Guilherme Finkler
Guilherme Finkler | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1985 Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (former) |
| Known for | Attacking midfielder |
Guilherme Finkler (born 24 September 1985) is a former Brazilian professional footballer who operated primarily as an attacking midfielder. He was commonly referred to as Guilherme in his home country and known as Gui Finkler during his time in Australia and New Zealand.
Early life
Born in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 1985, Finkler is married to Karine and together they have a daughter named Rafaela.
Initial stages
Finkler began his career at Brazilian side Juventude, where he netted four goals across 15 appearances in the 2006 campaign. Following a period with Cianorte, he returned briefly to Juventude in 2007, adding three more matches to his record. Subsequently, he signed with Juventude’s local adversary, Caxias.
Time in England and Belgium
During the 2006-07 season, Finkler was loaned out to Wolverhampton Wanderers competing in the EFL Championship. Although he scored during pre-season fixtures, he did not feature in any official first-team matches before the loan was mutually terminated in January 2007. Later that season, he joined Belgian Pro League outfit Mouscron on loan.
Melbourne Victory
On 22 June 2012, Finkler secured a contract with Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2012–13 A-League campaign.
2012–2013 season
Making his debut against city rivals Melbourne Heart, Finkler quickly established himself as a regular starter. Unfortunately, a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained after a robust challenge from Western Sydney Wanderers prematurely ended his season. Before this setback, he was leading the league with eight assists. The ACL tear resulted in an absence approaching twelve months, postponing his comeback until the following season.
2013–2014 season
Finkler opened his scoring account for Melbourne Victory—and the club’s initial goal of the season—in a 2–2 draw against Adelaide United. On 4 January 2014, he made his return to the starting lineup after recovering from his knee injury.
2014–2015 season
On 9 May 2014, Finkler extended his stay at Melbourne Victory by signing a two-year contract renewal. Free from injuries throughout the season, he delivered an impressive contribution of seven goals and ten assists. His performances were instrumental in Melbourne Victory clinching both the A-League Premiership and Championship titles. On 24 March 2016, Finkler announced his decision to depart Melbourne Victory at the conclusion of the season to join Wellington Phoenix FC.
Wellington Phoenix
Finkler joined Wellington Phoenix ahead of the 2016–17 season. During his first year with the club, he appeared in 24 matches, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
Honours
Melbourne Victory
Individual