Kanu (footballer, born 1987)

Not to be confused with Nwankwo Kanu.

Kanu

Personal information
Full name	Rubenilson dos Santos da Rocha
Date of birth	(1987-09-23) 23 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Salvador, Brazil
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Zelzate
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Grêmio Barueri	4	(1)
2008	→ Juventus-SP (loan)	11	(2)
2008	→ Anderlecht (loan)	1	(0)
2009–2013	Anderlecht	79	(12)
2009	→ Cercle Brugge (loan)	13	(0)
2013–2016	Terek Grozny	54	(2)
2016	Buriram United	0	(0)
2017–2018	Omonia	22	(0)
2018–2019	Kortrijk	16	(1)
2019	Al-Raed	13	(1)
2020–2021	Xylotymbou	16	(4)
2021	Juazeirense	6	(0)
2021–2022	Rupel Boom	25	(2)
2023	Diest	0	(0)
2023	Rupel Boom	12	(2)
2024–	Zelzate	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 November 2023

Rubenilson dos Santos da Rocha (born 23 September 1987), commonly known as Kanu, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club Zelzate.

Club career

Before signing at Anderlecht, Kanu was on trial with FC Groningen.[1] On 13 December 2008, he was loaned out to Cercle Brugge and on 30 June 2009 returned to Anderlecht.[2]

In February 2014, Kanu agree to switch to Russian Premier League side Terek Grozny.[3]

On 23 June 2017, Kanu signed a deal with the Cypriot First Division club Omonia Nicosia.[4] He made his debut on 10 September 2017 against Ethnikos Achna on the 2017–18 First Division season and gave an assist to Matt Derbyshire for the winning goal.[5]

On 31 January 2023, Kanu joined Diest in Belgium.[6]

Statistics

As of 16 May 2016[7]

Club statistics

Season	Club	League	League		Cup		Continental		Total
			App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
2012–13	Terek Grozny	Russian Premier League	6	1	0	0	—		6	1
2013–14			25	1	3	0	—		28	1
2014–15			18	0	1	0	—		19	0
2015–16			5	0	2	1	—		7	1
Total	Russia		54	2	6	1	—		60	3
Career total			54	2	6	1	—		60	3

Personal life

Kanu chose his football name as a reference to Nwankwo Kanu.^[citation needed]

References

1. Brazilian Kanu to play for Anderlecht Anderlecht Online, 18 April 2008
2. Rubenilson do Santos da Rocha Kanu profile Footgoal
3. "Kanu transféré au Terek Grozny". R.S.C. Anderlecht. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
4. "Ποδοσφαιριστής της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ ο Βραζιλιάνος Kanu". Retrieved 24 June 2017.
5. Match Report: Νικηφόρο ξεκίνημα [Match Report: Winning start] (in Greek). Omonoianews.com. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
6. "4DE INKOMENDE WINTERTRANSFER" (in Dutch). K.F.C. Diest. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
7. Kanu at Soccerway

External links

• 10. Rubenilson Dos Santos da Rocha RSC Anderlecht
• Rubenilson Dos Santos da Rocha stats Voebalkrant.com