João Pereira (footballer, born 1984)

Pereira was born in Lisbon. A product of local S.L. Benfica's youth system, he first appeared with its first team on 17 August 2003 in a 0–0 away draw against Boavista FC,[3] and finished his debut season with 25 Primeira Liga appearances, mostly as a midfielder.

Pereira was part of the Benfica squad that won the 2005 championship, starting often, until a fallout with coach Ronald Koeman relegated him to the bench and later to the B side. He was sold to Gil Vicente F.C. – also in the top flight – in the summer of 2006, after a previous loan to the same club.[4]

In 2007–08, fully reconverted into a right back, Pereira joined S.C. Braga, as another player in the position, Luís Filipe, went the other way.[5]

An undisputed starter from the beginning, he scored his first goal for the Minho side on 22 February 2009, a 2–1 last-minute winner at Associação Naval 1º de Maio.[6] He also collected a total of 17 yellow cards and two red in his first two seasons.

On 22 December 2009, Pereira moved to Sporting CP for a fee of €3 million;[7] at the time, Braga led the league alongside Benfica with 12 points in advance to his new club, with the Lions eventually finishing fourth.

Pereira again featured regularly for Sporting in the 2010–11 campaign, both as a defender and a midfielder, as his team ranked in third position. On 30 April 2011, he scored in a 2–1 home victory over Portimonense S.C. but was also sent off midway through the second half (after teammate André Santos) for repeatedly and severely insulting referee Duarte Gomes.[8]

Pereira defending against Levante's Obafemi Martins in October 2012

On 24 May 2012, Pereira signed with Valencia CF in Spain for €3.6 million, penning a 3+1 contract.[9] He made his official debut on 19 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against Real Madrid.[10]

Pereira was a starter in his first two years with the Che but, after the arrival of manager Nuno Espírito Santo for 2014–15, was relegated to third-choice right-back.[11][12]

In the January 2015 transfer window, Pereira signed for Bundesliga club Hannover 96 until the end of the season.[13] He made his league debut on 7 February, playing the second half of a 2–1 away loss to Hamburger SV.[14]

On 13 July 2015, Pereira returned to Sporting on a two-year deal with a €45 million buyout clause, as a replacement for Southampton-bound Cédric Soares.[15] He made his debut on 9 August, featuring the full 90 minutes as they beat Benfica 1–0 to lift the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira at the Estádio Algarve.[16] Thirteen days later he received his third red card for the club – all direct – for conceding a penalty in a 1–1 home draw against F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[17]

In December 2016, Pereira was coveted by Trabzonspor, who were told to pay at least €1.5 million for his signature.[18] Early in the new year, he cancelled his contract that was due to expire in the summer[19] and joined the Süper Lig club.[20]

Pereira played four matches in the 2019–20 Turkish Cup, including the entire 2–0 final win over Alanyaspor.[21] On 25 January 2021, he left the Şenol Güneş Stadium as a free agent.[22]

On 1 February 2021, shortly before his 37th birthday, Pereira returned to Sporting on a short-term deal; it was agreed that at its conclusion he would remain at the club as a coach.[23]