| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricardo André Pinho Sousa | ||
| Date of birth | January 11, 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | São João da Madeira, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1997 | Sanjoanense | ||
| 1997–1998 | Porto | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2002 | Porto | 1 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | → Beira-Mar (loan) | 14 | (5) |
| 1999 | → Santa Clara (loan) | 17 | (2) |
| 2000 | Porto B | 2 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | → Beira-Mar (loan) | 27 | (11) |
| 2001 | → Belenenses (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2002 | Porto B | 4 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Beira-Mar | 33 | (11) |
| 2003–2004 | Boavista | 32 | (14) |
| 2004–2007 | Hannover | 18 | (1) |
| 2005 | → De Graafschap (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Boavista (loan) | 16 | (2) |
| 2007 | Omonia | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | Kickers Offenbach | 16 | (1) |
| 2008 | Beira-Mar | 6 | (0) |
| 2009 | União Leiria | 4 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Drava Ptuj | 6 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Oliveirense | 15 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1999 | Portugal U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 1999–2000 | Portugal U21 | 5 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ricardo André de Pinho Sousa (born 11 January 1979 in São João da Madeira) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
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Growing up as a footballer in F.C. Porto, Sousa would however play only three games for its first squad - a 0–0 league draw against C.D. Santa Clara, and two UEFA Champions League appearances, twice as a substitute - and went on to represent S.C. Beira-Mar (where he made his top division debuts, in the second part of 1998–99), C.D. Santa Clara and C.F. Os Belenenses in consecutive loans. On 16 June 1999, he scored arguably the most important goal of his career, as the Aveiro side defeated S.C. Campomaiorense 1–0 to win the season's domestic cup.
In July 2002, Sousa was finally released by Porto, returning to Aveiro and Beira-Mar, and representing Boavista F.C. in the following season. During his year with the axadrezados (chequereds), he netted 14 goals for a side that only achieved 32, one of the worst records in 2003–04's top level.
However, Sousa would leave Boavista, playing two years with German side Hannover 96 (this included a six-month loan, starting in January 2005, to De Graafschap in Holland). He would nonetheless play again for Boavista in the 2006–07 season, in the same predicament.
In July 2007, Sousa had a Cypriot adventure with AC Omonia. In January 2008, he joined German second division's Kickers Offenbach, starting in all 16 appearances he made and providing five assists, in an eventual relegation.
Sousa split 2008–09 in the second division, starting with Beira-Mar and moving to União de Leiria in January 2009. After contributing with only four matches (97 minutes) to the latter's return to the first division, he moved abroad again, now with Slovenia's NK Drava Ptuj.
Sousa represented Portugal at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring once against South Korea and playing in all four games.[1]
Sousa is the son of another footballer - and midfielder - António Sousa, who played club football in the 80's for Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal, also being a mainstay with the national team during that decade.
After retiring, he went on to have a lengthy spell in management, coaching Ricardo at Beira-Mar in three different stints (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03).