José Fonte

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José Fonte
Personal information
Full name José Miguel da Rocha Fonte
Date of birth December 22, 1983 (1983-12-22) (age 24)
Place of birth    Penafiel, Portugal
Height 187 cm
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Benfica
Youth clubs
 ?-2002 Sporting Lisbon
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005
2006-
2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
Sporting Lisbon
Salgueiros
F.C. Felgueiras
Vitória de Setúbal
Benfica
Paços Ferreira (loan)
Estrela Amadora (loan)
Crystal Palace (loan)
0 (0)

28 (1)
15 (0)
1 (0)
11 (1)
25 (1)
22 (1)   
National team2
2006 Portugal U21 3 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 14:53, 14 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 16:57, 16 February 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

José Miguel da Rocha Fonte (born December 22, 1983 in Penafiel, Portugal) is a defender, who plays for Benfica of the Portuguese Liga. His brother Rui is currently in the Arsenal youth academy.

He began his career at the Sporting Lisbon youth teams, but didn't make to the first squad so he signed for Salgueiros for the 2003/2004 season. The club was in great financial difficulties so Fonte terminated his contract and moved to F.C. Felgueiras where history repeated itself. In the 2005/2006 season, Fonte signed with Vitória de Setúbal, before joining giants Benfica in January 2006. He was immediately loaned out to Paços de Ferreira for the remainder of that season to get first-team football and then to Estrela da Amadora the following season for more first-team football. The season after that, he was loaned to Crystal Palace for the full season. The Eagles have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan deal.

Fonte then moved on loan to Crystal Palace, in London, to be nearer Rui, though this looked to be an ill-judged move as chances were few and far-between until injuries in the Palace defence gave Fonte a run in side, with him being praised for some strong performances.

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