Philippe Coutinho Correia (; born 12 June 1992) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a winger for Premier League club Liverpool and the Brazil national team.
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Coutinho showed prodigious talent and excelled in Vasco da Gama's youth system. He was signed by Italian side Internazionale in 2008 for €4 million and subsequently loaned back to Vasco, where he became a key player. He made his debut for Internazionale in 2010 and was seen as the "future of Inter", but struggled to establish himself in the first team and was loaned to Spanish club Espanyol in 2012.
In January 2013, he was signed by English team Liverpool for £8.5 million. He flourished at Anfield; his combination of vision, passing, dribbling and long-range strikes earned him the nickname Little Magician from Liverpool fans and teammates.After he was named in the 2015 PFA Team of the Year, Brazilian legend Pelé tipped Coutinho for a "great future".
Coutinho made his senior debut for Brazil in 2010 at the age of 18. He has since made over 20 appearances and represented the nation at the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario.
Early life
The third and youngest son of Esmerelda Coutinho and architect José Carlos Correia, Coutinho was born on 12 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, weighing 3.1 kg (6 lbs 10 oz) as a newborn. He was raised in Rio's northern Rocha district between an old shanty town and industrial warehouses.
As a child, he followed his elder brothers Cristiano and Leandro to a local concrete football pitch, where he first began playing futsal. With space restricted and the need for skill and improvisation heightened, the diminutive Coutinho thrived. After joining a local football academy on the insistence of his friends grandmother, his father was later approached at a tournament by youth coaches at Vasco da Gama, where he attended a trial and joined their youth system.
Early life
The third and youngest son of Esmerelda Coutinho and architect José Carlos Correia, Coutinho was born on 12 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, weighing 3.1 kg (6 lbs 10 oz) as a newborn. He was raised in Rio's northern Rocha district between an old shanty town and industrial warehouses.
As a child, he followed his elder brothers Cristiano and Leandro to a local concrete football pitch, where he first began playing futsal. With space restricted and the need for skill and improvisation heightened, the diminutive Coutinho thrived. After joining a local football academy on the insistence of his friends grandmother, his father was later approached at a tournament by youth coaches at Vasco da Gama, where he attended a trial and joined their youth system.
Vasco da Gama
Coutinho flourished in Vasco da Gama's youth system, and was soon called up to the Brazil under-15 football team. In July 2008, at the age of 16 he was bought by Italian giants Internazionale for €4 million. Coutinho stayed at Vasco on loan for two years, becoming a first team player despite his young age.In 2009, he helped Vasco win the Série B title and achieve promotion. In 2010, he made 31 appearances and scored 5 goals in all competitions as he established himself as a key first team player.
Internazionale
Coutinho's move to Internazionale became effective in July 2010, after he turned 18, with new head coach Rafael Benítez and chairman Massimo Moratti being quoted saying that "Coutinho is the future of Inter".
On 27 August 2010, he made his official debut for Inter coming on as a substitute during the Nerazzurri's 2–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. After dropping out of selection in the starting line up, he returned to play in the crucial 3–2 win over Bayern Munich in Germany; a game which Inter would go on to win and progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
On 8 May 2011, he scored his first goal for Inter from a free-kick that curled over the wall and into the net in a game that Inter won 3–1 at home against Fiorentina. His second goal for Inter came in a match against Cagliari on 19 November 2011 where Coutinho picked up a through ball from his teammate Ricky Álvarez and dispatched it into the bottom left corner of the net to give Inter a 2–0 lead.
Loan to Espanyol
During the 2011–12 Internazionale season, Coutinho struggled to establish himself in the first team and on 30 January 2012, he joined Espanyol on loan until the end of the season.On 4 February 2012, Coutinho made his first appearance for Espanyol in a 3–3 draw with Athletic Club. He scored his first goal for the Catalan side on 11 March in a 5–1 victory against Rayo Vallecano in the 9th minute of the game. He scored his second goal in the 21st minute of the same game.He continued his fine form as he scored a sublime volley against Racing Santander and a well placed free kick against Málaga. On 18 May 2012, Coutinho made his return to Inter.
Liverpool
On 26 January 2013, Liverpool agreed an £8.5 million fee with Internazionale for Coutinho, pending a medical exam and a work permit from the Home Office.Southampton had also expressed an interest in Coutinho, who had played under Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol, but Coutinho said he would prefer to join Liverpool. On 30 January, Liverpool confirmed the signing of Coutinho on a long-term contract after he was successful in his work permit application, and was given the number 10 shirt.
2012–13
Coutinho made his Liverpool debut on 11 February 2013, replacing Stewart Downing in the 78th minute of a 2–0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.[18] On 17 February he scored his first goal for Liverpool on his full debut in a 5–0 victory over Swansea City.
