squad that is gearing up for the 2011 Copa America.