Fábio Ferreira (footballer, born 1989)

Fábio Miguel Lourenço Ferreira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfaβju fɨˈʁɐjɾɐ]; born 3 May 1989) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays mainly as a right winger but also as an attacking midfielder for Australian club Sydney Olympic.[2]

Fábio Ferreira
Ferreira playing for Central Coast Mariners in 2016
Personal information
Full name Fábio Miguel Lourenço Ferreira[1]
Date of birth (1989-05-03) 3 May 1989 (age 35)[1]
Place of birth Barreiro, Portugal[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder
Youth career
2001–2002 Seixal
2002–2005 Sporting CP
2005–2008 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Chelsea 0 (0)
2009Oldham Athletic (loan) 1 (0)
2009–2010 Esmoriz 19 (1)
2010–2011 Sertanense 9 (0)
2012 Dulwich Hill 12 (8)
2012–2015 Adelaide United 51 (14)
2015–2017 Central Coast Mariners 55 (15)
2017 PKNS 6 (0)
2018 Sydney FC 5 (0)
2018–2019 Perth Glory 13 (2)
2019 Adelaide City 8 (3)
2020–2023 Sydney Olympic 68 (8)
International career
2004 Portugal U16 3 (0)
2005–2006 Portugal U17 11 (0)
2006–2007 Portugal U18 5 (0)
2007 Portugal U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:14, 14 September 2023 (UTC)

Registered at Sporting CP and Chelsea as a teenager, he only played lower-league football in both England and Portugal. In 2012 he moved to Australia, where he represented Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC, Perth Glory, Adelaide City and Sydney Olympic.

Club career

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Early years and Chelsea

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Born in Barreiro, Setúbal, Ferreira joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2002, aged 13. On 6 January 2005, it was reported that the Lisbon side had made a complaint to FIFA regarding him and two other players who had trained with Chelsea without any authorisation.[3] However, in the summer, he still made a move to the English club.[4]

In the following season, Ferreira became a professional and signed a contract with the Blues. During 2007–08 he made 12 appearances for the reserves, scoring eight goals.

On 20 January 2009, Ferreira was loaned out to League One team Oldham Athletic on a one-month loan deal,[5] before it was extended for another month on 23 March.[6] The following day, he made his professional debut in a 1–1 draw against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road, coming on as a substitute for Deane Smalley in the 66th minute:[7] a few minutes after coming onto the pitch he nearly scored, putting a header wide of the goal.[8]

Released by Chelsea in summer 2009, Ferreira went on trial with League Two team Gillingham, but nothing came of it. He resumed his career in the Portuguese third division.[9]

Adelaide United

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In February 2012, Ferreira signed for Dulwich Hill FC in Australia. He scored twice on his NSW League One debut, on 24 March.

After becoming one of his team's key players, Ferreira went on trial with A-League club Adelaide United FC, being subsequently offered a contract.[10] On 6 August 2012 it was announced that he would sign,[11] and he penned a one-year contract later that month.[12]

Ferreira scored his debut league goal on 23 November 2012, a 2–1 away victory over Sydney FC – he opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a sharp drive into the left corner of the net, shooting from the right-hand corner of the box. Two weeks later, he assisted the first goal and netted his team's second in a 4–2 rivalry derby win against Melbourne Victory FC at Hindmarsh Stadium.[13]

On 14 December 2012, Ferreira signed a two-year extension with Adelaide United.[14]

Central Coast Mariners

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On 27 January 2015, Adelaide United announced that it had agreed to terminate Ferreira's contract effective immediately.[15] The very same day, he joined fellow league club Central Coast Mariners FC for two and a half years.[16] He made his debut for the latter on 13 February, starting in a 0–2 home loss to Brisbane Roar FC,[17] and scored his first goal a week later against Sydney, helping the team come from behind to lead but in an eventual 4–2 defeat at the Sydney Football Stadium.[18] He ended his first season in Gosford with three goals from nine games, the other being on 7 March when he finished Isaka Cernak's free kick for the only goal at home against Melbourne City FC.[19]