On 2 March, he set up Liverpool's first and second goals of the game in a 4–0 win against Wigan Athletic. Coutinho scored his second goal for Liverpool in a 3–1 away loss to Southampton. On 31 March, he set up Liverpool's first goal in a 2–1 away win against Aston Villa. On 27 April, he won the Man of the Match award in Liverpool's 6–0 away victory of Newcastle United, claiming two assists, and winning the free-kick from which Jordan Henderson added Liverpool's sixth. Coutinho won Player of the Month for Liverpool in March.
Coutinho flourished in Vasco da Gama's youth system, and was soon called up to the Brazil under-15 football team. In July 2008, at the age of 16 he was bought by Italian giants Internazionale for €4 million. Coutinho stayed at Vasco on loan for two years, becoming a first team player despite his young age.In 2009, he helped Vasco win the Série B title and achieve promotion. In 2010, he made 31 appearances and scored 5 goals in all competitions as he established himself as a key first team player.
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| Coutinho with childhood friend Neymar jr. |
Internazionale
Coutinho's move to Internazionale became effective in July 2010, after he turned 18, with new head coach Rafael Benítez and chairman Massimo Moratti being quoted saying that "Coutinho is the future of Inter".
On 27 August 2010, he made his official debut for Inter coming on as a substitute during the Nerazzurri's 2–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. After dropping out of selection in the starting line up, he returned to play in the crucial 3–2 win over Bayern Munich in Germany; a game which Inter would go on to win and progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
On 8 May 2011, he scored his first goal for Inter from a free-kick that curled over the wall and into the net in a game that Inter won 3–1 at home against Fiorentina. His second goal for Inter came in a match against Cagliari on 19 November 2011 where Coutinho picked up a through ball from his teammate Ricky Álvarez and dispatched it into the bottom left corner of the net to give Inter a 2–0 lead.
Loan to Espanyol
During the 2011–12 Internazionale season, Coutinho struggled to establish himself in the first team and on 30 January 2012, he joined Espanyol on loan until the end of the season.On 4 February 2012, Coutinho made his first appearance for Espanyol in a 3–3 draw with Athletic Club. He scored his first goal for the Catalan side on 11 March in a 5–1 victory against Rayo Vallecano in the 9th minute of the game. He scored his second goal in the 21st minute of the same game.He continued his fine form as he scored a sublime volley against Racing Santander and a well placed free kick against Málaga. On 18 May 2012, Coutinho made his return to Inter.
Liverpool
On 26 January 2013, Liverpool agreed an £8.5 million fee with Internazionale for Coutinho, pending a medical exam and a work permit from the Home Office.Southampton had also expressed an interest in Coutinho, who had played under Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol, but Coutinho said he would prefer to join Liverpool. On 30 January, Liverpool confirmed the signing of Coutinho on a long-term contract after he was successful in his work permit application, and was given the number 10 shirt.
2012–13
Coutinho made his Liverpool debut on 11 February 2013, replacing Stewart Downing in the 78th minute of a 2–0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.[18] On 17 February he scored his first goal for Liverpool on his full debut in a 5–0 victory over Swansea City.
On 2 March, he set up Liverpool's first and second goals of the game in a 4–0 win against Wigan Athletic. Coutinho scored his second goal for Liverpool in a 3–1 away loss to Southampton. On 31 March, he set up Liverpool's first goal in a 2–1 away win against Aston Villa. On 27 April, he won the Man of the Match award in Liverpool's 6–0 away victory of Newcastle United, claiming two assists, and winning the free-kick from which Jordan Henderson added Liverpool's sixth. Coutinho won Player of the Month for Liverpool in March.
Style of play
Considered to be an archetypal Brazilian number 10 playmaker, Coutinho has been used as an attacking midfielder, second striker and on the flanks, where he excels at providing assists for teammates.
Due to his dribbling ability, pace, and agility, he has been compared to Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho by his former Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino who also said "Philippe... he has a special magic in his feet". Former Brazilian striker Careca has also compared him to Zico, due to his creativity,and he has been highly praised by his Liverpool teammates.
His vision and passing ability have earned him the nickname Little Magician by Liverpool fans and his precocious ability has also led his team's supporters to give him the nickname The Kid. Although naturally right footed, Coutinho is capable of playing with both feet,and can strike the ball well from distance.
Personal life
When Coutinho moved to Italy at the age of 18 to join Internazionale, he was joined there by his parents and then girlfriend Aine, whom he had first met at a friend's party. On moving to Espanyol, his parents returned to Brazil. He married Aine in the summer of 2012 in Brazil at age 20. Coutinho has said his idol is Ronaldinho. He has tattoos stretching from his fingers to his biceps which form tributes to his parents, two brothers, and his wife Aine. Coutinho is a devout Christian.
Credit : Wikipedia , ESPN
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