Almami Moreira

Almami Samori da Silva Moreira (born 16 June 1978) is a Guinea-Bissauan retired footballer who played as a midfielder. He also holds Portuguese citizenship.

Almami Moreira
Moreira with Partizan in 2008
Personal information
Full name Almami Samori da Silva Moreira
Date of birth (1978-06-16) 16 June 1978
Place of birth Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1991–1994 Sacavenense
1994–1997 Boavista
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Boavista 17 (1)
1997–1998 → Gondomar (loan) 24 (13)
1998–1999 → Gil Vicente (loan) 33 (9)
2001–2006 Standard Liège 114 (18)
2004–2005 → Hamburger SV (loan) 22 (3)
2006 Dynamo Moscow 1 (0)
2007 Aves 8 (3)
2007–2011 Partizan 88 (23)
2011 Dalian Aerbin 22 (4)
2012 Vojvodina 22 (1)
2013 Salamanca 15 (4)
2014 Atlético CP 11 (3)
Total 377 (82)
International career
1998–1999 Portugal U21 12 (5)
2002 Portugal B 2 (0)
2010–2011 Guinea-Bissau 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After starting out at Boavista he went on to represent mainly Standard Liège and Partizan, also playing professionally in four other countries during his career.

Club career

Boavista

Born in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Moreira reached Boavista FC's youth ranks in 1994, but started out professionally with northern neighbours Gondomar S.C. and Gil Vicente FC, on loan.

He returned in 1999 and went on to have relative impact in the first team, being mainly used as a substitute and being part of the squad as the club won the Primeira Liga in his last year, although he did not appear in any matches whatsoever due to a contract dispute.[1]

Belgium / Russia

With the start of the new millennium Moreira moved to Standard Liège,[2] where he quickly became a fan favourite, going on to spend five years in Belgium, a loan to Hamburger SV in 2004–05 notwithstanding.[3]

In August 2006, he joined Russia's FC Dynamo Moscow, a club that was signing a large number of Portuguese and Portugal-based players at the time. Unsettled as the vast majority of those, he returned to his country of adoption in January, as lowly C.D. Aves battled to avoid relegation from the top level,[4] which eventually did not happen.

Partizan

On 5 July 2007, Moreira signed a two-year contract with FK Partizan in Serbia, being handed the #10 shirt whilst also becoming the first Portuguese player to represent the club.[5] Very quickly he became the leading player of the team with which he managed to win two Doubles in a row, which happened for the first time in the history of the club. He made his competitive debut on 19 July in a match against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar,[6] and scored his first official goal on 2 August in a UEFA Cup fixture against the same club.[7]

On 29 September 2007, Moreira scored against city rivals Red Star in a 2–2 draw – this made him the first ever Portuguese to score in a Belgrade derby. In his first season at the club he appeared 28 times and netted seven times, as Partizan won the league title; to this he added the domestic cup.

In a UEFA Cup match at Sevilla FC, on 3 December 2008, Moreira collapsed early into the game, being immediately taken into observation,[8] and fully recovering. On 10 April 2009 he agreed to sign a new three-year contract, running until 2012.[9]

Following impressive and consistent performances, Moreira was named in the 2008–09 SuperLiga Team of the Year, alongside seven teammates, as the double was again conquered – he was also voted as the club's Player of the Year in 2008 by the fans.[10] On 28 February 2009, he scored the 1–1 equaliser at home against Red Star;[11] on 5 August, grieving the loss of his mother a day earlier, he decided to play in the second leg of his team's UEFA Champions League qualifier against APOEL FC: he scored the opener in the third minute, but the Cypriots eventually progressed 2–1 on aggregate.[12]

On 27 February 2010, Moreira made his 100th competitive match for Partizan, coming on as a 55th-minute substitute for Saša Ilić against FK Borac Čačak.[13] He missed several games at the beginning of the following campaign due to injury, returning to action on 15 October in a 5–3 home league victory over FK Smederevo where he provided two assists.[14] Four days later he made his Champions League debut, in a 0–2 group stage away loss to S.C. Braga;[15] late in the same month, he scored the only goal at Red Star for the domestic league.[16]

Later years

Moreira split the following years with Dalian Aerbin F.C. in China and another team in Serbia, FK Vojvodina.[17] In late 2012 the 34-year-old moved clubs and countries again, joining Spain's UD Salamanca.[18]

Moreira retired in 2013 at the age of 35, being named Atlético Clube de Portugal's director of football. He came out of retirement in January of the following year, after being convinced by newly appointed coach Neca.[19]

International career

Moreira played for Portugal under-21s on 12 occasions in the late 1990s, and in 2002 he was part of the national B-team that won the Vale do Tejo summer tournament.[20]

In 2010, with the increasing development and professionalization of football in Guinea-Bissau, he decided to represent the land of his ancestors at full level, earning his first cap in October of that year at the age of 32.

