{{short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1975)}} {{distinguish|Derley (disambiguation){{!}}Derley}} {{Portuguese name|Fernandes|Silva}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Derlei |image = Derlei.jpg |caption = Derlei in 2005 |full_name = Vanderlei Fernandes Silva |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|7|14|df=yes}} |birth_place = São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil |height = 1.75 m |position = Striker |youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = |years1 = 1994–1997 | clubs1 = América-RN | caps1 = 56 | goals1 = 21 |years2 = 1997–1998 | clubs2 = Guarani | caps2 = 25 | goals2 = 7 |years3 = 1999 | clubs3 = Madureira | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 4 |years4 = 1999–2002 | clubs4 = União Leiria | caps4 = 91 | goals4 = 42 |years5 = 2002–2005 | clubs5 = Porto | caps5 = 57 | goals5 = 19 |years6 = 2005–2007 | clubs6 = Dynamo Moscow | caps6 = 41 | goals6 = 20 |years7 = 2007 | clubs7 = → Benfica (loan) | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 1 |years8 = 2007–2009 | clubs8 = Sporting CP | caps8 = 27 | goals8 = 8 |years9 = 2009–2010 | clubs9 = Vitória | caps9 = 1 | goals9 = 1 |years10 = 2010 | clubs10 = Madureira | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 1 |totalcaps = 327 | totalgoals = 124 }} '''Vanderlei Fernandes Silva''' (born 14 July 1975), known as '''Derlei''', is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
He spent most of his 16-year professional career in Portugal (one full decade), having represented all three most important clubs in the country and amassing Primeira Liga totals of 187 matches and 70 goals. He also played two seasons with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League.
With Porto, Derlei won eight major titles including two leagues, one Champions League and one UEFA Cup.
==Club career== ===Early career=== Born in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Derlei began playing in the lower levels of Brazilian football, but joined Portugal's União Leiria in 1999, going on to appear in 92 competitive games for the club. In his last season, as they overachieved for a final seventh place in the Primeira Liga led by young manager José Mourinho, he scored 21 goals.<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaad93996a7-24c65e0cc426-1000--derlei-puts-porto-first/ Derlei puts Porto first]; UEFA, 16 September 2003</ref>
===Porto and Dynamo=== Derlei signed with Porto in the summer of 2002, playing an important part in a successful squad that was also managed by Mourinho, and being nicknamed ''"Ninja"'' while playing for the northern side.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/porto/noticias/soares-parecido-com-derlei-o-ninja-acha-que-nao-5650686.html|title=Soares parecido com Derlei? O Ninja responde e diz que não é bem assim|trans-title=Soares similar to Derlei? Ninja replies and says that's not quite the case|newspaper=O Jogo|first=André|last=Morais|language=pt|date=6 February 2017|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> In his second game on 2 September, a 1–0 local derby victory at Boavista, he was sent off for fighting with his compatriot and former Leiria teammate, Éder Gaúcho;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/fc-porto/detalhe/derlei-vai-telefonar-a-eder-para-resolver-desentendimento|title=Derlei vai telefonar a Éder para resolver desentendimento|trans-title=Derlei will telephone Éder to resolve misunderstanding|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=3 September 2002|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> he was suspended for two games and his opponent for one.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/fc-porto/detalhe/derlei-suspenso-por-dois-jogos|title=Derlei suspenso por dois jogos|trans-title=Derlei suspended for two games|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=3 September 2002|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> He was the top scorer of the 2002–03 UEFA Cup with 12 goals in 13 games; this tally included two in the 3–2 final win against Celtic to overtake opponent Henrik Larsson,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/fc-porto/taca-uefa-derlei-melhor-em-campo-e-melhor-marcador|title=Taça UEFA: Derlei, melhor em campo e melhor marcador|trans-title=UEFA Cup: Derlei, man of the match and top scorer|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=21 May 2003|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> as well as braces in the preceding rounds against Panathinaikos and Lazio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldsoccer.com/world-soccer-latest/porto-through-to-the-lastfour-51770|title=Porto through to the lastfour|publisher=World Soccer|date=21 March 2003|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0eaae56d3f70-72583597c228-1000--porto-stun-lacklustre-lazio/ Porto stun lacklustre Lazio]; UEFA, 11 April 2003</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3047207.stm|title=Uefa Cup final player ratings|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 May 2003|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref>
In the 2003–04 Primeira Liga, Derlei was leading the domestic goalscoring chart, including a hat-trick on 5 October in a 4–1 home win over Académica de Coimbra,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/academica/detalhe/fc-porto-academica-4-1-cesar-peixoto-9-derlei-15-41-e-48-dario-6|title=FC PORTO-ACADÉMICA, 4–1 (César Peixoto 9', Derlei 15, 41'' e 48'; Dário 6'')|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=5 October 2003|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> but suffered a right knee anterior cruciate ligament injury against Alverca on 22 December, initially being ruled out for the rest of the season by the club's doctor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/fc-porto/detalhe/medico-portista-confirma-paragem-de-derlei|title=Médico portista confirma paragem de Derlei|trans-title=Porto doctor confirms halt for Derlei|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=5 October 2003|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> He recovered to face the same team on 25 April,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/fc-porto/detalhe/derlei-de-volta-aos-convocados|title=Derlei de volta aos convocados|trans-title=Derlei back in squad|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=23 April 2004|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> and on 5 May he scored a penalty for the only goal of the UEFA Champions League semi-final away to Deportivo La Coruña,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/05/championsleague.match|title=Gamble on Derlei pays for Mourinho|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Matt|last=Scott|date=5 May 2004|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> as his team eventually lifted the title.
