João Diogo Serpa Meira(born 30 April 1987) is aPortugueseformer professionalfootballerwho played as acentral defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Diogo Serpa Meira[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 April 1987[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Setúbal,Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2003 | Cova Piedade | ||
| 2003–2006 | Vitória Setúbal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2008 | Cova Piedade | ||
| 2008–2009 | Mafra | 24 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Atlético | 66 | (2) |
| 2012–2015 | Belenenses | 79 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | Chicago Fire | 59 | (0) |
| 2018 | Lorca | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | Vålerenga | 2 | (0) |
| 2019 | Concordia Chiajna | 13 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Vitória Setúbal | 8 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Cova Piedade | 24 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Leixões | 23 | (0) |
| Total | 298 | (5) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editBorn inSetúbal,Meira spent until the age of 24 competing in thethirdandfourth divisions.In the2010–11 season,he started in all of his 33 league appearances asAtlético Clube de Portugalreturned to theSegunda Ligafollowing a lengthy absence.
Meira made his professional debut on 31 July 2011, in a 0–1 home loss againstS.C. Freamundeinthe first roundof theTaça da Liga.[2]On 2 February 2012, he was suspended for eight months after failing adrug teston 29 May of the previous year, in a match againstPadroense FC.[3]
For2012–13,Meira joinedC.F. Os Belenensesalso in the second tier, signing a three-year contract.[4]He contributed 34 games and two goals,[5][6]as theLisbonside returned to thePrimeira Ligaafter three years, as champions with 21 points more than the closest team in the table.[7][8]
From2013to2015,Meira started in 43 of his 45 league appearances, and Belenenses alsoqualifiedfor theUEFA Europa Leaguein the latter season. On 23 January 2016, aged 28, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing withChicago Fire FCofMajor League Socceras afree agent.[9]He made his debut on 6 March, asthe campaignopened with a 3–4 home defeat toNew York City FC.[10]
After a solid performance during a 3–0 win overPhiladelphia UnionatToyota Parkon 4 September 2016, Meira earned a spot on the Team of the Week.[11]In November 2017, he announced he would not continuethe following season.[12]
Meira joined SpanishSegunda DivisiónclubLorca FCon 11 January 2018.[13][14]Eleven days later, however, after the latter failed to meet the terms of the contract, he left.[15]
On 23 March 2018, Meira signed a one-year deal withVålerenga Fotballfrom the NorwegianEliteserien.[16]In late January 2019, he moved to the RomanianLiga IwithCS Concordia Chiajna.[17]
References
edit- ^abcd"João Meira"(in Portuguese). Mais Futebol.Retrieved30 July2020.
- ^"Freamunde vence Atlético com golo de Matias"[Freamunde beat Atlético with Matias goal].Record(in Portuguese). 31 July 2011.Retrieved19 September2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Atlético: João Meira suspenso oito meses"[Atlético: João Meira suspended eight months] (in Portuguese).Rádio e Televisão de Portugal.2 February 2012.Retrieved6 September2017.
- ^"João Meira assina por três épocas"[João Meira signs for three seasons].Record(in Portuguese). 30 May 2012.Retrieved2 June2017.
- ^"Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira vale triunfo"[Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira gives win].Record(in Portuguese). 2 September 2012.Retrieved2 June2017.
- ^"Resultados e marcadores"[Scores and scorers] (in Portuguese).Sábado.21 April 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 6 September 2017.Retrieved6 September2017.
- ^Lucas, Cipriano (30 March 2013)."Belenenses regressa à primeira Liga três anos depois"[Belenenses return to the first League three years later].Diário de Notícias(in Portuguese).Retrieved2 June2017.
- ^"Belenenses um clube de Lisboa"[Belenenses a Lisbon club].Record(in Portuguese). 6 May 2013.Retrieved2 May2016.
- ^"Chicago Fire add two players to 2016 roster".Chicago Fire. 23 January 2016.Retrieved23 January2016.
- ^"Chicago Fire rally falls short in season-opening 4–3 loss vs. NYCFC".Chicago Fire. 6 March 2016.Retrieved2 May2016.
- ^"2016 Team of the Week (Wk 26): Chicago Fire dominate Union front to back".Major League Soccer.30 March 2013.Retrieved6 September2016.
- ^"Joao Meira announces he won't return to Chicago Fire in 2018".Major League Soccer. 18 November 2017.Retrieved24 January2018.
- ^"João Meira assina pelo Lorca"[João Meira signs for Lorca].Record(in Portuguese). 11 January 2018.Retrieved24 January2018.
- ^Montiel, Cayetano (12 January 2018)."El luso Joao Meira pasa el reconocimiento médico con el Lorca"[Lusitanian Joao Meira has medical with Lorca].La Opinión de Murcia(in Spanish).Retrieved24 January2018.
- ^"João Meira sai do Lorca e está livre"[João Meira leaves Lorca and is free].A Bola(in Portuguese). 22 January 2018.Retrieved24 January2018.
- ^Lønning, Simen (23 March 2018)."João Diogo Serpa Meira klar for Vålerenga"[João Diogo Serpa Meira signs for Vålerenga].Nettavisen(in Norwegian).Retrieved28 March2018.
- ^Nedelea, Vlad (30 January 2019)."EXCLUSIV Concordia Chiajna a transferat un fost coechipier al lui Bastian Schweinsteiger"[EXCLUSIVE Concordia Chiajna signed former Bastian Schweinsteiger teammate].Gazeta Sporturilor(in Romanian).Retrieved31 January2019.
External links
edit- João Meiraat ForaDeJogo (archived)
- João Meiraat Soccerway
