Rodrigão (footballer, born 1978)

Rodrigo Fernandes Alflen (born 14 June 1978), commonly known as Rodrigão, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a striker. He is the current youth technical coordinator of Santos.

Club career
Born in Santos, São Paulo, Rodrigão was a Santos FC youth graduate. He made his senior debut while on loan at Jabaquara in 1998, before returning to the club ahead of the 1999 season and being promoted to the first team.

In his first senior season at Peixe, Rodrigão helped the club to reach the finals of the Torneio Rio – São Paulo against Vasco da Gama, and scored ten goals overall. In January 2000, he was loaned to Internacional, with Anderson Luiz moving in the opposite direction.

Rodrigão returned to Santos in January 2001, after Inter did not exercise his buyout clause. After scoring ten goals in just 19 matches, he was sold to French Division 2 side Saint-Étienne.

After being rarely used at the French club, Rodrigão subsequently served loans at Botafogo, Guarani and Marítimo, leaving the latter due to a knee injury and finishing his recovery at Santo André. After being the club's top scorer, he moved to Atlético Paranaense, but spent ten months sidelined after being diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

Back to action, Rodrigão was loaned to Al Hilal in January 2007. He returned to his home country in June, after joining Palmeiras also in a temporary deal.

Despite featuring regularly at Verdão, Rodrigão returned to Atlético in January 2008, but was soon loaned out to Vitória in March. He helped the club to win the Campeonato Baiano with eight goals in just nine matches, including two in a 5–1 home routing of Itabuna which ensured the club's trophy.

After being sparingly used during the 2008 Série A, Rodrigão was announced at Guaratinguetá on 9 December 2008. On 1 July 2009, he moved to Primera División de México side Indios de Ciudad Juárez.

Rodrigão returned to Santo André for the 2010 season, and helped the club to reach the Campeonato Paulista finals, losing to former side Santos. In February 2011, he signed for Anapolina, but only played two matches before suffering a tendon injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the year; he subsequently rescinded his contract in April.

Rodrigão represented Independente de Limeira and Jabaquara during the 2012 season, before playing in the 2013 Campeonato Gaúcho Série A2 with Aimoré. He moved to Portuguesa Santista in July of that year, playing in the Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão.

On 5 March 2014, Rodrigão agreed to a deal with São Carlos, and decided to retire in May. In 2015, he returned to Briosa initially as a director of football, but later returned to action.

International career
In 1999, Rodrigão was called up to the Brazil national under-23 team for a friendly against the United States at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brasília. He scored the nation's seventh goal through a penalty kick in the 7–0 win on 7 April.

Rodrigão was also included in the squad for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but had to withdraw due to an injury.

Post-playing career
After retiring, Rodrigão played indoor football and worked as a youth coordinator at Jabaquara. On 2 January 2024, he returned to Santos, being named youth technical coordinator.

Personal life
Rodrigão had five-year a relationship with Hortência, between 2005 and 2010.

Honours
Vitória
 * Campeonato Baiano: 2008