Biography of My Idols

Name:	David Luiz
Nationality:	Brazilian
Date of Birth:	22/04/1987
Height:	6' 2" (189cm)
Weight:	13st 3lbs (84.0kg)
Previous
Clubs:	Benfica
Position:	Defender

Chelsea career
David Luiz (full name David Luiz Moreira Marinho) signed on transfer deadline day in January 2011 after a protracted transfer from Portuguese champions Benfica.

On putting pen to a five-and-a-half year contract he become the third Brazilian in the current squad, linking up with former Benfica team-mate Ramires and fellow defender Alex.

A 6ft 2in centre-back who can cover at either left- or right-back, he is renowned for his skill on the ball as much as his defensive ability.

After signing for Chelsea, he outlined his determination to nail down a regular place in the side, and took the previously unclaimed number 4 shirt, last worn by Claude Makelele.

He won plenty of plaudits for his early showings although conceded a late penalty on his first start, saved by Petr Cech, and went on to win the man of the match award.

Ineligible for the Champions League, he retained his place in the Premier League side until a goal conceded in the opening seconds at Old Trafford torpedoed Chelsea's title chances and Carlo Ancelotti left the Brazilian out of the remaining games.

He had earlier scored against United at Stamford Bridge, and headed home against Manchester City in the Premier League to keep our title hopes alive.

A knee injury following international duty meant he started the current campaign out of the side but he returned in mid-September and duly found the scoresheet again, this time curling home from the edge of the area against Bayer Leverkusen on his Chelsea Champions League debut.

After an up and down first half of the campaign, he has slowly settled down and adjusted to the English game, making over 30 appearances alongside various centre-back partners as injuries to others have taken their toll.

David started 15 consecutive games over the Christmas and new year period and, as Easter approaches, has even started to win round some of his harshest media critics with an unusual blend of no-nonsense defending and samba style. His penchant for goalscoring hasn't lessened either, as home league strikes against United and Bolton testify.

Pre-Chelsea
Twenty-three years old when he signed on deadline day in January 2011, David Luiz was born in Sao Paulo and began his career with Esporte Clube Vitoria in Bahia where he made 47 appearances.

He switched to Benfica, initially on loan in January 2007 before making the move permanent that summer.

In total he made 82 league appearances for the Lisbon club missing just one game in the 2009/10 season as they wrapped up a first league title in five years. Uefa.com voted him the Portuguese League's Player of the Year.

International career
David Luiz, who made his Brazil debut against America during the 2009/10 season, had earlier represented his country at the 2007 Under 20 World Cup,

He was in the Brazil squad that contested the Copa America in July 2011, and returned to the squad for the September internationals despite not having featured for Chelsea.

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/PlayerProfileDetail/0,,10268~39126,00.html

Biography of My Idols

Name:	Juan Mata
Nationality:	Spanish
Date of Birth:	28/04/1988
Height:	5' 7" (170cm)
Weight:	9st 8lbs (61.0kg)
Previous
Clubs:	Valencia
Position:	Striker

Chelsea career

Mata became the third Spaniard to join Chelsea in 2011, following international team-mate and fellow World Cup-winner Fernando Torresand Oriol Romeu, who arrived from Barcelona earlier in August 2011.

Primarily a left-winger, he can also operate down the middle and has outlined his desire to adapt quickly to English football. Yossi Benayoun's anticipated departure, eventually to Arsenal on loan, freed up his favoured number 10 jersey.

He certainly looked at home on his debut, appearing as a substitute against Norwich City and slotting home the final goal in a 3-1 win in late August.

That positive performance has been consistently replicated throughout his first season in English football, with 11 goals notched up by the end of March, including a crucial away goal in Naples, a winning penalty against QPR in the FA Cup and a stunning volley against Manchester United in early February.

The mercurial Mata has certainly made himself a fans' favourite, and a recent switch to a more central role in between the main striker has allowed him greater licence to roam and create from a central position. His importance is evident by the fact he has missed just one game since December, remaining a constant in the team under both Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo.

Pre-Chelsea

Mata is the son of a former professional, Juan, who represented Burgos and Salamanca. Juan Jr began his career in Real Madrid's famed Academy as a striker, but was allowed to move to Valencia in the summer of 2007.

In his first season he gradually played his way into the side, and appeared at Stamford Bridge as a substitute in a Champions League dead rubber. At the end of the season he scored in the Copa Del Rey final, and was voted the club's Young Player of the Year.

After four years at the Mestalla, in which he scored 43 times in 179 appearances, Mata spoke with Andre Villas-Boas and was convincedStamford Bridge was the place for him despite interest from other clubs.

International

Juan was a part of the Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having made his debut in 2009. He made one appearance as a substitute during the tournament, replacing Fernando Torres.

Upon signing for Chelsea he had 12 senior caps, but is also an experienced Under 21 international, and captained Spain to glory at the 2011 European Championships, being voted into the Team of the Tournament.

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/PlayerProfileDetail/0,,10268~40729,00.html