The San Jose Earthquakes announced Friday the team has signed Brazilian midfielder Francisco Lima. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lima will be available to play when the Earthquakes take on Toronto FC on Saturday, July 19 at noon PT at BMO Field.
Lima joins the Earthquakes after spending two seasons with Italian team Brescia Calcio of the Serie B. During the 2007-08 season, he made 38 appearances and scored two goals to help his team to a fifth-place finish with a 20-10-12 record. He joined Brescia in the middle of the 2006-07 season and played 20 games that year.
Prior to joining Brescia Calcio, Lima played five seasons (1999-2004) in the Italian top flight, Serie A, playing for AS Roma, Bologna FC and US Lecce. With AS Roma from 2001-2004, he made 88 appearances, playing alongside such world stars as Cafu, Francesco Totti, Gabriel Batistuta and Christian Panucci, among others.
He also played three seasons in the Russian Premier League with capital sides Lokomotiv Moscow and Dynamo Moscow. For Lokomotiv Moscow in 2004-2005, he made 41 appearances. The subsequent year, he spent his time on loan at Qatar Sports Club in the Qatari Q League, where appeared in seven matches. Later that year, he was sold to Dynamo Moscow and played seven matches.
Lima has had experience in European club competitions for both AS Roma and Lokomotiv Moscow, appearing 30 times. Lima played 19 games in Europe's most prestigious club competition, the UEFA Champions League, and he has also played in 11 UEFA Cup games to date.
The Manaus, Brazil native spent just over a season in the Swiss Super League with FC Zurich from 1998-1999. While in Zurich, Lima played in 32 matches and recorded seven goals. After playing youth soccer for Sao Paulo FC in Brazil, he started his European career with Gaziantepspor of Turkish Premier Super League, playing 58 games for the club and scoring three goals.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) - Earthquakes sign M Francisco Lima.
Francisco Lima #10Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 172
Born: April 17, 1971 in Manaus, Brazil
Hometown: Manaus, Brazil
College: None
Last Club: Brescia Calcio
