Hélder Sousa

Hélder Bruno Macedo Sousa (born 13 October 1977) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Hélder Sousa
Personal information
Full name Hélder Bruno Macedo Sousa[1]
Date of birth (1977-10-13) 13 October 1977[1]
Place of birth Matosinhos, Portugal[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1987–1991 Boavista
1991–1993 Gatões
1993–1994 Leixões
1994–1996 Senhora da Hora
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Imperial Sobreirense
1997–1998 Padroense
1998–2000 Trofense 44 (3)
2000–2003 Braga B 76 (13)
2002 Braga 1 (0)
2003 Ovarense 16 (1)
2003–2004 Gondomar 34 (7)
2004–2005 Feirense 14 (1)
2005–2009 Vizela 113 (9)
2009–2010 Trofense 25 (1)
2010–2012 Olympiakos Nicosia 44 (4)
2012–2013 APOEL 17 (1)
2013–2016 Trofense 108 (22)
2016 Pedras Rubras 11 (2)
2016–2017 Trofense 29 (2)
2017–2018 Merelinense 27 (4)
2018–2019 Rio Ave U23 7 (0)
2018–2019 Rio Ave B 3 (0)
2019–2020 Trofense 14 (2)
Total 583 (72)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Matosinhos, Sousa started his career with amateurs Padroense F.C. in 1997. In his country, in which he competed almost exclusively in the second and third divisions, he also represented C.D. Trofense (two spells), S.C. Braga's reserves, A.D. Ovarense, Gondomar SC, C.D. Feirense and F.C. Vizela. On 15 September 2002, whilst with Braga, he made his only Primeira Liga appearance, which consisted of 20 minutes as a starter in a 2–0 away loss against Varzim SC.[2]

In the summer of 2010, aged nearly 33, Sousa moved abroad for the first time, joining Cypriot club Olympiakos Nicosia. On 10 January 2012 he signed an 18-month contract with fellow First Division team APOEL FC, for a transfer fee of €90,000.[3] He made his official debut six days later, playing 23 minutes in a 0–0 home draw with his former employers.

Sousa made his UEFA Champions League debut on 14 February 2012 at the age of 34, featuring 72 minutes in a 1–0 defeat at Olympique Lyonnais in the round of 16.[4] He added a further two appearances, as the side reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever.[5]

On 29 January 2013, Sousa's contract with APOEL was terminated by mutual consent.[6] The following day, he returned to his homeland and signed for two years with former club Trofense.[7]

Sousa played well into his 40s, always in lower-league or amateur football.[8][9]

References
  1. "Hélder Sousa" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. "Varzim-Sp. Braga, 2–0: Autêntica procissão na vitória do futebol" [Varzim-Sp. Braga, 2–0: Procession extraordinaire as football won]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 September 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  3. "Hélder Sousa given APOEL chance". UEFA. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  4. Spiro, Matthew (14 February 2012). "Lacazette rewards Lyon dominance against APOEL". UEFA. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  5. Machado, Catarina (8 March 2012). "APOEL nos quartos da Champions: sim, é verdade" [APOEL in the Champions' last-eight: yes, it's true] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. "Ευχαριστούμε τον Sousa" [Thank you Sousa] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  7. "Hélder Sousa é reforço" [Hélder Sousa is an addition] (in Portuguese). CD Trofense. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  8. Baptista Seixas, João (23 September 2018). "Hélder Sousa: Entre jovens aos 40 anos" [Hélder Sousa: Amongst youngsters at the age of 40]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. "Hélder Sousa apresentado como reforço do Trofense... mais uma vez" [Hélder Sousa presented as Trofense addition... again]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 3 September 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
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