João Diogo Serpa Meira

João Meira
Personal information
Full name João Diogo Serpa Meira
Date of birth (1987-04-30) 30 April 1987
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Youth career
1995–2003 Cova da Piedade
2003–2006 Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2008 Cova da Piedade
2008–2009 Mafra 24 (0)
2009–2012 Atlético 66 (2)
2012–2015 Belenenses 79 (2)
2016– Chicago Fire 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 May 2015.

† Appearances (goals)

João Diogo Serpa Meira (born 30 April 1987) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for American club Chicago Fire Soccer Club as a central defender.

Football career

Born in Setúbal, Meira spent until the age of 24 competing in the third and fourth divisions. In the 2010–11 season, he started in all of his 33 league appearances as Atlético Clube de Portugal returned to the second level following a lengthy absence.

On 31 July 2011 Meira made his professional debut, in a 0–1 home loss against S.C. Freamunde for the campaign's League Cup.[1] On 2 February 2012 he was suspended for eight months a failing a drug test on 29 May of the previous year, in a match against Padroense FC.[2]

For 2012–13 Meira joined C.F. Os Belenenses also in division two, signing a three-year contract.[3] He contributed with 34 games and two goals[4] as the Lisbon side returned to the Primeira Liga after three years.

From 2013 to 2015, Meira started in 43 of his 45 league appearances, and his team also qualified for the UEFA Europa League in the latter season. On 23 January 2016, aged 28, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Chicago Fire Soccer Club of the Major League Soccer.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Atlético CP 0–1 Freamunde". Zerozero. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "João Meira suspenso oito meses" [João Meira suspended eight months]. Record. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "João Meira assina por três épocas" [João Meira signs for three seasons]. Record. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira vale triunfo" [Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira gives win]. Record. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Chicago Fire add two players to 2016 roster". Chicago Fire. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.

External links

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