Vini Dantas

Vini Dantas

Dantas on Riverhounds debut
Personal information
Full name	Vinicius Helder dos Anjos Dantas
Date of birth	(1989-09-14) 14 September 1989 (age 27)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
2007–2010	Azusa Pacific Cougars
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2012	Molde	6	(1)
2012	Bodø/Glimt	13	(6)
2013	Lahti	30	(6)
2014	Ottawa Fury FC	26	(2)
2015	Pittsburgh Riverhounds	16	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:12, 9 October 2015 (UTC).

Vini Dantas (born 14 September 1989) is a Brazilian football striker who last played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL.

Dantas grew up in Sao Paulo in Brazil, predominantly playing futsal. He moved to the United States at age 18 to attend Azusa Pacific University on a football scholarship. In 2011, he was spotted by former Liverpool player Jason McAteer who took him to Tranmere Rovers, where he was offered a contract. However, he was not granted a work permit in England, and the contract could not be fulfilled.

In August 2011, he signed for the Norwegian club Molde FK, and on 17 September 2011 he made his Tippeligaen debut when he replaced Daniel Chima in the 65th minute against Fredrikstad FK. Dantas scored his first goal for Molde in the club's 3-1 victory over Sarpsborg 08 on 20 November 2011. Molde won the league title in his first season, qualifying for the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League in the process. Dantas made one appearance for Molde during its qualifying rounds, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute against FK Ventspils on 24 July 2012. During the 2012 season, Dantas played only one match for Molde but played regularly for Molde's reserve team in the Second Division where he scored 15 goals in 12 matches in 2012. In total, Dantas made six first team league appearances for Molde, scoring one goal.