André Cruz

Full name: André Alves da Cruz

Date of birth: 20 May 1968

Place of birth: Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Position: Centre-back (left-footed), also played as a left back and occasionally as a defensive midfielder

Club career (highlights)

• Guarani (Brazil) – Early professional years, where he began his senior career.
• Standard Liège (Belgium) – Important early European spell, established himself in Europe.
• Feyenoord (Netherlands) – Played in the Dutch Eredivisie and won domestic honors.
• Napoli (Italy) – Key period in Serie A; noted for strong left foot, free kicks and set-piece ability while anchoring the defense. Played for Napoli in the mid‑1990s (around 1994–1997).
• AC Milan (Italy) – Short spell at one of Italy’s biggest clubs after Napoli.
• Fluminense, Cruzeiro (Brazil) – Returned to Brazil later in his career and won domestic trophies.

International career

• Represented the Brazil national team, earning caps in the 1990s.
• Part of Brazil squads for tournaments including Copa América (won the 1997 Copa América) and the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying period; contributed as a reliable defensive option.

Playing style and strengths

• Left-footed centre-back known for positional sense, marking and tackling.
• Very good at dead-ball situations — accurate free kicks and penalties, contributing goals from distance and set pieces.
• Composed on the ball with the ability to start build-up play from the back.

Honors (selected)

• Copa América: 1997 (with Brazil)
• Domestic league and cup honors at club level (including successes with Feyenoord and Brazilian clubs)

Legacy

André Cruz is remembered as one of the accomplished Brazilian defenders of the 1990s, notable for combining defensive solidity with set-piece threat. His time at Napoli is particularly recalled by fans for his left-footed deliveries and leadership at the back.