Rui Patrício

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Rui Patrício
Personal information
Full name Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício
Date of birth February 15, 1988 (1988-02-15) (age 20)
Place of birth    Leiria, Portugal
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Sporting CP
Number 1
Youth clubs
 ?-2006 Sporting CP
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2006– Sporting CP 21 (0)   
National team2
2008– Flag of Portugal Portugal 00 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 08:26, June 2nd 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of May 31, 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício (born February 15, 1988 in Leiria) is a Portuguese football goalkeeper who plays for Sporting Clube de Portugal.

[edit] Club career

Patrício played as a striker at a young age. Reportedly, a Sporting Lisbon scout was in the area and saw the youngster play in goal; the scout was very impressed and signed him to the Sporting youth academy. He made his debut in November 19, 2006, in a 1-0 away win against Marítimo in the 10th round of the Portuguese league where, subbing in for Portuguese international and Sporting first-choice Ricardo, he saved a penalty kick 15 minutes before the end of the game. In 2007-08, after Ricardo's departure to Real Betis, Patrício beat competition from Sporting veteran Tiago and new signing Vladimir Stojkovic to become the undisputed starter. On November 27, 2007, he made his debut in UEFA Champions League, in a 2-1 away loss against Manchester United.

[edit] International career

On January 29, 2008, national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari called Patrício for a 3-1 friendly defeat against Italy in Zürich, although he did not leave the bench.On May 12 Patrício was called up to the national squad for the forthcomming European Championship.