Michael Pointer

michael.pointer@indystar.com

Former Brazilian national and World Cup champion Kleberson was looking to finish his career in America.

To induce him to make that final stop Indianapolis, Indy Eleven president Peter Wilt and the rest of the team's upper management decided to give him a distinctly American experience when he visited for the first time last March.

They took him to an Indiana Pacers-Miami Heat game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse – watching the game from a suite with a trip to Mo's Steakhouse afterwards. Kleberson still struggles with his English at times, but has no trouble expressing himself when it comes to that night.

"I'll never forget that," he said. "First time here and I had this game, a special game. The Pacers and the Heat."

Kleberson is generously listed at 5-9 on the Eleven's roster and the comment he often gets from people meeting him for the first time is just how small he is. So, seeing athletes pushing 7-feet tall sprint up and down the court made for a memorable night.

"I looked at Paul George and said, 'Wow,' " he said.

Early the following morning, he reached a contract agreement with Wilt and team owner Ersal Ozdemir.

"He was sold on Indianapolis as a market and what we wanted to accomplish here," the team president said.

The Eleven refuse to disclose contract terms, but Wilt confirmed Kleberson is the team's highest-paid player. Kleberson has rewarded their faith by playing like it, even while the Eleven has struggled during their first season. He is third-highest scoring player in the North American Soccer League heading into a road game against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday.

"Ersal made it clear early on he wanted to make a splash and have an impact player. ... Kleberson was the one for me that checked off the most important boxes, not the least of which was a player that would enhance the locker room atmosphere," Wilt said.

Like many Brazilian soccer stars, Kleberson goes by just one name. His full name is Jose Kleberson Pereira. He was born and raised in Urai in the southern part of the country and at 35, has had a career that can elevate one to royalty in soccer-mad Brazil.

He joined Atletico Paranaense in Brazil's Serie A League as a 20-year-old. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named him to the country's World Cup team in 2002 and he assisted on Ronaldo's goal in a 2-0 victory over Germany in the final. (Kleberson also played for Brazil's 2010 World Cup team, but made just one appearance, the last of 32 with the national team.)

"I have a great story in soccer," he said. "My dream was to play for the national team, but when you're young in Brazil, it's hard. They have a lot of great players, the best players. But I worked hard, I prepared my mind and I've had a great career."

But it has been a difficult one at times, too. Kleberson was slowed by injuries during a two-year stint with Manchester United – which paid Atletico Paranaense a $10.4 million transfer fee for him -- in the English Premiere League, one of five Brazilians to play for the legendary club. Many of its fans said good riddance when he left following the 2005 season to play in Turkey.

"Playing there was the best time for me, but it was a hard time," he said. "Brazilian soccer is much different from English soccer. You have more time to take the ball. You can look at the game. There's more passing.

"In England, it's hard. You have more contact and tackles. You don't have too much time to think. It's more physical. There's the difference."

Another difference: Kleberson said that in Brazil, style sometimes win out with substance. Fans not only want to win, but to do so with flair. Players that score the beautiful goals are celebrated, no matter the outcome.

The message was different in England: Win or suffer the consequences.

"If you don't play well and win, there's a lot of pressure on you throughout the week (before the next game)," he said.

Kleberson followed that up by playing two seasons in Turkey before returning to his native country, where he played for six more years until joining MLS' Philadelphia Union on loan from the Brazilian club Bahia. The addition of a World Cup champion was trumpeted by the league, but like his time at Manchester United, it was something of a disappointment.

Kleberson started just seven games and the Union went 1-4-2 in those matches. He scored a brilliant goal off a free kick during stoppage time in a key late-season victory over Toronto. An item on si.com, Sports Illustrated's website, ran with the headline: "Kleberson (remember him?) scores gorgeous free kick winner." It wasn't enough for him to return. He was waived in November.

But he wanted to keep playing, preferably in the United States, where he and his wife wanted to raise their two children: a 10-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.

"I could tell from the first meeting with Peter and Ersal and (coach Juergen Sommer) that they needed a guy with some experience for the young players," he said. "When they told me about the project, I thought it was amazing. I'm 35 years old. I play for two or three more years. Now, I can be of more help and support for the young guys."

Wilt knew the Union coaching staff because it had many of the same members that worked under him when he was president of MLS' Chicago Fire. They told him even when he was stuck on the bench, Kleberson kept a positive attitude.

"One of the hardest things, especially with international players, is getting references that you can trust," Wilt said. "They said his work rate was fantastic, his health was good and his leadership was good."

Kleberson spent part of the Eleven's World Cup break moving his wife and children from Brazil to Hamilton County. His son is fourth-grader and daughter a first-grader in Carmel Clay schools. He marvels they each have access to computers and iPads in the classroom. "In Brazil, you have to pay a lot of money for good schools," he said.

On the field, Sommer made him a team captain about midway through the season.

"He does a great job showing these younger guys how to compete," Sommer said. "When you have a World cup winner doing the little things you have to do to get ready to play, it really rubs off on the rest of the group.

"The other thing I find amazing about Kleberson is that this is a player that's played in two World Cups, he's played for Manchester United, yet the guy still is passionate about the game. He loves to compete and he prepares himself. You don't see that much in players that are 34 or 35."

Indiana looks to be rubbing off on Kleberson. He plans to live in the area year-round, even though he knows this winter likely will be colder than anything he's experienced over an extended time. He hopes he can help with the game's growth and perhaps move into coaching when his career is over.

His English is improving – although he admits that he enjoys speaking in Portuguese with newly-acquired teammate and fellow Brazilian Jhulliam – and he's comfortable doing interviews and making public appearances.

"I think the club has learned so much this first year," he said. "We're working hard, but we need more experienced players to win games. But the team has some great boys. It's the first year and some of what we're going through, it's normal, I think."

Call Star reporter Michael Pointer at (317) 444-2709. Follow him on Twitter @michaelpointer.