Dani Rodrigues
Encyclopedia
Daniel 'Dani' Ferreira Rodrigues (born 3 March 1980 in São João da Madeira
) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays as a winger.
. In November 1998, he went on loan to English
club Bournemouth
, where he was spotted by scouts from nearby Premier League outfit Southampton
, who recommended him to manager Glenn Hoddle
.
200,000. He made two substitute appearances at the end of the 1999–00 season.
Rodrigues showed promise and, when he went on loan to Bristol City
at the end of 2000, he was an instant hit, but he broke an ankle
in a match against Reading
. He returned to the Saints and was fighting his way back to full fitness when he broke the same ankle in training.
In an effort to rebuild his career, Rodrigues spent another spell on loan to Bristol City. Southampton released him from his contract in July 2002 and he was signed by Walsall
on a free transfer.
shortly after, scoring both of his league goals for the club in the last round, as it narrowly avoided top flight relegation.
In March 2004, Rodrigues returned to England on loan for Yeovil Town
and scored four times in four appearances. His goal-scoring exploits at the team impressed Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll
and he re-joined the Cherries for a second spell at the start of the 2004–05 season.
In his second spell for Bournemouth, Rodrigues made 23 league starts (plus 29 appearances from the bench) and scored six goals.
, where he made four appearances before once again being seriously injured, this time with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament
which kept him out of the game for the rest of the season.
, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements, after the arrival of new manager Ian Baird
.
On 2 November, he joined Conference South
side Dorchester Town
. He made his debut for the club away at Newport County
on the following day. On 29 December 2007, the Magpies announced the player would not remain with the team.
and signed for Onisilos Sotira
in the second level
. He would remain in the country in the following years, representing several clubs.
São João da Madeira
São João da Madeira , in English St. John's Wood, is a municipality in northwestern Portugal. Its part of Porto Metropolitan Area, the second largest of Portugal. It has a land area of 8.11 km² and a total population of 21 685 inhabitants...
) is a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who plays as a winger.
Portugal
Rodrigues started his career for C.D. Feirense, playing one full season in the second divisionLiga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
. In November 1998, he went on loan to English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, where he was spotted by scouts from nearby Premier League outfit Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, who recommended him to manager Glenn Hoddle
Glenn Hoddle
Glenn Hoddle is an English former footballer and manager who played as an attacking midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur, AS Monaco, Chelsea and Swindon Town and at international level for England....
.
England
In an act of "un-neighbourly piracy", Southampton nipped in and signed Rodrigues from Feirense for £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
200,000. He made two substitute appearances at the end of the 1999–00 season.
Rodrigues showed promise and, when he went on loan to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
at the end of 2000, he was an instant hit, but he broke an ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
in a match against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. He returned to the Saints and was fighting his way back to full fitness when he broke the same ankle in training.
In an effort to rebuild his career, Rodrigues spent another spell on loan to Bristol City. Southampton released him from his contract in July 2002 and he was signed by Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on a free transfer.
Greece / Return to England
Rodrigues was released by Walsall in January 2003. He joined Ionikos F.C. in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
shortly after, scoring both of his league goals for the club in the last round, as it narrowly avoided top flight relegation.
In March 2004, Rodrigues returned to England on loan for Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
and scored four times in four appearances. His goal-scoring exploits at the team impressed Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll
Sean O'Driscoll
Sean Michael O'Driscoll is an English-Irish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having been relieved of his duties as manager of Doncaster Rovers in September 2011. He joined Doncaster in September 2006 following Dave Penney's departure. He was previously manager at...
and he re-joined the Cherries for a second spell at the start of the 2004–05 season.
In his second spell for Bournemouth, Rodrigues made 23 league starts (plus 29 appearances from the bench) and scored six goals.
New Zealand Knights
In August 2006, Rodrigues signed for New Zealand Knights in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he made four appearances before once again being seriously injured, this time with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
which kept him out of the game for the rest of the season.
Third and final spell in England
On 20 September 2007, Rodrigues signed for EastleighEastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements, after the arrival of new manager Ian Baird
Ian Baird
Ian Baird is an ex-professional footballer whose most notable spell was as a player for Leeds United. He had two spells at the club with his first spell having a season as captain and his second spell including a player of the year award and just after he left, he got a second division...
.
On 2 November, he joined Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
. He made his debut for the club away at Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
on the following day. On 29 December 2007, the Magpies announced the player would not remain with the team.
Cyprus
In 2008–09, Rodrigues moved to CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and signed for Onisilos Sotira
Onisilos Sotira
Kentro Neon Onisillos Sotiras is a Cypriot football club from the village of Sotira. The club was founded in 1978 and was named after the ancient Cypriot revolutionary Onesilus...
in the second level
Cypriot Second Division
- Structure :Fourteen clubs compete in the league, playing each other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 26 games per team. The topthree clubs are promoted to the first division and the bottom three are relegated to the third division.- Teams :...
. He would remain in the country in the following years, representing several clubs.