Oscar Looking To Lead Chelsea To Glory
Personal information
Full name: Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior
Date of birth: 9 September 1991
Age: 23
Place of birth: Americana, Brazil
Height: 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position: Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team: Chelsea
Number: 8
Youth career
1998–2004: Uniao Barbarense
2004–2009: Sao Paulo
Senior career
2008–2010 Sao Paulo 14 Appearances, 0 goals
2010–2012 Internacional 70 Appearances, 19 goals
2012– Chelsea 136 Appearances, 30 goals
National team
2009–2011 Brazil U20 25 Appearances, 9 goals
2012 Brazil U23 6 Appearances, 1 goal
2011– Brazil 43 Appearances, 11 goals
Since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2012, Oscar has proved himself to be an
adaptable, highly creative star at Stamford Bridge, where he is capable of
improving both Chelsea’s attacking and defensive efforts. He has certainly
demolished concerns that he was originally too lightweight to forge a
successful career in the Premier League. The Blues awarded the hard-working
midfielder with a new five-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2019, further
ensuring the growth and continuity of a top side with a young, dynamic attack
over the coming seasons.
A 5ft 10in (1.79m) attacking midfielder who
can also play wide, Oscar blends samba skill and brilliant pass-and-move
football with tenacity in the tackle and an eye for goal. An impressive debut
season ended with 12 goals, plenty of assists and a Europa League winner’s
medal, as well as the Chelsea Goal of the Season award, received for his
stunning turn and whipped effort against Juventus at Stamford Bridge. The
playmaker has firmly established himself as Brazil’s first-choice number 10
since joining the Blues, testament to his consistently high-quality
performances in one of the most demanding leagues in the world. Oscar’s first
season at the club, which took in an astonishing 64 games across seven
different competitions, was an unqualified success. He made his debut on the
opening day of the 2012/13 Premier League season, coming on as a second-half
substitute despite having trained just twice with his team-mates, and displayed
a previously lesser known turn of pace to add to his sharp passing game.
Oscar
made his first start for the club in the Champions League draw against Juventus
at Stamford Bridge, announcing his arrival in style with two strikes in the
space of a couple of minutes, the second of which will live long in the memory.
Receiving the ball under pressure on the edge of the area, the Brazilian
executed a sublime turn, flicking the ball around Andrea Pirlo in the process,
before unleashing an unstoppable effort that left keeper Gianluigi Buffon
grasping at thin air. He quickly established himself as a regular in the side
under both Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez, featuring in all but two of Chelsea’s
games – when he was an unused sub – from that home draw against Juventus in
September right through to the last game of the season against Everton in May.
His fondness for goals of the spectacular variety continued in the home game
against Shakhtar Donetsk when he produced a stunning effort to score from 35
yards, while another fine finish followed in the FA Cup at Brentford. The
Brazilian certainly stood up to the physical side of the English game during
his first season at the club, and reserved some of his finest form for when it
mattered most. Despite seeing less playing time than in his first campaign,
Oscar still ended 2013/14 with 47 appearances and 11 goals. Ahead of his third
season at Stamford Bridge, Oscar received the no.8 shirt recently vacated by
Frank Lampard. He has been a regular in the side and impressed operating in a
central role in behind the lone striker. His first goal of the season came in a
Capital One Cup win over Bolton Wanderers and he followed it up three days
later with another against Aston Villa and he made his 100th start for the club
on 1 January in their 5-3 loss at Tottenham.
Having already picked up a Europa League medal with Chelsea in his first
campaign, he looks almost certain to add a league title to that this season,
with further silverware possible domestically and abroad. There’s little
doubting that Jose Mourinho’s first-pick XI this season features Oscar right at
the heart of things: he’s the No. 10, the creative man between midfield and
forward lines who Mourinho expects to find gaps and work hard; in short, doing
a lot of his work off the ball regardless of whether Chelsea are in possession.
Oscar’s mix of technique, work rate, flair and tactical versatility make him a
clear favourite with his manager and a good fit for the way Chelsea approach
matches. Add end product to that and there is no surprise as to why he has become
so important for the club.
The 23-year-old, who has emerged as one of Jose Mourinho’s leaders during the
current season, is now due to spend his peak years with the west London club.
Oscar is a scorer of spectacular goals but has steadily increased his work rate
to become a dynamo in Chelsea’s midfield. Chelsea are currently five points clear
at the Premier League summit and through to the round of 16 in the Champions
League, where they will face French giants PSG. With Oscar in tow, Chelsea have
an excellent opportunity at capturing silverware during the run to May.