After 11 seasons in the limelight, 35-year-old Iversen has left a deep footprint on the Chinese Super League scene. Dating back to the 2013 season, the Brazilian Golden Boot jumped from Botafogo to Chinese Super League giants Guangzhou Evergrande (now renamed Guangzhou) for a fee of 5.7 million euros to kick-start his career in Chinese soccer. During his first stint at Evergrande, he not only helped the team win three Chinese Super League (CSL) trophies, but also two AFC Champions League (AFC) trophies in Asia, and in the 2013-14 season, he won the CSL Golden Boot award twice.
Ackerson's soccer journey didn't stop there. He moved to Shanghai Port and helped the team win their first ever Chinese Super League title in the 2018 season. The following summer, he returned to Guangzhou Evergrande, quickly completing the naturalization process and becoming a naturalized player. Soon after, he was selected to play for the national team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers.
However, at the end of 2021, due to various reasons, Ickerson's contract with Evergrande FC was terminated and he moved to Barclays Premier League side Gremio. A short year later, he once again embarked on a journey to the Chinese Super League, joining Chengdu Rongcheng, where the season continues to this day.
The years have not been kind to him, and Iverson's form has declined compared to his peak. This season, he has only played 8 matches in Chengdu Rongcheng, scoring 2 goals. Due to injuries, he has not appeared in the squad since July and has lost his place in the national team.
With his contract with Chengdu Rongcheng set to expire at the end of the year, Ickxon decided to leave the team early and return to Brazil to undergo surgery, signaling the end of his Rongcheng career. In these two seasons, Iverson collected 10 goals and 2 assists, which is slightly diminished compared to his brilliant career at Guangzhou Evergrande.
Despite the fact that Exxon will turn 36 next year, the veteran's retirement plan is not yet on the agenda. It is reported that he is expected to return to Guangzhou next season to join his old master for the last leg of his career.
After two seasons of silence in China's first division, Guangzhou is now quietly on the rise. The younger generation of players has emerged and is currently fourth on the table after a strong showing in the first division this season. If the Chinese Super League team falls to the first division due to penalty points, Guangzhou will most likely make a comeback next season.
But Ickerson joining Guangzhou for the third time is nothing more than his personal vision. Whether Guangzhou can afford his high salary will undoubtedly become a big problem. Whether or not Iverson can return next year as he wishes, all is yet to be revealed.
