João Lucas (footballer, born 1979)

João Nuno Silva Cardoso Lucas (25 October 1979 – 26 May 2015) was a Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

For the Brazilian musicians, see João Lucas & Marcelo.
João Lucas
Personal information
Full name João Nuno Silva Cardoso Lucas
Date of birth (1979-10-25)25 October 1979
Place of birth Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
Date of death 26 May 2015(2015-05-26) (aged 35)
Place of death Porto, Portugal
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1995 Alcobaça
1995–1998 Académica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2004 Académica 101 (5)
1998–1999 → Sporting Pombal (loan)
2000 → Anadia (loan)
2004–2007 Boavista 86 (1)
2007–2008 Red Star 13 (1)
Total 200 (7)
International career
2003 Portugal B 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played professionally in his country for Académica and Boavista, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 129 matches and three goals over five seasons. He moved in 2007 to Red Star Belgrade, being forced to retire shortly after at the age of 28 due to heart problems.

Club career

Born in Caldas da Rainha, Leiria District, Lucas began his career at Académica de Coimbra, making his professional debut during the 1999–2000 season (two matches in the second division) and also being loaned twice to amateur clubs, after which he returned to become an important first-team member.

In 2004–05, Lucas signed with Boavista FC, where he consistently performed during three Primeira Liga seasons. On 3 February 2006, he scored his only official goal for the northerners, in a 3–0 league home win against Associação Naval 1º de Maio.[1]

Retirement

In the 2007 summer transfer window, Lucas joined Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. However, on 17 March 2008, he announced his decision to stop playing football, as the 28-year-old had heart problems and the doctors told him he would risk his life if he continued playing. "This is the most difficult moment of my life but I have to thank everyone at Red Star who stood by me in the past two months", he told in a news conference.[2][3]

Death

Lucas died on 26 May 2015 at the age of 35 in his home in Porto. He suffered a sudden cardiac death.[4]

References
  1. "Boavista-Naval, 3–0: Vistas para a Europa" [Boavista-Naval, 3–0: A view to Europe]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 February 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  2. "Lucas ends career over heart problem". FIFA. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  3. Wilson, Jonathan (2 April 2008). "The fragility of football is all too real for heartbroken Lucas". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. "Morreu Lucas, antigo jogador da Académica e do Boavista" [Death of Lucas, former Académica and Boavista player]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 May 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
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