Afonso Taira

Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira (born 17 June 1992) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood as a defensive midfielder.

Afonso Taira
Personal information
Full name Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira[1]
Date of birth (1992-06-17) 17 June 1992[1]
Place of birth Cascais, Portugal[1]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Kholood
Number 27
Youth career
2002–2003 Internacional Almancil
2003–2006 Estoril
2006–2011 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Córdoba 2 (0)
2012–2014 → Atlético (loan) 67 (2)
2014–2017 Estoril 64 (1)
2017–2018 Ironi Kiryat Shmona 31 (0)
2018–2019 Beitar Jerusalem 17 (1)
2019–2020 Hermannstadt 10 (0)
2020–2021 B-SAD 32 (0)
2021–2023 Casa Pia 56 (0)
2023– Al-Kholood 0 (0)
International career
2007–2008 Portugal U16 5 (0)
2008–2009 Portugal U17 11 (0)
2010 Portugal U18 3 (0)
2011 Portugal U19 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:12, 27 June 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Cascais, Lisbon, Taira joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2006 (aged 14) from neighbouring G.D. Estoril Praia.[2] He made his professional debut in 2011 with Córdoba CF in the Spanish Segunda División, signing a three-year contract[3] but making only three competitive appearances during his only season in Andalusia.[4]

In 2012–13, Taira returned to his country after being loaned to Atlético Clube de Portugal of the Segunda Liga.[5] The move was extended for the following campaign.[2]

Taira returned to his former youth club Estoril on 8 June 2014, after agreeing to a four-year deal.[6] He played 13 Primeira Liga matches in his first year, in an eventual 12th-place finish.

Taira scored his only Portuguese top-flight goal on 24 October 2015, in a 2–2 home draw against Rio Ave FC.[7] On 19 July 2017, he signed with Israeli Premier League team Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC,[8] and a year later Beitar Jerusalem F.C. in the same competition.[9]

After spending the 2019–20 season in the Romanian Liga I with FC Hermannstadt,[10] Taira joined top-tier B-SAD on a two-year contract.[11] On 31 August 2021, he moved to Casa Pia A.C. one league below,[12] totalling 28 games in his first season (24 in the league, one assist) to help to a return to the main division after 83 years away.[13][14]

In June 2023, Taira signed with Saudi First Division League club Al-Kholood Club.[15]

Personal life

Taira's father, José, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He appeared in more than 100 games in the Portuguese top tier, and also spent six years in Spain, representing mainly UD Salamanca.[16]

References
  1. "Afonso Taira" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (22 May 2021). ""Cheguei ao Sporting, deslumbrei-me um pouco e bloqueei. A auto-pressão foi enorme e o meu pai já não sabia o que fazer para me ajudar"" ["I arrived at Sporting, thought I had it made a little and I blocked. The self-pressure was enormous and my father did not know what else to do to help me"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. León, José Carlos (9 July 2011). "Taira llega para tres campañas" [Taira arrives for three seasons]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  4. Muñoz, Blas Jesús (10 July 2017). "¿Ha triunfado algún futbolista portugués en el Córdoba?" [Has any Portuguese ever made it big in Córdoba?]. La Voz de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. "El Córdoba cede a Taira al Atlético Clube de Portugal" [Córdoba loan Taira to Atlético Clube de Portugal]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. "Estoril agree terms with midfielder Taira". UEFA. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. "Estoril scores late for 2–2 draw with Rio Ave in Portugal". Fox News. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  8. Elbaz, Shalon (19 July 2017). "אשטוריל הודיעה: טיירה עובר לעירוני קריית שמונה" [Estoril announced: Taira is moving to Kiryat Shmona] (in Hebrew). One. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. "Buzaglo latest addition to new-look Beitar". The Jerusalem Post. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  10. "VIDEO Mattia Persano și Afonso Taira, prezentați oficial de Hermannstadt » Sibienii se întăresc serios pentru play-off" [VIDEO Mattia Persano and Afonso Taira, officially presented by Hermannstadt » Sibienii seriously play-off contenders]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. "Afonso Taira assina contrato com o Belenenses SAD" [Afonso Taira signs contract with Belenenses SAD]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  12. Maia, João (31 August 2021). "Deixa o Belenenses e assina pelo Casa Pia, da Liga SABSEG" [He leaves Belenenses and signs for Casa Pia, of SABSEG League]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  13. Nogueira, Carlos (15 May 2022). "Após 83 anos, Casa Pia volta à I Liga. Rio Ave é campeão e também regressa" [83 years later, Casa Pia return to I League. Rio Ave are champions and return as well]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  14. "Afonso Taira assina até 2023 pelo Casa Pia" [Afonso Taira signs until 2023 for Casa Pia]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  15. Cravo, Pedro (23 June 2023). "Afonso Taira é reforço do Al Kholood Club" [Afonso Taira is Al Kholood Club addition]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  16. Gouveia, Ricardo (9 July 2014). "Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca" [Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
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