Mika (footballer, born 1991)

Mika
Personal information
Full nameMichael Simões Domingues
Date of birth8 March 1991
Place of birthYverdon, Switzerland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Boavista
Number1
Youth career
2002–2006Sporting Pombal
2006–2010União Leiria
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2011União Leiria4(0)
2011–2014Benfica0(0)
2012–2014Benfica B31(0)
2014Atlético CP15(0)
2014–Boavista24(0)
National team
2011–2011Portugal U2017(0)
2011–2012Portugal U216(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Michael Simões Domingues (born 8 March 1991), known as Mika, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Boavista F.C. as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland to Portuguese parents, Mika joined U.D. Leiria's youth ranks in 2006, aged 15. He was promoted to the main squad for the 2009–10 season, as third-choice. On 26 February 2010, in a home match against Vitória de Guimarães, he made his top division debut, replacing Carlão after Hélder Godinho received a red card for committing a foul inside the box; he was not able to prevent Andrezinho from scoring the game's only goal in the subsequent penalty kick.

The following campaign Mika was still a backup, but two of his three appearances were against Sporting Clube de Portugal (0–0 away draw) and S.L. Benfica (3–3, also away). On 7 July 2011, whilst on international duty with the Portuguese under-20s, he signed a five-year contract with Benfica, for €500,000.[1]

Mika made no official appearances during 2011–12, playing understudy to experienced Artur and Eduardo. He spent the following two seasons with the B-team, in the second level.

On 27 January 2014, Mika rescinded his contract with the Lisbon club.[2] He signed for two years with division two's Atlético Clube de Portugal the same day,[3] being first-choice during his short tenure but not being able to help prevent relegation.

Mika returned to the top flight in the 2014 summer, penning a three-year contract with Boavista FC.[4]

International career

Mika was Portugal's starter at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia: he helped the national team reach the final without conceding a single goal, before losing to Brazil 2–3 in the decisive match. In the quarterfinals against Argentina he saved three penalties in the shootout and, in the following game, against France, he broke the record for number of minutes without conceding a goal in U-20 World Cup history, in a 2–0 win,[5] and was eventually voted as best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Subsequently, Mika was chosen by under-21 manager Rui Jorge for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign. He played in half of the games, with Portugal just missing out on the play-off round.

Honours

Club

Benfica

Portugal

Individual

Club statistics

As of 5 April 2015[6]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2009–10LeiriaPrimeira Liga1000000010
2010–113010000040
Total 4010000050
2011–12BenficaPrimeira Liga0000000000
Total 0000000000
2012–13Benfica BSegunda Liga300—300
2013–1410—10
Total 310000000310
2013–14AtléticoSegunda Liga 160000000160
Total 160000000160
2014–15BoavistaPrimeira Liga230101000250
Total 0000000000
Career Total 740000000770

References

  1. ↑ Benfica: guarda-redes Mika garantido por 500 mil euros (Benfica: goalkepper Mika confirmed for 500.000 euros); Diário de Notícias, 7 July 2011 (Portuguese)
  2. ↑ Mika rescindiu contrato (Mika has rescinded contract); A Bola, 27 January 2014 (Portuguese)
  3. ↑ Mika reforça alcantarenses (Mika bolsters alcantarenses); A Bola, 27 January 2014 (Portuguese)
  4. ↑ Mika reforça baliza do Boavista (Mika bolsters Boavista goal); Zerozero, 24 June 2014 (Portuguese)
  5. ↑ Portugal see off France to reach final; FIFA.com, 17 July 2011
  6. ↑ "Mika". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

External links