João Amaral (footballer, born 1991)

João Pedro Reis Amaral (born 7 September 1991) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Kocaelispor as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

For other people named João Amaral, see João Amaral (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Reis and the second or paternal family name is Amaral.
João Amaral
Amaral in 2022
Personal information
Full name João Pedro Reis Amaral[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-07) 7 September 1991[1]
Place of birth Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Kocaelispor
Number 41
Youth career
2003–2009 Vilanovense
2009 Vila
2009–2010 Candal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Candal 63 (14)
2012–2013 Padroense 30 (3)
2013–2014 Mirandela 32 (6)
2014–2016 Pedras Rubras 40 (7)
2014–2015 → Oliveirense (loan) 21 (6)
2016–2018 Vitória Setúbal 66 (14)
2018 Benfica 0 (0)
2018–2023 Lech Poznań 93 (27)
2019–2023 Lech Poznań II 4 (2)
2020–2021 → Paços Ferreira (loan) 48 (2)
2023– Kocaelispor 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 September 2023

Club career

Vitória Setúbal

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Amaral played lower league and amateur football until the age of 24, working in a wine bottle label factory during this timeframe.[2] On 6 June 2016, he moved straight into the Primeira Liga after signing a three-year contract with Vitória F.C. from F.C. Pedras Rubras.[3][4]

Amaral made his debut in the Portuguese top division on 21 August 2016, starting and featuring 64 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against S.L. Benfica.[5] He scored his first goal in the competition the following weekend to help the hosts defeat F.C. Arouca 2–0,[6] adding a further four until the end of the season – while providing two assists – to help his team finish 12th.[7]

Benfica and Lech Poznań

On 29 May 2018, Amaral joined Benfica on a three-year contract.[8][9] Shortly after, on 21 July, he signed a four-year deal with Polish club Lech Poznań.[10] He made his debut for the latter five days later, netting in the last minute of the 1–1 away draw against FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.[11]

Amaral returned to his country and its top tier on 2 January 2020, being loaned to F.C. Paços de Ferreira until 30 June.[12] On 26 August, he agreed to a similar move to the same team.[13]

Career statistics
As of match played 27 May 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mirandela 2013–14[14] Campeonato de Portugal 32600——326
Pedras Rubras 2014–15[14] Campeonato de Portugal 8100——81
2015–16[14] Campeonato de Portugal 32600——326
Total 40700——407
Oliveirense 2014–15[14] Campeonato de Portugal 21600——216
Vitória Setúbal 2016–17[14] Primeira Liga 33510—2[lower-alpha 1]0365
2017–18[14] Primeira Liga 33910—6[lower-alpha 1]0409
Total 661420—807614
Lech Poznań 2018–19[15] Ekstraklasa 258213[lower-alpha 2]1—3010
2019–20[16] Ekstraklasa 15320——173
2021–22[17] Ekstraklasa 321443——3617
2022–23[18] Ekstraklasa 2120013[lower-alpha 3]200344
Total 9327841630011734
Lech Poznań II 2019–20 II liga 10———10
2022–23 II liga 32———32
Total 42———42
Paços Ferreira (loan) 2019–20[14] Primeira Liga 19110——201
2020–21[14] Primeira Liga 29120—1[lower-alpha 1]0321
Total 48230—10522
Kocaelispor 2023–24[14] TFF First League 0000——00
Career total 304641341639034271
  1. Appearances in Taça da Liga
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eleven appearances and two goals in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Lech Poznań

References
  1. "João Amaral" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. Marques, David (8 February 2017). "O «baldas» na escola que era outro João no futebol" [The "slacker" in school who was another João in football] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. "Extremo João Amaral garantido até 2019" [Winger João Amaral confirmed until 2019] (in Portuguese). Vitória F.C. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. "Do Campeonato de Portugal para a I Liga, uma aposta cada vez mais óbvia" [From the Portugal Championship to the I League, a safer bet by the day]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. "Benfica empata na Luz" [Benfica draw at the Luz] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. "Vitória de Setúbal vence Arouca" [Vitória de Setúbal beat Arouca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  7. Miguel Azevedo, Pedro (27 May 2017). "João Amaral negociado e muito perto de ser jogador do Benfica" [João Amaral negotiated and very close to becoming a Benfica player]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  8. "João Amaral contratado pelo Benfica ao Setúbal" [João Amaral signed by Benfica from Setúbal]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  9. "João Amaral signed". S.L. Benfica. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  10. Szymczak, Lilianna (21 July 2018). "João Amaral zawodnikiem Kolejorza" [João Amaral joins railwaymen] (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  11. Pereira, David (26 July 2018). "João Amaral não chegou a jogar pelo Benfica, mas teve estreia de sonho pelo Lech Poznan" [João Amaral never played for Benfica, but had dream debut for Lech Poznan]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  12. "João Amaral reforça Paços de Ferreira" [João Amaral bolsters Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  13. "OFICIAL: João Amaral continua no Paços de Ferreira" [OFFICIAL: João Amaral remains at Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  14. "João Amaral". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  15. "Sezon 2018/19" [2018/19 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  16. "Sezon 2019/20" [2019/20 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  17. "Sezon 2021/22" [2021/22 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  18. "Sezon 2022/23" [2022/23 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
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