Niquinha

Niquinha
Personal information
Full name	Edson Pereira de Barros
Date of birth	(1971-09-30) 30 September 1971
Place of birth	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1992–1995	Náutico	44	(5)
1996	Sport	0	(0)
1997	Manchete
1997–2009	Rio Ave	340	(18)
2009–2010	Francana
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Edson Pereira de Barros, commonly known as Niquinha (born 30 September 1971), is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

Football career

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Niquinha started his professional career in Brazil with lowly Clube Náutico Capibaribe and Manchete Futebol Clube, with a spell in between with Sport Club do Recife in which he collected no Série A appearances. In 1997 he moved to Portugal, joining Rio Ave F.C. where he went on to become one of its most influential players, with nearly 400 competitive games for the Vila do Conde club.

After still contributing regularly in the 2008–09 season – 22 matches, 16 starts – as Rio Ave eventually retained its top flight status, Niquinha returned home aged 38, joining amateurs Associação Atlética Francana.