Players

Career

• 2 NASL Team of the Week appearances in 2015
• 2015 NASL Best XI Selection

Minnesota United has added Brazilian central midfielder Ibson to the 2015 roster. He has played with several major clubs across Europe and Brazil including Porto, Spartak Moscow, and Corinthians.

The 31-year-old specializes in the attacking role in midfield, getting forward to take advantage of short clearances and to crash the net along with the forwards. As his career has progressed, Ibson had been adapting to a more defensive role.

After training with the youth squads of Flamengo in Brazil, Ibson joined the senior team in 2003. He was joined by fellow Loon Juliano Vicentini the following season, where the midfielder made 44 appearances and scored six goals for the club.

Ibson was loaned back to Flamengo on a three-year deal. At the time Flamengo was sitting in a relegation spot, but Ibson helped spur the team to complete an incredible comeback and finish third in the league. For his performance, Ibson was selected to the Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year. He was a regular starter and put up a career high 15 goals in a season in 2008. His total scoring tally reached 22 by the time he left the club in 2009.

The midfielder made the long journey to Russia where he joined Spartak Moscow late in the 2009 season. Ibson had a spectacular 2010 season which included two goals in the UEFA Champions League against Slovakian side MŠK Žilina.

Ibson finally returned to Brazil in 2011, and over the next three years, played for Brazilian giants Santos FC, Corinthians, and once again returned to Flamengo.

2015

Ibson was a key play maker in the midfield for Minnesota, taking chances as well as creating them. He was one of the top scorers on United, scoring six goals and providing four assists on the season. He made the NASL Team of the Week twice during the season and was honored in the 2015 NASL Best XI.