Gladstone (footballer)

Brazilian footballer (born 1985)

Gladstone Pereira della Valentina (born 29 January 1985), known simply as Gladstone, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Vitória ES as a centre back.

Born in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Gladstone started playing professionally with Cruzeiro Esporte Clube at the age of 18. From then onwards he started a series of consecutive loans, starting in the 2005–06 season in Italy: first with Juventus FC and, after no appearances, with Hellas Verona FC, but the former club chose not to activate the pre set price of €2 million, one of the reasons being the impending 2006 Italian football scandal; he subsequently returned to Cruzeiro, signing a new three year deal. In 2007–08, Gladstone was loaned out again, this time to Sporting CP, where he rarely played due to the presence of compatriot Ânderson Polga and Tonel. Mainly used as a late substitute, he still managed to score once, in a 4–1 Primeira Liga home win against Associação Naval 1º de Maio; after the campaign finished and he helped his team finish second, he closed the year with another loan, at Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. Gladstone moved on 19 January 2009, still owned by Cruzeiro, to Clube Náutico Capibaribe. On 13 February of the following year his contract with the Belo Horizonte side expired, and he returned to Europe, signing for three years with FC Vaslui in Romania. From 2013 and until his retirement, save for one year back in the Portuguese top division with Gil Vicente FC, Gladstone competed exclusively in the Brazilian lower leagues.

Gladstone was a member of the Brazil under 20 squad at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, taking home the bronze medal. On 15 November 2006, he was called up to the full side as an injury replacement for the friendly match with Switzerland, but did not make his debut. On 6 September 2007, Gladstone was again picked by manager Dunga for the games against Mexico and the United States, but did not receive any playing time as well.