In January 2005, after disciplinary problems related to delay in his return from the winter break, Derlei was sold to Dynamo Moscow for €7 million.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090323001910/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=272249.html Derlei leads Dynamo influx]; UEFA, 10 January 2005</ref> After two years in Russian football where he was always one of the top five scorers, he moved to Benfica on loan in January 2007.<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01bd-0e6dc0ebe14c-8f533a468c73-1000--benfica-seal-derlei-and-fernandes-deals/ Benfica seal Derlei and Fernandes deals]; UEFA, 29 January 2007</ref> He played his first league match for the latter on 2 February, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 home draw with Boavista;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/benfica-boavista-0-0|title=Benfica-Boavista, 0–0|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=2 February 2007|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> his only goal in 16 appearances opened a 2–0 win over Académica on the final day of the season at the Estádio da Luz.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/academica/detalhe/benfica-academica-2-0-derlei-11-mantorras-81|title=Benfica-Académica, 2–0 (Derlei 11'', Mantorras 81'')|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=20 May 2007|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref>
===Sporting=== Derlei left for Lisbon rivals Sporting CP in late June 2007, signing a one-year deal with the option for another after being freed from his two-year contract with Dynamo Moscow – he was, therefore, one of the few players to have represented the Big Three of Portugal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sporting/detalhe/derlei-assina-as-17-horas.html|title=Derlei assina às 17 horas|trans-title=Derlei signs at 5 P.M.|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=22 June 2007|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/sporting-documento-do-dinamo-chegou-derlei-ja-e-leao#/|title=Sporting: documento do Dínamo chegou, Derlei já é "leão"|trans-title=Sporting: Dynamo document has arrived, Derlei is already a "lion"|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=25 June 2007|access-date=3 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003174830/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/sporting-documento-do-dinamo-chegou-derlei-ja-e-leao#/|archive-date=3 October 2017}}</ref> He spent most of 2007–08 on the sidelines, with another serious knee injury.<ref>[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01c5-0e6e81347505-387df01554e6-1000--dire-outcome-for-sporting-s-derlei/ Dire outcome for Sporting's Derlei]; UEFA, 9 September 2007</ref>
[[File:Sporting Clube de Portugal vs Sporting Clube de Braga 01.jpg|thumb|Derlei (second from the right) playing for Sporting CP against Braga in February 2009]] Derlei made a comeback to competition when, on 16 April 2008, he entered the field for Leandro Romagnoli in the 61st minute during the semi-final of the Taça de Portugal against Benfica, scoring only 18 minutes later to make it 3–2 to Sporting, in a match which eventually ended with a 5–3 win<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2008/04/16/desporto/noticia/taca-de-portugal-sporting-derrota-benfica-por-53-1326076|title=Taça de Portugal: Sporting derrota Benfica por 5–3|trans-title=Portuguese Cup: Sporting beat Benfica 5–3|newspaper=Público|language=pt|date=16 April 2008|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref> as the team went on to win the tournament against another former acquaintance of the player, Porto.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/sporting-vence-taca-de-portugal=f324746|title=Sporting vence Taça de Portugal|trans-title=Sporting win Portuguese Cup|newspaper=Expresso|first=Ricardo|last=Capela|language=pt|date=18 May 2008|access-date=3 October 2017|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003174805/http://expresso.sapo.pt/desporto/sporting-vence-taca-de-portugal=f324746|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In his second season, Derlei fought with Hélder Postiga for a chance to play alongside Liédson, and scored some goals including an important one in a 1–0 home victory over Shaktar Donetsk in the Champions League, which sealed Sporting's group stage qualification on 4 November 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081107091242/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15276/match=302749/report=rp.html Derlei sparks Sporting celebrations]; UEFA, 4 November 2008</ref> At the end of the campaign, he declined the club's offer for a contract extension on the grounds the compensation was insufficient, thus being made a free agent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jn.pt/desporto/interior/derlei-diz-adeus-ao-sporting-1259733.html|title=Derlei diz adeus ao Sporting|trans-title=Derlei bids farewell to Sporting|newspaper=Jornal de Notícias|first=Rui Miguel|last=Melo|language=pt|date=11 June 2009|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref>
===Return to Brazil=== On 27 August 2009, 34-year-old Derlei joined Vitória on a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Times/Vitoria/0,,MUL1283255-10072,00-DERLEI+E+O+NOVO+ATACANTE+DO+VITORIA.html|title=Derlei é o novo atacante do Vitória|trans-title=Derlei is the new forward of Vitória|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt|date=27 August 2009|access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> He made his competitive debut on 13 September in a match against Campeonato Brasileiro Série A leaders Palmeiras; having taken the pitch in the second half, he scored the 3–2 winner;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.uol.com.br/noticia/74357_video-vitoria-bate-palmeiras-no-barradao-e-bota-ainda-mais-fogo-no-brasileiro|title=VÍDEO: Vitória bate Palmeiras no Barradão e bota ainda mais fogo no Brasileiro|trans-title=VIDEO: Vitória beat Palmeiras at the Barradão and set ''Brasileiro'' even more ablaze|publisher=ESPN Brasil|language=pt|date=13 September 2009|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref>