Ferreira scored twice in Central Coast's first game of the 2015–16 campaign, inspiring them to a 3–2 home win over Perth Glory FC on 10 October.[20] On 21 February, he was sent off in a 4–1 loss at Melbourne City.[21]

In April 2017, it was announced that Ferreira was leaving the Mariners to sign with a club in Malaysia.[22]

Sydney FC

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Following a trial, Ferreira signed a short-term deal with Sydney FC on 2 February 2018.[23] At the end of the season, being considered surplus to requirements, he was not offered an extension.[24]

Perth Glory

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On 10 July 2018, Ferreira joined Perth Glory.[25] In March 2019, he applied for Australian citizenship to play as a local in the A-League.[26]

Honours

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Adelaide United

Sydney FC

Perth Glory

Sydney Olympic

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Fábio Ferreira" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  2. ^ Greco, John (1 March 2017). "Portuguese striker: 'good energy' can lift Mariners". A-League. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Chelsea facing FIFA complaint". Rediff.com. 6 January 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  4. ^ "Chelsea bring in 11 first year players". Chelsea F.C. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  5. ^ "Chelsea winger seals Oldham move". BBC Sport. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Latics extend Ferreira loan". Sky Sports. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  7. ^ "Cheltenham 1–1 Oldham". BBC Sport. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  8. ^ Vose, Stu (24 March 2009). "Cheltenham 1–1 Oldham". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Archived from the original on 17 October 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
  9. ^ Da Cunha, Pedro Jorge (20 November 2014). "Do Chelsea à Austrália: Fábio não esquece Mourinho e Drogba" [From Chelsea to Australia: Fábio does not forget Mourinho and Drogba] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  10. ^ Gatt, Ray (6 August 2012). "Adelaide United offers former Chelsea player a contract". The Australian. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Former Jose Mourinho protege Fabio Ferreira will kick-start his career in A-League with Adelaide". Fox Sports. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Ferreira caps off Reds' foreign quota". Football Australia. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Adelaide United beat Melbourne Victory 4–2 in A-League clash". The Advertiser. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Adelaide United secures Fabio Ferreira for two more years". Herald Sun. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Ferreira leaves the Reds". Adelaide United FC. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  16. ^ "NEWS: Fabulous Ferreira bound for Mariners". Central Coast Mariners. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  17. ^ Bradford, Brendan (13 February 2015). "Central Coast 0–2 Brisbane Roar: Champions triumph in Gosford". Goal. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Sydney FC defeats Central Coast Mariners 4–2 in end-to-end A-League encounter". ABC. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Central Coast Mariners beat Melbourne City 1–0 in A-League encounter". ABC. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Fabio Ferreira shines as Central Coast Mariners beat Perth Glory in Gosford". ABC. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Melbourne City heap misery on Central Coast after Storm Roux horror injury". The Guardian. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  22. ^ Bossi, Dominic (21 April 2017). "Central Coast Mariners disappointed to lose Fabio Ferreira after big Malaysian offer comes in". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Sydney FC sign Portuguese winger". Sydney FC. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  24. ^ "A-League: David Carney, Fabio Ferreira and Anthony Kalik leave Sydney FC". news.com.au. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  25. ^ Morgan, Gareth (10 July 2018). "Portuguese winger flies in". Perth Glory FC. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  26. ^ Migliaccio, Val (13 March 2019). "Former Reds winger Fabio Ferreira is aiming to become an Australian and is open to a return to Adelaide". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  27. ^ Migiliaccio, Val (17 December 2014). "Sergio Cirio scores winner as Adelaide United beat Perth Glory to clinch FFA Cup final". Northern Territory News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Sydney Olympic crowned 2022 NPL NSW Men's Premiers". National Premier Leagues NSW. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
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