Alison (footballer, born 1993)

Alison
Alison with Santos in 2019
Personal information
Full name Alison Lopes Ferreira
Date of birth (1993-03-01) 1 March 1993
Place of birth Mongaguá, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Defensive midfielder
Youth career
2004–2013 Santos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2021 Santos 208 (3)
2017Red Bull Brasil (loan) 14 (0)
2021–2022 Al-Hazem 19 (0)
2023–2024 Santos 6 (0)
2025 Londrina 36 (0)
Total 283 (3)
International career
2014 Brazil U20 5 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alison Lopes Ferreira (born 1 March 1993), simply known as Alison, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Santos

Born in Mongaguá, São Paulo, Alison joined Santos' youth setup in 2004, aged 11. On 10 September 2011 he made his professional debut, starting in a 1–0 home success over Cruzeiro.[1] However, after only two minutes in field, he had to be replaced due to a knee injury, which kept him sidelined for six months.[2]

Alison later suffered the same injury when he was due to return, only appearing in a match with the under-20 team in January 2013.[3] He was definitely promoted to the first team late in that month, after winning the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.

On 16 August 2013, after retaining a starting spot under Claudinei Oliveira, Alison renewed his link with Santos until December 2017.[4] However, he suffered an injury during the latter stages of the campaign, and only returned in March 2014.

On 18 July 2014 Alison scored his first professional goal, netting the first of a 2–0 home win against Palmeiras.[5] In February of the following year, however, he suffered another serious knee injury, being sidelined for eight months.[6][7] He returned to the fields on 29 October, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–1 home win against São Paulo FC.[8]

A backup to Thiago Maia and Renato, Alison only appeared rarely in 2016 before suffering a knee sprain. He went through an arthroscopy in July,[9] being declared fit to play in September.[10]

On 20 January 2017, Alison was loaned to Red Bull Brasil until the end of the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, in order to regain match fitness.[11] Upon returning, he started to feature regularly with the first team under Levir Culpi, becoming a starter after the departure of Thiago Maia to Lille OSC.

Alison made his Copa Libertadores debut on 10 August 2017, starting in a 1–0 home win against Atlético Paranaense. On 5 December, he renewed his contract until the end of 2022.[12]

On 10 November 2020, it was announced that Alison and a further six first team players tested positive for COVID-19.[13] He tested positive for a second time the following 18 January.[14]

Al-Hazem

On 2 August 2021, Saudi club Al-Hazem reached an agreement with Santos for the transfer of Alison.[15] Santos announced his departure eleven days later,[16] and he was announced by his new club three days after that.[17]

On 20 May 2022, Alison terminated his contract with the club after failing to receive wages, but was still sidelined due to a knee injury.[18]

Santos return

On 9 February 2023, Santos announced the return of Alison on a one-year contract.[19] He returned to action on 26 April, replacing Rodrigo Fernández in a 1–0 home win over Botafogo-SP, for the year's Copa do Brasil.[20]

Alison became a first-choice in late May 2023, after Fernández's poor form, but suffered another knee injury in June, being sidelined for the remainder of the year.[21] On 4 December, his contract was extended for a further season.[22]

Later career

On 6 January 2025, Londrina announced the singing of Alison on a one-year contract.[23] He left the club in November, after being a first-choice in their promotion to the Série B and featuring in 36 matches during the year.[24]

On 8 December 2025, Alison signed for Criciúma,[25] but departed the club the following 5 January.[26] The following day, he announced his retirement at the age of 32, alleging "his body asked him to stop" playing.[27]

International career

Alison was a part of the Brazil under-20 side in the 2014 Toulon Tournament,[28] playing in all five matches of the competition as the team won their 8th trophy in the competition. Earlier in that year, he was also called up to the under-23s for a training period, but Santos deemed him unavailable due to his commitments at the club.[29]

On 15 June 2021, Alison was named in the preliminary 50-man list for the 2020 Summer Olympics,[30] but did not make it to the final squad.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[31]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santos 2011 Série A 1 0 1 0
2013 26 0 0 0 3 0 29 0
2014 23 1 5 0 10 0 38 1
2015 3 0 4 0 1 0 8 0
2016 1 0 6 0 2 0 9 0
2017 26 2 0 0 3[a] 0 29 2
2018 28 0 13 0 2 0 7[a] 0 50 0
2019 23 0 11 0 6 1 2[b] 0 42 1
2020 20 0 9 0 0 0 9[a] 0 38 0
2021 6 0 3 0 2 0 8[c] 0 19 0
Subtotal 157 3 51 0 26 1 29 0 263 4
Red Bull Brasil (loan) 2017 Série D 0 0 14 0 14 0
Al-Hazem 2021–22 Saudi Professional League 19 0 0 0 19 0
Santos 2023 Série A 5 0 0 0 1 0 2[b] 0 8 0
2024 Série B 1 0 1 0
Subtotal 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 9 0
Londrina 2025 Série C 22 0 14 0 36 0
Career total 204 3 79 0 27 1 31 0 0 0 341 4
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  3. ^ Seven appearances in Copa Libertadores, one appearance in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Santos
Brazil U20

