Samir (footballer, born 1994)

Samir Caetano de Souza Santos (born 5 December 1994), also known as Samir, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Liga MX club Tigres UANL.

Club career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Samir began his career with Brazilian side Flamengo, making his Série A debut with the club's first team in 2013; he won the 2013 Copa do Brasil and the 2014 Campeonato Carioca with the club.

On 18 January 2016, he joined Italian club Udinese for €4.5 million, but was immediately loaned out to Verona for the remainder of the 2015–16 Serie A season.

On 4 April 2016, he made his Serie A debut, scoring the decisive goal in a 1–0 away win against Bologna from a header.

On 6 January 2022, Samir signed for English club Watford on a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

International career
Samir was included in the Brazilian under-20 side for the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship. He has also represented Brazil at under-21 level.

Samir was included in the senior national team for the first time in August 16, 2019; for friendlies against Colombia and Peru in the following month.

Style of play
Samir is a large and physically powerful left-footed defender, who is known for his confidence, solid distribution, ability to read the game, and strength in the air, which makes him a goal threat on set-pieces in the opposition's area. Although primarily a centre-back, he is also capable of playing as a left-back or as a defensive midfielder.

Honours
Flamengo
 * Copa do Brasil: 2013
 * Campeonato Carioca: 2014

Tigres UANL
 * Liga MX: Clausura 2023
 * Campeón de Campeones: 2023
 * Campeones Cup: 2023