Flávio Meireles
Encyclopedia
Flávio Miguel Magalhães Sousa Meireles (born 3 October 1976 in Ribeira de Pena
, Vila Real) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Most of his 16-year professional career was associated with Vitória de Guimarães, which he represented in three different spells, appearing in nearly 250 official games.
) then A.D. Fafe
.
In 1999, he returned to Vitória, meeting the same fate, and quickly moved again to Fafe. The following season, he switched to another, former club, Moreirense, being instrumental as the club (also based in Guimarães
) promoted from the third to the top level in only two years, under manager Manuel Machado
.
For 2003–04, Meireles re-joined Vitória de Guimarães, for a third spell. His first game came on 18 August 2003, playing the entire 1–0 home win over União de Leiria. At the Minho side, he was now an automatic first-choice and club captain from the start, helping it achieve promotion
in 2007, as well as reaching UEFA Champions League
qualification honours in the following season, with Meireles playing in all but two games, netting three goals; in two different spells with the club, he was again coached by Machado.
On 22 May 2011, after appearing in the Portuguese Cup
final against F.C. Porto, 34-year old Meireles announced his immediate retirement from football. Shortly after, he was appointed as a coach at the club.
Ribeira de Pena
Ribeira de Pena is a municipality in the Vila Real District, in Norte Region in Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 217.5 km² and a total population of 7,251 inhabitants....
, Vila Real) is a retired 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 played as a defensive midfielder.
Most of his 16-year professional career was associated with Vitória de Guimarães, which he represented in three different spells, appearing in nearly 250 official games.
Football career
Meireles began his professional career with in Vitória de Guimarães, having no impact whatsoever at the club in his first spell, and moving to the lower leagues in 1996, first with Moreirense FC (where he also appeared very rarely, 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...
) then A.D. Fafe
A.D. Fafe
Associação Desportiva de Fafe is a Portuguese football club from Fafe, northern Portugal. Founded in 1958, it currently plays in the Portuguese Fourth Division, holding home games at Parque Municipal dos Desportos de Fafe, with a capacity of 8,000....
.
In 1999, he returned to Vitória, meeting the same fate, and quickly moved again to Fafe. The following season, he switched to another, former club, Moreirense, being instrumental as the club (also based in Guimarães
Guimarães
Guimarães Municipality is located in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the Braga District. It contains the city of Guimarães.The present Mayor is António Magalhães Silva, elected by the Socialist Party.-Parishes:-Economy:...
) promoted from the third to the top level in only two years, under manager Manuel Machado
Manuel Machado (football manager)
Manuel António Marques Machado is a Portuguese football manager.-Coaching career:Machado started his career with his local club Vitória de Guimarães' youth sides, having a head coach spell with lowly S.C. Vila Real in between. After two years with another modest team in the north, A.D...
.
For 2003–04, Meireles re-joined Vitória de Guimarães, for a third spell. His first game came on 18 August 2003, playing the entire 1–0 home win over União de Leiria. At the Minho side, he was now an automatic first-choice and club captain from the start, helping it achieve promotion
Liga 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 2007, as well as reaching UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification honours in the following season, with Meireles playing in all but two games, netting three goals; in two different spells with the club, he was again coached by Machado.
On 22 May 2011, after appearing in the Portuguese Cup
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
final against F.C. Porto, 34-year old Meireles announced his immediate retirement from football. Shortly after, he was appointed as a coach at the club.