References

  1. ^ "Borges garante mais um triunfo do Peixe, que vence Cruzeiro e o juiz" [Borges secures another Peixe triumph, who beat Cruzeiro and the referee] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 10 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Em recuperação após cirurgia, volante Alison faz treino físico no Santos" [In rehabilitation after surgery, Alison makes a physical training with Santos] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 25 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Após 15 meses, santista Alison celebra volta ao futebol" [After 15 months, Santos' player Alison celebrates return to football] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 6 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Santos renova contratos de 'xodós' de Claudinei até dezembro de 2017" [Santos renew contracts of Claudinei's 'favourites' until December 2017] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 16 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Santos bate inofensivo Palmeiras na estreia de Gareca e encosta no G-4" [Santos defeats inoffensive Palmeiras in Gareca's debut and gets near to G-4] (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Calejado por lesões: Alison, aos 22, revive drama de ruptura de ligamento" [Hardened by injuries: Alison, aged 22, revives drama of ligament tear] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Alison volta a jogar após oito meses e já dá 'boa resposta' no Santos" [Alison returns to play after eight months and already gives a 'good response' at Santos] (in Portuguese). Lance!. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Alison volta a jogar após oito meses e já dá 'boa resposta' no Santos" [Alison returns to play after eight months and already gives a 'good answer' at Santos] (in Portuguese). Terra. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Alison passa por artroscopia no joelho direito e vira desfalque no Santos" [Alison goes through arthroscopy in the right knee and becomes an absence at Santos] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Santos libera Alison para voltar a treinar com bola após artroscopia no joelho" [Santos release Alison to return to train with the ball after arthroscopy in the knee] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Santos confirma empréstimo de Alison para o Red Bull Brasil" [Santos confirm loan of Alison to Red Bull Brasil] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Alison renova contrato com o Santos FC por cinco anos" [Alison renews contract with Santos FC for five years] (in Portuguese). Santos FC. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Nota Oficial" [Official note] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Alison, do Santos, testa positivo para Covid-19" [Alison, from Santos, tests positive for Covid-19] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Santos e Al-Hazem se acertam e falta apenas Alison assinar contrato com o novo clube" [Santos and Al-Hazem reach agreement and is only lacking Alison to sign contract with the new club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). A Tribuna. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Após 17 anos, Alison se despede do Santos FC: "Aqui é minha casa e meu coração fica"" [After 17 years, Alison bids farewell from Santos FC: "My home is here and my heart stays"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Al-Hazem anuncia contratação do volante Alison, ex-Santos" [Al-Hazem announce the signing of defensive midfielder Alison, formerly of Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Volante Alison rescinde com o Al-Hazem e trata lesão no joelho no Santos" [Defensive midfielder Alison rescinds with Al-Hazem and treats knee injury at Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Menino da Vila, volante Alison está de volta ao Santos FC" [Menino da Vila, defensive midfielder Alison is back at Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Alison, do Santos, comemora volta aos gramados: "É um sentimento único"" [Alison, from Santos, celebrates return to the fields: "It is a unique feeling] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Lesão – Volante Alison" [Injury – defensive midfielder Alison] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Santos renova contrato de Alison até o final de 2024" [Santos renew contract of Alison until the end of 2024] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Alison é o novo reforço do Tubarão" [Alison is the new addition of the Tubarão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Londrina EC. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  24. ^ "Londrina tem saídas de Alison e Luiz Daniel; Lucas Marques fica perto de renovar" [Londrina have the departures of Alison and Luiz Daniel; Lucas Marques is close to a renewal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Alison é o novo volante do Tigre" [Alison is the new defensive midfielder of Tigre] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Criciúma EC. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  26. ^ "Volante deixa o Criciúma antes mesmo da estreia" [Defensive midfielder leaves Criciúma even before the debut] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Volante Alison, ex-Santos, anuncia a aposentadoria aos 32 anos" [Defensive midfielder Alison, formerly of Santos, announces retirement at the age of 32] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  28. ^ "Seleção Brasileira Sub-21 divulga convocados para Torneio de Toulon" [Brazil under-21 national team publish called up players from the Toulon Tournament] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Com desfalques, Peixe consegue liberar dupla de seleção olímpica" [With absences, Peixe get a release of duo from the olympic national team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Alison, do Santos, é convocado para pré-lista da Seleção Olímpica" [Alison, from Santos, is called up to the pre-list of the Olympic national team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta Esportiva. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  31. ^ Alison at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 February 2015.