If the Colorado Rapids’ signing today, Brazilian attacker Edu, sent you rushing to the Wiki monster to learn more about the man, you had better darn well know which one you’re looking for.
Edu, it seems is a popular name for Brazilian men who are good of the foot.
The Rapids’s new Edu is known legally as Luís Eduardo Schmidt.
He’s not a Brazilian star; The former La Liga man has just one cap for the global heavyweights. But that hardly means “bad signing.”
On the one hand, injuries and form have kept this particular Edu from making a regular contribution anywhere since his days at Real Betis, which ended in 2009 with the club’s relegation in Spain’s second tier.
On the other hand, Edu comes presumably cheap, almost certainly on a free transfer. And if he isn’t completely damaged goods by now, at age 33, he’s the kind of mid-level European talent that can evolve into a valuable, relative bargain in MLS.
So, a low-risk veteran who can help manager Oscar Pareja establish the passing game he’s trying to teach around DSG Park? And someone to provide a little veteran cover for Pablo Mastroeni, the Colorado captain who is facing difficult times with post-concussion symptoms? Looks like a decent day for the Rapids.
Meanwhile, here are your “Edus:”
- Edu—Jonas Eduardo Américo (born 1949)
- Edu—Eduardo Antunes Coimbra (born 1947)
- Edu—Eduardo César Daud Gaspar (born 1978)
- Edu—Luís Eduardo Schmidt (born 1979)
- Edu—Eduardo Gonçalves de Oliveira (born 1981)