Derlei transferred to modest Madureira shortly after, returning to a team he had represented more than one decade prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.futebolinterior.com.br/futebol/Carioca/Unica/2010/noticias/2010-02/RJ:-BOMBA!-Madureira-contrata-Derlei-ex-atacante-de-Porto-e-Guarani|title=RJ: BOMBA! Madureira contrata ex-atacante de Porto e Guarani|trans-title=RJ: BOMB! Madureira sign former Porto and Guarani forward|publisher=Futebol Interior|language=pt|date=26 February 2010|access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref>
==International career== After winning the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003, Derlei was called up to represent Brazil at that year's Confederations Cup, which several of the team's regulars had declined. He turned down the offer as it required for him to sign up to a company.<ref name=MAIS>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/selecao/derlei/derlei-revela-que-esteve-perto-da-selecao-portuguesa-antes-do-euro-2004|title=Derlei revela que esteve perto da seleção portuguesa antes do Euro 2004|trans-title=Derlei reveals that he was close to getting into the Portugal national team before Euro 2004|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|first=André|last=Cruz|date=22 September 2022|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref>
Derlei then began the process of acquiring Portuguese nationality in the aim of representing their national side on home soil at UEFA Euro 2004, but injury allowed his former clubmate Postiga to cement a place instead.<ref name=MAIS/> His citizenship was confirmed that August, after the tournament, but he was never called up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/fc-porto/detalhe/derlei-naturalizou-se-e-e-opcao-para-scolari|title=Derlei naturalizou-se e é opção para Scolari|trans-title=Derlei is naturalised and is an option for Scolari|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=24 August 2004|access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/vanderlei-fernandes-silva/5912//|title=Derlei|website=Soccerway|access-date=11 June 2015}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Taça de Portugal, Russian Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Taça da Liga}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|União Leiria |1999–2000 |Primeira Liga |26||8|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||8 |- |2000–01 |Primeira Liga |32||13||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||32||13 |- |2001–02 |Primeira Liga |33||21||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||34||21 |- !colspan="2"|Total !91!!42!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!92!!42 |- |rowspan="4"|Porto |2002–03 |Primeira Liga |26||7||1||1||colspan="2"|–||13{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||12||colspan="2"|–||40||20 |- |2003–04 |Primeira Liga |18||12||1||1||colspan="2"|–||8{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||3||2{{efn|One appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup}}||0||29||16 |- |2004–05 |Primeira Liga |13||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||0||0||18||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !57!!19!!2!!2!!colspan="2"|–!!26!!15!!2!!0!!87!!36 |- |rowspan="3"|Dynamo Moscow |2005 |Russian Premier League |18||13||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||13 |- |2006 |Russian Premier League |15||11||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||15||11 |- !colspan="2"|Total !33!!24!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!33!!24 |- |Benfica |2006–07 |Primeira Liga |12||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||18||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Sporting |2007–08 |Primeira Liga |4||1||2||1||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=SCO|Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira}}||0||7||2 |- |2008–09 |Primeira Liga |20||5||0||0||1||2||7||2||1{{efn|name=SCO}}||0||29||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !24!!6!!2!!1!!1!!2!!7!!2!!2!!0!!36!!11 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !218!!92!!7!!3!!1!!2!!39!!17!!4!!0!!272!!114 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''América-RN''' *Campeonato Potiguar: 1996
'''Porto''' *Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04 *Taça de Portugal: 2002–03 *Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2003, 2004 *UEFA Champions League: 2003–04 *UEFA Cup: 2002–03 *Intercontinental Cup: 2004
'''Sporting''' *Taça de Portugal: 2007–08 *Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2007, 2008 *Taça da Liga runner-up: 2007–08, 2008–09 '''Individual''' *UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2002–03 *SJPF Player of the Month: October 2004
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Sambafoot|529_derlei}} *{{ForaDeJogo}} *[http://portugoal.net/index.php/player-profiles/120-players-d-f/127-player-profile-derlei PortuGOAL profile]
{{UEFA Europa League top scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Derlei}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from São Bernardo do Campo Category:Naturalised citizens of Portugal Category:Brazilian people of Portuguese descent Category:Sportspeople of Portuguese descent Category:Brazilian men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série C players Category:América Futebol Clube (RN) players Category:Guarani FC players Category:Madureira Esporte Clube players Category:Esporte Clube Vitória players Category:Primeira Liga players Category:U.D. Leiria players Category:FC Porto players Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players Category:S.L. Benfica footballers Category:Sporting CP footballers Category:Russian Premier League players Category:FC Dynamo Moscow players Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Russia