Personal life

His son Diego is also a professional footballer.[21][22][23]

Career statistics

Club

[24][25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boavista 1999–2000 Primeira Liga 1713021222
2000–01 0000–00
Total 1713021222
Standard Liège 2001–02 Belgian Pro League 266115[lower-alpha 2]2329
2002–03 32640–366
2003–04 27410–284
2004–05 30000030
2005–06 26240–302
Total 114181015212921
Hamburg 2004–05 Bundesliga 22300–223
Dynamo Moscow 2006 Russian Premier League 1010–20
Aves 2006–07 Primeira Liga 8300–83
Partizan 2007–08 Serbian SuperLiga 287302[lower-alpha 2]1338
2008–09 279529[lower-alpha 3]04111
2009–10 2534111[lower-alpha 4]1405
2010–11| 84218[lower-alpha 5]1186
Total 882314430313230
Dalian Aerbin 2011 China League One 22400–224
Vojvodina 2011–12 Serbian SuperLiga 902000110
2012–13 131304[lower-alpha 6]1202
Total 2215041312
Salamanca 2012–13 Segunda División B 15400–154
Atlético 2013–14 Liga Portugal 2 11300–113
Career total 3206033541739472
  1. Includes Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal, Russian Cup, Serbian Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Club

Partizan

Dalian Aerbin

Individual

References
  1. Cruz Martins, André (19 September 2018). "Moreira: "Foi uma maldade não me darem a oportunidade de jogar um único minuto na época do Boavista campeão"" [Moreira: "It was awful of them not to give me the chance to play one single minute in the season of champions Boavista"] (in Portuguese). Para Eles. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. "European preview: Portugal". BBC Sport. 15 August 2001. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  3. "Léonard returns to Standard". UEFA. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  4. Frias, Rui (20 May 2007). "As relações de forças que vão decidir a Liga" [The power struggles which will decide the League]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. "Potpisao i Moreira!" [Moreira signed!] (in Serbian). FK Partizan. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  6. "Partizan deklasirao Zrinjski – 6:1!" [Partizan downed Zrinjski – 6:1!] (in Serbian). B92. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  7. "Partizan deklasirao Zrinjski 5:0" [Partizan downed Zrinjski 5:0] (in Serbian). B92. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  8. "Sevilla get back in the groove". UEFA. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  9. "'Dr Mo' keeps Partizan in peak condition". UEFA. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  10. "Moreira najbolji u 2008. godini" [Moreira best in year 2008] (in Serbian). FK Partizan. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. "Moreira sprečio slavlje Zvezde (FOTO i VIDEO)" [Moreira prevents Star celebration (PHOTO and VIDEO)] (in Serbian). Mondo. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  12. "Partizan bez Lige šampiona" [No Champions League for Partizan] (in Serbian). Radio Television of Serbia. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  13. "Moravac na crno-beli način" [Moravian in black-and-white fashion] (in Serbian). FK Partizan. 27 February 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  14. "Goleada u Humskoj – 5:3 za Partizan" [Goal galore in Humska – 5:3 for Partizan] (in Serbian). B92. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  15. "Treći poraz Partizana, Braga slavila sa 2:0" [Partizan's third defeat, Braga celebrated with 2:0]. Blic (in Serbian). 19 October 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  16. "Partizan pobedom do vrha tabele" [Partizan win to go top of the table] (in Serbian). B92. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  17. "Moreira napustio Vojvodinu" [Moreira leaves Vojvodina] (in Serbian). Sportal. 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  18. "La UDS ficha de una tacada a dos jugadores" [UDS sign two players in one go]. La Gaceta de Salamanca (in Spanish). 18 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  19. "Almani Moreira troca gabinete pelo relvado" [Almani Moreira leaves office for pitch]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  20. Garin, Erik; Nunes, João (14 February 2008). "Torneio do Vale do Tejo". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  21. Jacques, Maxime (21 August 2020). "Fin du bras de fer : le fils d'Almani Moreira rejoint Benfica". La Dernière Heure (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  22. Durand, Joachim (21 August 2020). "Officiel : Le fils d'Almami Moreira quitte le Standard". Walfoot.be (in French). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  23. "Filho de ex-jogador marca golaço ao Bayern no Seixal". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  24. Almami Moreira at ForaDeJogo (archived)
  25. "Almani Moreira". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  26. "China League One". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
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