Donato (footballer)

Donato Gama da Silva (born 30 December 1962), known simply as Donato, is a Spanish-Brazilian football manager and former player who played from the 1980s to early 2000s.

He spent most of his professional career in Spain – 15 years and more than 500 official games – most notably with Deportivo de La Coruña, being part of the Super Depor squads that won several major titles, including the 2000 La Liga championship. Having started his career as a central midfielder, he finished it as a central defender at almost 41. He also held the record for the most appearances in La Liga by a player born outside of Spain, with 466. He was a strong but technical player, who was able both to destroy the opposition's attacks and to help generate his own team's.

Born in Brazil, Donato represented the Spain national team at Euro 1996.

Club career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Donato began his 20-year professional career with America Football Club in his hometown, switching to neighbours CR Vasco da Gama in 1984 and playing there for the following four years, after which he joined Spain's Atlético Madrid as one of the first signings of elusive chairman Jesús Gil. With the Colchoneros, he won back-to-back Copa del Rey trophies.

Donato moved to Deportivo de La Coruña in 1993: alongside players like Bebeto, Mauro Silva, Miroslav Đukić and Fran, he was crucial to the team's firm establishment in both La Liga and European competitions, as he scored an impressive 18 league goals in his first two seasons combined, often from free kicks, one of his main assets. He continued to feature heavily for the Galicians in the following years, helping the club win two domestic cups and the historical 1999–2000 national championship (netting three times in 29 games).

On 19 January 2003, Donato scored a 50th-minute header in a 2–1 league win against Athletic Bilbao, and in doing so at the age of 40 years and 20 days, he became the first-ever player to score a La Liga goal after his 40th birthday, thus becoming the oldest goalscorer in Spain's top-flight history by breaking a 43-year-old record held by the former FC Barcelona player César Rodríguez, who had scored with Elche in the 1959–60 season at the age of 39 years and 277 days. Donato then extended this record four months later, when he scored an equalizer against Valencia in an eventual 1–2 loss on 17 May, at the age of 40 years and 138 days, a mark that has not yet been surpassed by any other player in La Liga.

Donato began his coaching career in Greece, as assistant manager at Aris Thessaloniki FC. In 2008, he was appointed youth team manager at lowly Montañeros CF in the A Coruña region.

On 5 November 2015, it was announced that Donato would take over as manager of Viveiro CF in the Galician regional championships.

International career
After becoming a citizen of Spain in 1990, Donato was called to the national team, and earned 12 caps in a two-year span. His debut arrived on 16 November 1994, starting and scoring in a 3–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier win against Denmark at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

Subsequently, Donato was called up for the squad at the final stages in England, making a substitute appearance in their opening draw with Bulgaria at Elland Road.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Donato goal.

Honours
Atlético Madrid
 * Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92

Deportivo
 * La Liga: 1999–2000
 * Copa del Rey: 1994–95, 2001–02
 * Supercopa de España: 1995, 2000, 2002