Ricardo Sousa
Encyclopedia
Ricardo André de Pinho Sousa (born 11 January 1979 in São João da Madeira
) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
, and two UEFA Champions League
appearances, twice as a substitute - and went on to represent S.C. Beira-Mar (where he made his top division debuts, in the second part of 1998–99), C.D. Santa Clara
and C.F. Os Belenenses in consecutive loans. On 16 June 1999, he scored arguably the most important goal of his career, as the Aveiro side defeated S.C. Campomaiorense
1–0 to win the season's domestic cup
.
In July 2002, Sousa was finally released by Porto, returning to Aveiro and Beira-Mar, and representing Boavista F.C. in the following season. During his year with the axadrezados (chequereds), he netted 14 goals for a side that only achieved 32, one of the worst records in 2003–04's top level.
However, Sousa would leave Boavista, playing two years with German
side Hannover 96
(this included a six-month loan, starting in January 2005, to De Graafschap
in Holland
). He would nonetheless play again for Boavista in the 2006–07 season, in the same predicament.
In July 2007, Sousa had a Cypriot
adventure with AC Omonia
. In January 2008, he joined German second division
's Kickers Offenbach
, starting in all 16 appearances he made and providing five assists
, in an eventual relegation.
Sousa split 2008–09
in the second division
, starting with Beira-Mar and moving to União de Leiria in January 2009. After contributing with only four matches (97 minutes) to the latter's return to the first division, he moved abroad again, now with Slovenia
's NK Drava Ptuj
.
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
, scoring once against South Korea and playing in all four games.
, who played club football in the 80's for Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal, also being a mainstay with the national team
during that decade.
After retiring, he went on to have a lengthy spell in management, coaching Ricardo at Beira-Mar in three different stints (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03).
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 an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Growing up as a footballer in F.C. Porto, Sousa would however play only three games for its first squad - a 0–0 league draw against C.D. Santa ClaraC.D. Santa Clara
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
, and two 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...
appearances, twice as a substitute - and went on to represent S.C. Beira-Mar (where he made his top division debuts, in the second part of 1998–99), C.D. Santa Clara
C.D. Santa Clara
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
and C.F. Os Belenenses in consecutive loans. On 16 June 1999, he scored arguably the most important goal of his career, as the Aveiro side defeated S.C. Campomaiorense
S.C. Campomaiorense
Sporting Clube Campomaiorense is a Portuguese football club, founded in 1926, and based in Campo Maior.The club had a professional football section that played five seasons at the top level of Portuguese football and reached the Cup of Portugal final in 1999.Campomaiorense was first promoted to the...
1–0 to win the season's domestic 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...
.
In July 2002, Sousa was finally released by Porto, returning to Aveiro and Beira-Mar, and representing Boavista F.C. in the following season. During his year with the axadrezados (chequereds), he netted 14 goals for a side that only achieved 32, one of the worst records in 2003–04's top level.
However, Sousa would leave Boavista, playing two years with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
side Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
(this included a six-month loan, starting in January 2005, to De Graafschap
De Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
in Holland
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
). He would nonetheless play again for Boavista in the 2006–07 season, in the same predicament.
In July 2007, Sousa had a Cypriot
Cyprus
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...
adventure with AC Omonia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
. In January 2008, he joined German second division
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
's Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
, starting in all 16 appearances he made and providing five assists
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
, in an eventual relegation.
Sousa split 2008–09
2008–09 Liga de Honra
The 2008–09 Liga de Honra season is the nineteenth since its establishment. Trofense are the defending champions.-Teams promoted to Liga de Honra:*Oliveirense*Sporting Covilhã-League table:-Summary:...
in the second division
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...
, starting with Beira-Mar and moving to União de Leiria in January 2009. After contributing with only four matches (97 minutes) to the latter's return to the first division, he moved abroad again, now with Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
's NK Drava Ptuj
NK Drava Ptuj
NK Labod Drava Ptuj is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Ptuj. They play in the Slovenian Regional League.The club is named after the Drava river, which flows through the town.- Current squad :As of February 2011...
.
International career
Sousa represented PortugalPortugal national under-20 football team
The Portugal national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal....
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
, scoring once against South Korea and playing in all four games.
Personal
Sousa is the son of another footballer - and midfielder - António SousaAntónio Sousa
António Augusto Gomes de Sousa is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager.During his career he played, among others, for F.C. Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal...
, who played club football in the 80's for Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal, also being a mainstay with the national team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
during that decade.
After retiring, he went on to have a lengthy spell in management, coaching Ricardo at Beira-Mar in three different stints (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03).