Fabio Aurelio and the Two Free Kicks

Vikrant Hatwalne

7th August 2012 | 4:16 PM

The 32 year old  Fabio Aurelio (born in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 24th September, 1979) who can play either Left Back or even as a left winger, was offered a 6 year contract at Valencia, Spain after the Sydney Olympics of 2000. Before the Olympics, Aurelio played in Brazil for Sao Paolo. A product of the Sao Paolo youth system, he has also represented Brazil at the U-17 and U-20 levels.

The timing for Fabio was brilliant as that was just around the time, when Rafa Benitez took the reins at Valencia into his hands and led them to their first La Liga Championship in 31 years in the 2001/02 season. Those years saw Aurelio grow into one of the most promising Left-Backs in the League. He scored 8 league goals in the 2002-03 season. However this is when his long run of injuries kicked in. He missed most of the 2003-04 season that saw Valencia win yet another La Liga title as well as the UEFA Cup.

An Ecstatic Fabio Aurelio

In the 2006-07 season, Rafa Benitez brought Aurelio to Anfield by means of a free transfer.  At Liverpool, Aurelio did not fail to impress the Kopites. He played an important role in the squad as Liverpool continued challenging the title. During his time at Anfield he played at Left-Back and during the Benitez era, also as a holding-mid on numerous occasions. He scored his first goal for Liverpool FC in the 2007-08 season against Bolton Wanderers. Quite a scorching volley, it was. In his entire career at LFC he scored just three goals but the two others being incredible left footed free kicks.

Lets go to the first one. They say that no one can silence Old Trafford. That is mainly because they don’t make any noise out there in the first place.  When Fabio Aurelio put the ball in the back of the net, the Merseysiders out there went ballistic! If you are a Liverpool FC supporter, I’m sure you’ve watched the game and that free kick many times, cried with joy at the sight and possibly employed many more mediums of expression of happiness. I love this particular video that was taken from the stands. Captures the rapture.

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