Ricardo Nunes
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricardo Nuno Santos Nunes | ||
| Date of birth | 18 June 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Estoril | ||
| 2002–2005 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2006 | Benfica B | 23 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | Lamia | 30 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | AEP Paphos | 25 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | Aris Limassol | 32 | (7) |
| 2010 | Olympiakos Nicosia | 12 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Trofense | 7 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Portimonense | 17 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Žilina | 51 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003 | Portugal U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2012– | South Africa | 5 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 January 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Ricardo Nuno dos Santos Nunes (born 18 June 1986) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a left defender.
Club career
The son of Portuguese parents, Nunes was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and returned to the country of his ancestors where he started his football career. He first represented G.D. Estoril Praia.
After unsuccessfully emerging through S.L. Benfica's youth system – he only represented its reserves, spending the 2005–06 campaign in the third division – Nunes continued playing as a senior in the lower leagues of Greece and Cyprus. It was in the latter country where he had his first taste of top flight football, appearing in the Cypriot First Division for AEP Paphos F.C. and Olympiakos Nicosia.
On 31 January 2011, after playing one 1/2 seasons in the Portuguese second level, Nunes signed a two and a half year contract with MŠK Žilina.[1]
International career
Although Nunes was born in South Africa, he represented Portugal at under-17 and under-18 levels. This meant that he required permission from FIFA before he could switch allegiances to South Africa, after he had spoken with Gordon Igesund: "Coach Gordon Igesund phoned me [last month] and asked me if I would be interested to play for South Africa. My answer immediately was yes", he said.[2]
In early October 2012, Nunes was named in the South Africa squad for international friendlies against Poland and Kenya.[3] During this announcement, Igesund said that "Nunes is a very exciting player" and that he is "a specialist free-kick taker";[4] he made his debut on the 12th against the former opponent, a 0–1 loss in Warsaw.[5]
References
- ↑ Ricardo Nunez hráčom MŠK Žilina; Žilina's official website, 31 January 2011 (Slovak)
- ↑ "Nunes is itching to turn out in his Bafana colours". Sport Live. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ↑ "Igesund's travelling Bafana squad". Soccer Laduma. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ↑ "Igesund: Nunes is an exciting player". Kickoff. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ↑ "Nunes happy with debut". Super Sport. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
External links
- Stats and profile at Zerozero
- Stats at ForaDeJogo
- Ricardo Nunes at National-Football-Teams.com
- Transfermarkt profile