Philippe Coutinho, a Brazilian player who plays for the Spanish giants Barcelona, could easily be considered as one of the players who are of great importance for the future of the sport. That is why his former club Liverpool has fought hard for him and his country has called him up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Here you will find everything you need to know about him.
Philippe Coutinho Biography
The attacker from Barcelona was born Philippe Coutinho Correia on 12 June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. He grew up at the side of 3 brothers in the suburban district of Rocha, which is also in Rio. Like many Brazilian stars, including Marcelo, Coutinho began playing futsal as a child before switching to football later.
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His parents, Ze Carlos Coutinho and Dona Esmeralda Coutinho could only offer their sons Cristiano, Leandro, and Coutinho an average life, as they were not rich.
Given his footballing abilities, Coutinho was nicknamed O Magico or Little Magician.
Philippe Coutinho Football Career
As he was still very young, he showed the necessary skills to be successful as a footballer, and this helped him to sign a contract with a youth club, Vasco da Gama, when he was only 7 years old. The young man remained loyal to the club until he was signed to the Internazionale in 2008. He was later sent on loan to Vasco da Gama, where he stayed until 2010, only to be sent again on loan to Espanyol in 2012.
In 2012, the attacking midfielder and winger moved to the English Premier League club Liverpool FC. After 5 years, 152 games, and 41 goals, he left the club for Barcelona. His departure from the club was not fully supported by the club manager Jurgen Klopp, who still wanted to employ him. Nevertheless, the club had to let him go after a transfer request because he did not believe that he would play well for the club again.
By the end of his first season in La Liga, Coutinho had already scored 8 goals after 18 appearances. He had also won a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey at the end of the season.
His first appearance in the Brazilian colors was in 2009, when he played for the country’s U-17 team, scoring 3 goals in 5 games. In 2011 he started for the country’s U-20 national team and scored 3 goals in his 7 appearances.
When Philippe Coutinho was appointed to the national team in 2010, he was given the opportunity to raise the country’s flag with the national team. Before being called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he had already made 35 appearances for the country and scored 9 goals in the process.
His achievements have seen him win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in 2010, the South American U-17 Championship in 2009, the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011, and the duo titles La Liga and Copa del Rey in 2018.
Wife
Phillippe is married to Aine Coutinho, with whom he was together for many years. The two are said to be childhood lovers who got together as teenagers after being introduced at a party by a mutual friend.
Although she is Portuguese, Aine Coutinho was born in Rio de Janeiro. She became the wife of the Brazilian fast-moving star after they got married in 2012. Years later they were blessed with two children, Maria Coutinho, and Philippe Coutinho Jr.
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Body Stats
The attacking Barcelona midfielder may not be strongly built, but he has a good physique and the necessary skills to be successful as a footballer. As far as his general body statistics are concerned, he reads like this:
- Height: 171cm (5 ft. 7in)
- Weight: 68kg (150 lbs)
- Chest – 36 in or 91.5 cm
- Arms/Biceps: 13.5 inches 34 cm
- Waist: 30 inches (76 cm)
Other Facts
- He grew up as a very shy boy, who was even shy of playing football at a young age, although he had all the skills and talents.
- As his wife is Portuguese, Coutinho had almost applied for Portuguese citizenship to play for Barcelona. He had pointed out that even if he had done so, which later turned out to be unnecessary, he would still have remained a Brazilian player. This would have been possible because he will be an EU citizen, as he had already been married to his wife for more than 3 years.
