Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela (born 3 May 2002) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in Portugal, Varela plays for the Cape Verde national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela | ||
| Date of birth | 3 May 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Almada, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gent | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2012 | Monte Caparica | ||
| 2012–2014 | Charneca Caparica | ||
| 2014–2018 | Vitória Setúbal | ||
| 2018–2020 | Cova da Piedade | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Amora | 8 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Sintrense | 26 | (5) |
| 2022–2024 | Portimonense | 33 | (6) |
| 2024– | Gent | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Cape Verde | 11 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:11, 16 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:11, 18 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editVarela is a youth product of Monte Caparica, Charneca Caparica, Vitória Setúbal and Cova da Piedade. He began his senior career with Amora in 2020, before joining Sintrense for the 2021–22 Liga 3 season.[1] He moved to the reserves of Portimonense in the summer of 2022. He made his professional debut with them in a 0–0 (5–4) Taça da Liga penalty shootout loss to Leixões on 30 July 2023.[2] He scored his first league goal in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Arouca on 26 August 2023.[3]
On 16 August 2024, Varela joined Gent. [4] On 30 October, Varela made his debut with Gent in the Croky Cup against Union Rochefortoise, he immediately scored 2 goals.
International Career
editBorn in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent. He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023.[5] He debuted with Cape Verde as a substitute in a 5–1 friendly loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023.[6]
References
edit- ^ ""Liga 3 está mais perto da II Liga do que do Campeonato de Portugal"". www.ojogo.pt. 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Leixões SC vs Portimonense". SAPO Desporto.
- ^ "Nasce de um lançamento lateral. Hélio Varela adianta assim o Portimonense". Notícias ao Minuto. 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Helio Varela versterkt aanval van KAA Gent" (in Dutch). K.A.A. Gent. 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Portimonense: Hélio Varela em estreia na seleção de Cabo Verde | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. 5 October 2023.
- ^ "Portimonense: primeira internacionalização para Hélio Varela | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. 12 October 2023.
External links
edit- Hélio Varela at Soccerway
- Hélio Varela at BDFutbol
- Hélio Varela at National-Football-Teams.com