
Full name: Anderson Vital da Silva
Date of birth: July 1, 1988 (age 23)
Place of birth: Volta Redonda, Brazil
Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position: Centre back, Sweeper
Anderson Vital da Silva, known as Dedé (born July 1, 1988 in Volta Redonda), is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a centre back or sweeper for Vasco da Gama and the Brazilian national team.
Club career
After a good Campeonato Carioca for Volta Redonda in 2009, Dedé was loaned with a buy-out clause to the Giant of the Hill. In Vasco, Dedé won his first title as a professional, the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B in 2009, despite not having had many chances in the first team.
In 2010, Dedé started the year as a bench player and had very few chances to show his skills for Vasco da Gama. However in a game against Vitória, for the quarter-final of the Copa do Brasil, Dedé was selected because the lack of available defenders and therefore had his contract (which would end in a month) renewed until the end of 2010. He played that game really well and after a string of solid and impressive displays, became the defensive backbone of Vasco da Gama, being one of the fan favourites and heavily cheered by Vasco da Gama's supporters.
In October 2010, the buy-out clause was exercised, and subsequently Dedé and Vasco da Gama signed an agreement until the end of 2014. In the same year, Dedé won the award of best right centre back in Brasileirão. In 2011, formed a rock solid duo with Anderson Martins that won the 2011 Copa do Brasil, with both players being elected the best central defenders of the 2011 Campeonato Carioca.
Currently, Dedé is considered one of the best centre backs in activity in Brazil and one of the greats revelations in Brazilian football, with great acclaim from critics and fans. With great performances and the big identification with the Vasco da Gama's fans, Dedé won the fans several nicknames: "O Mito" ("The Myth"), "Dedéckenbauer" and even "Dedélícia" ("Dedélicious", by female fans). Dedé has become one of the great idols of the Vasco da Gama in the 21st Century, turning up the campaign poster boy "Marco1924" (promotional clock that celebrates the victory of Vasco da Gama against racism in football), along with Fernando Prass.
International career
In July 25 2011, after numerous great performances by Vasco da Gama, Dedé is called for the first time for the Brazilian national football team, for the friendly match against Germany, on the first call by the coach Mano Menezes after the elimination in the Copa America 2011, and in August 18, Dedé is called again, this time, for the friendly match against Ghana. But he has not played in any of the opportunities. In September 5, Dedé is called for Roca Cup, where only players who play in Brazilian football were called. On September 14, Dedé finally debuted in Roca Cup. Despite nervousness show, Dedé did not hesitate, ended up being one of the best players of the game.
