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Tracing Philippe Coutinho’s 14-year journey back to Vasco da Gama

His global tour to home turf.
by
sambafoot_admin
2024-07-13 12:32:47
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Philippe Coutinho rejoined Vasco da Gama on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. This move brings the 32-year-old Brazilian midfielder back to his roots, ending a 14-year journey that saw him play for some of the biggest clubs in Europe and beyond.

Sambafoot will examine Coutinho"s career and revisit his highs and lows, from his early promise at Vasco to his 14 years rotation to the Brazilian club.

READ MORE 

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Vasco da Gama (2009-2010)

Philippe Coutinho"s professional debut came at Vasco da Gama, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising talents in Brazilian football. At just 16 years old, Coutinho was promoted to the senior team.

During his tenure at Vasco, from 2009 to 2010, Coutinho participated in 44 matches, with 5 goals and 9 assists. His performance helped Vasco win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2009, securing their promotion to the top flight of Brazilian football the following year. This early success at Vasco set the stage for his move to Europe; it wasn"t long before Inter Milan secured his services.

  • Appearances: 19
  • Goals: 1
  • Assists: 3

Inter Milan (2010-2013)

Philippe Coutinho"s transfer to Inter Milan at 18 was the beginning of his international career. He was promising with a potential to succeed in high-stake matches. But this was not the case. Coutinho"s time at Inter was a period of adaptation. He had inconsistent playtime, affecting his ability to display his talents.

Still, Coutinho made 47 appearances, scored 5 goals, and provided several assists. He could play both in the midfield and as an attacking forward but he didn"t fully settle into the team, which led Inter to loan him to Espanyol in 2012.

  • Appearances: 47
  • Goals: 5
  • Assists: 4

Espanyol (2012)

Under coach Mauricio Pochettino, Coutinho found the freedom. He made 16 appearances, with 5 goals and 1 assist.

His ability to change games with his skill set him apart, and although Espanyol struggled, Coutinho was the silver lining. This period changed Coutinho. It restored his confidence and was a forerunner of his subsequent success at Liverpool.

  • Appearances: 16
  • Goals: 5
  • Assists: 1

Liverpool (2013-2018)

Philippe Coutinho"s tenure at Liverpool, from January 2013 to January 2018, was the peak years of his career. He joined the club from Inter Milan for a transfer fee of £8.5 million, a modest sum that would prove to be a steal for the English club.

His performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2014/15 season, placing him among the elite players in England. This was not enough, however. Coutinho wanted to play for Barcelona leading to his transfer in January 2018 for a massive fee reported to be around £142 million, making him one of the most expensive transfers at that time.

  • Appearances: 201
  • Goals: 54
  • Assists: 43

Barcelona (2018-2020)

Barcelona had high expectations for him. In his debut half-season, he scored 10 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions, showing signs of settling well. Still, the 2018-2019 season, his first full campaign, proved challenging even with a 11 goals in 54 appearances.

Coutinho struggled to deliver consistently. He was often used in various midfield and forward roles, but he couldn"t replicate the success at Liverpool. In the 2019-2020 season, amidst further struggles and limited playing time, he was loaned out to Bayern Munich.

  • Appearances: 106
  • Goals: 25
  • Assists: 14

Bayern Munich (2019-2020)

Philippe Coutinho"s loan to Bayern Munich was a rebound in his career. Joining Bayern on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Coutinho rediscovered his form in a new league.

In the season, Coutinho appeared in 23 Bundesliga matches, scoring 8 goals with 6 assists. He helped Bayern secure their eighth consecutive league title and brought creativity back to his game, which had been stifled during his time at Barcelona.

  • Appearances: 38
  • Goals: 11
  • Assists: 9

Barcelona (2020-2021)

Returning to Barcelona for the 2020-2021 season, Coutinho hoped to revive his career at Camp Nou under new management. He made 14 appearances and scored 3 goals, but his season was marred by injuries, which limited his contributions.

Aston Villa (2021-2023)

His debut was promising, as he scored shortly after coming on against Manchester United. However, over time, his performances varied, with occasional glimpses of his ability mixed with quiet spells on the pitch. His playmaker traits were evident, but he struggled.

Injuries also played a part in limiting his contributions during the 2022-2023 season, which saw him making fewer appearances and struggling to regain his best form. His time at Aston Villa thus reflected a complex period, marked by both challenges and moments of quality, summing up the unpredictable nature of a footballer"s career at the highest level.

  • Appearances: 43
  • Goals: 6
  • Assists: 3

Al-Duhail SC (2023-2024)

Joining on loan from Aston Villa, he scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists in 22 matches. Coutinho"s performance included key goals and playmaking, notably scoring a spectacular free-kick.

This period in Qatar allowed him to maintain his form and continue contributing at a professional level, although the league"s competitive intensity was different from European football

  • Appearances: 23
  • Goals: 8
  • Assists: 4

Now, returning to Vasco da Gama, Coutinho"s career has come full circle. Expectations are mixed, given his recent form, but the emotional pull of returning home may just reignite his once-sparkling career.

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