Neca (footballer)

João Alexandre Duarte Ferreira Fernandes (born 31 December 1979), known as Neca, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Neca
Personal information
Full name João Alexandre Duarte Ferreira Fernandes
Date of birth (1979-12-31) 31 December 1979
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1990 Olivais Moscavide
1990–1997 Belenenses
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2005 Belenenses 143 (17)
2005–2006 Vitória Guimarães 29 (1)
2006–2007 Marítimo 10 (0)
2007 → Konyaspor (loan) 31 (8)
2008–2009 Ankaraspor 41 (6)
2010–2012 Vitória Setúbal 59 (10)
2012–2013 Konyaspor 25 (9)
2013–2015 Farense 62 (9)
2015–2016 Pinhalnovense 24 (4)
2016–2018 Farense 48 (8)
Total 472 (72)
National team
1999 Portugal U20 4 (0)
2001–2002 Portugal U21 4 (0)
2002 Portugal 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 225 matches and 29 goals over the course of 12 seasons, representing in the competition Belenenses, Vitória de Guimarães, Marítimo and Vitória de Setúbal. He also played professionally in Turkey.

Club career

Born in Lisbon, Neca started playing professionally for local C.F. Os Belenenses, being a starter from an early age. In the 2005–06 season he moved to fellow Primeira Liga club Vitória S.C. and, although he was an important first-team member, the Guimarães-based side were relegated.

In the summer of 2006, Neca signed for C.S. Marítimo on a Bosman transfer. After limited playing time, he was loaned out to Konyaspor in January 2007. He was definitely released by the Madeirans in December but stayed in Turkey, switching to Ankaraspor.

In late December 2009, Neca agreed on a return to his country, signing with struggling Vitória F.C. until the end of the campaign and contributing with 11 games and two goals as the Sadinos eventually escaped relegation. In the summer of 2012, at nearly 33, he returned to Konyaspor, with the club now in the second division.

International career

Neca represented Portugal at both the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship[1] and the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In 2002, courtesy of his consistent performances at Belenenses, he earned two full caps.[2]

References
  1. Neca – FIFA competition record
  2. "Sílvio é o 14.º a estrear-se com Agostinho Oliveira" [Sílvio is debutant number 14 with Agostinho Oliveira]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
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