Camora (footballer)

Mário Jorge Malico Paulino (born 10 November 1986), known as Camora, is a professional footballer who plays for and captains Romanian club CFR Cluj as a left back.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Malico and the second or paternal family name is Paulino.
Camora
Personal information
Full name Mário Jorge Malico Paulino[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-10) 10 November 1986[1]
Place of birth Samora Correia, Portugal[1]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Left back, midfielder
Club information
Current team
 CFR Cluj
Number 45
Youth career
1994–2005 Samora Correia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Valdevez 10 (2)
2006–2008 Beira-Mar 24 (1)
2007 → Pampilhosa (loan) 10 (1)
2008–2011 Naval 64 (2)
2011– CFR Cluj 286 (9)
National team‡
2020– Romania 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2020

He spent most of his professional career at CFR Cluj, with which he won six domestic throphies since signing in 2011.[2] Previously, he totalled 66 matches in the Primeira Liga over four seasons, 64 of those with Naval.

Born in Portugal, Camora represented Romania at international level.

Club career

Portugal

Camora was born in Samora Correia, Benavente, Santarém District. After beginning in amateur football, in January 2006 he signed with S.C. Beira-Mar in the second division. He appeared rarely for the Aveiro-based team in his first years, also being loaned once; in the 2006–07 season he played two games with them in the Primeira Liga,[3][4] eventually suffering relegation.

In summer 2008, Camora joined Associação Naval 1º de Maio of the top level, making his official debut for the club in the competition on 15 February 2009 by featuring 27 minutes in a 2–2 away draw against C.D. Trofense.[5] After only eight appearances in his first year, he went on to become an important first-team unit at the Figueira da Foz side.

CFR Cluj

On 24 May 2011, following Naval's relegation, Camora moved abroad to Romania's CFR Cluj, where he joined several compatriots.[6] He contributed one goal[7] from 28 appearances in his debut campaign, as the club won the third Liga I championship in its history.[8]

Camora became the player with the most league appearances for CFR on 17 April 2018, after surpassing Cadú's record of 202 matches.[9] On 24 January 2019, it was announced that the captain had agreed to a three-year contract extension, at the same time expressing his desire to retire at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu and move permanently to Romania.[10][11]

International career

Camora earned his first cap for Romania on 8 October 2020, playing the entire 2–1 away loss to Iceland in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.[12] In doing so, he reportedly became the oldest footballer to make his debut for the national team at the age of 33 years, 10 months and 28 days.[13]

Personal life

Camora married a Romanian woman, with the couple having one son.[14] On 24 August 2020, he obtained Romanian citizenship, becoming eligible to represent the national team.[15]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 6 November 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Valdevez 2005–06[16] Second Division 10200———102
Beira-Mar 2005–06[16] Segunda Liga 2000———20
2006–07[16] Primeira Liga 2000———20
2007–08[16] Segunda Liga 2016020——281
Total 2416020——321
Pampilhosa (loan) 2006–07[16] Second Division 10100———101
Naval 2008–09[16] Primeira Liga 8000———80
2009–10[16] 2916010——351
2010–11[16] 2711030——311
Total 6427040——752
CFR Cluj 2011–12[17] Liga I 28100———281
2012–13[17] 25050—12010430
2013–14[17] 31110———281
2014–15[17] 33140—30—401
2015–16[17] 3726020——452
2016–17[17] 2403010—10290
2017–18[17] 30100———301
2018–19[17] 32140—6010431
2019–20[17] 29200—16010462
2020–21[17] 5000—70—120
Total 274923030440403489
Career total 38215360904404047512

    International
    As of 18 November 2020[18]
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Romania
    202020
    Total20

    Honours

    Club

    Beira-Mar

    CFR Cluj

    References
    1. "Camora" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
    2. Marques, David (5 February 2019). "O português que reina na Transilvânia do conde Drácula" [The Portuguese who reigns in count Dracula's Transylvania] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
    3. "Beira-Mar vence Estrela por 2–0" [Beira-Mar defeat Estrela 2–0]. Público (in Portuguese). 17 September 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
    4. "Benfica vence Beira-Mar por 3–0" [Benfica defeat Beira-Mar 3–0] (in Portuguese). TSF. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
    5. "Guardião Paulo Lopes traiu Trofense" [Keeper Paulo Lopes betrayed Trofense]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 16 February 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
    6. "Camora has signed with CFR 1907 Cluj!". CFR 1907. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
    7. "Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ – CFR Cluj, scor 0–2, în Liga I" [Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ – CFR Cluj, 0–2 the score, in Liga I] (in Romanian). Mediafax. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
    8. "VIDEO "U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. Oaspeții revin de la 0–2 și câștigă al treilea titlu din istorie!" [VIDEO „U“ Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. Visitors come back from 0–2 and win third title in history!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
    9. "RECORD: Camora a intrat în istoria CFR Cluj!" [RECORD: Camora entered CFR Cluj's history!] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
    10. "Camora și-a prelungit contractul cu CFR Cluj!" [Camora has extended his contract with CFR Cluj!] (in Romanian). CFR 1907. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
    11. "E gata! Şi-a prelungit contractul cu CFR Cluj! Prima reacţie: "Mă voi stabili definitiv aici, în România"" [It's done! He extended his contract with CFR Cluj! First reaction: "I will move permanently here, in Romania"] (in Romanian). Telekom TV. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
    12. Gafiuc, Justin (8 October 2020). "ISLANDA – ROMÂNIA 2–1. FOTO+CRONICĂ Prea slabi pentru Euro » Visul "tricolorilor", spulberat la Reykjavik!" [ICELAND – ROMANIA 2–1. PHOTOS+REPORT Too weak for Euro » The dream of „the Tricolours”, shattered in Reykjavik!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 October 2020.
    13. Toma, Răzvan (9 October 2020). "Mario Camora, cel mai vârstnic debutant, dar nu și primul străin din naționala României!" [Màrio Camora, the oldest débutant, but not the first foreigner of the Romanian national team!]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 October 2020.
    14. Apostol, Eduard (2 September 2020). "Mario Camora, căpitanul portughez de la CFR Cluj, a primit cetățenia română. Johan Van Heerden, naturalizat tot azi" [Mario Camora, CFR Cluj Portuguese captain, obtained Romanian citizenhip. Johan Van Heerden, naturalised today]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
    15. "Mario Camora așteaptă acum un semn de la Mirel Rădoi! Căpitanul CFR-ului a devenit oficial cetățean român" [Mario Camora is waiting for a sign from Mirel Radoi. The CFR captain has officially obtained Romanian citizenship] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
    16. "Camora". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
    17. "Camora". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
    18. "Camora". European Football. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
    19. "VIDEO + FOTO Magistrala CFR! Clujenii se impun cu 5-4 la penalty-uri după o finală dramatică, încheiată 2-2 în timpul regulamentar!" [VIDEO + PHOTO The great CFR! The Cluj men win 5–4 on a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw at the end of extra time!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
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