Luciano Emilio

MLS Experience

2009: For the third consecutive year Luciano Emilio continued to be D.C. United’s most productive striker. He finished with 10 goals and two assists in 27 League appearances (23 starts). The Brazilian is one of just two players to tally 10 or more goals in each of the past three seasons, along with New York’s Juan Pablo Angel. He added three more goals in the CONCACAF Champions League play, including a two-goal performance against CD Marathon on 9/24. In total the forward tallied 13 goals and three assists in 34 games played (29 starts) for the Black-and-Red.

2008: Though he didn’t find the same success in League play as the previous season – notching 11 goals and five assists in 27 games (25 starts) – Luciano Emilio was the team’s most productive forward throughout the year. He earned League Player of the Month honors for June after notching seven goals and an assist as United went 4-0-2. His Week 11 strike – an extra-time winner in United’s 2-1 win over Chicago on 6/7 – was named as the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week. He led the team with four game-winning goals, which was also tied for the League high. In all competitions Emilio played in 41 total games (38 starts) and scored eighteen goals to go along with five assists.

2007: Luciano Emilio took MLS by storm in his first season, earning the Budweiser Golden Boot by tallying a League-high 20 goals. The first player in MLS since 2002 to reach the 20-goal mark, Emilio led United with four game-winners and also tallied an assist – a game-winner – in 29 games (28 starts). His five multi-goal games were tied for most in MLS and led to being named MLS Player of the Week on three separate occasions (Week 11, 18 & 23). From 6/10 to 7/4, the Brazilian tallied a goal in five straight games – the second longest streak in MLS. He was named the September Player of the Month after scoring six goals in six games. His 20 goals were second in club history only to Raul Diaz Arce’s 23 in 1996. Emilio scored at least one goal against every team in the League, except Houston. For his efforts, he was named as the League’s Most Valuable Player and Newcomer of the Year, while also being tabbed for the MLS Best XI. In the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup quarterfinals and semifinals, Emilio scored four goals in four games, with three coming against his former club CD Olimpia. In all competitions – 39 games (38 starts) – he totaled 23 goals and an assist.

Other Pro Experience

2005-2006: Emilio joined Mexican second division side Queretaro where he scored 10 goals and helped the club to the 2005 Clausura title. Following his brief stint in Mexico, Emilio returned to Olimpia where he led them to back-to-back championships in the 2005 Apertura and 2006 Clausura, during which he won the scoring title. In the fall of 2006, his greatest contributions came in the UNCAF tournament (Central American championships) where his eight goals were enough to earn him the tournament's Golden Boot and propel Olimpia into the 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

2002-2004: The forward moved to Real España in Honduras where he broke through as an impact player. While there he won goal scoring titles in the 2003 and 2004 Clausura tournaments, and helped the team win the 2003 Apertura. After the 2004 Clausura, he moved to Central American powerhouse CD Olimpia, where he won his third scoring title in the 2004 Apertura.

2001-2002: Emilio returned to his native Brazil where he played for Union Barbarense.

1997-2001: In August of 1997, Emilio signed a contract with FC Köln (Cologne) of the German Bundesliga. There, he starred for the Under-23 team, and eventually worked his way into the senior team where he played several Bundesliga matches. In 1999, he transferred to Alemannia Aachen of the Bundesliga second division.

1995-1997: Emilio got his professional start at the age of 16, when he signed with XV de Piracicaba of the Campeonato Paulista, the state league of Sao Paolo. A year later, he transferred to Rio Branco, another Paulista team.

Honors

• Supporters’ Shield: 2006, 2007
• U.S. Open Cup champion: 2008
• Budweiser Golden Boot: 2007
• Honda MLS MVP: 2007
• Newcomer of the Year: 2007
• MLS Best XI: 2007

Acquired

Signed as a Senior International player on 1/16/07