Minhoca

Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela (born 29 April 1988), known as Minhoca, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Rabo de Peixe as an attacking midfielder.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Farpelha and the second or paternal family name is Estrela.

Minhoca
Personal information
Full name Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-29) 29 April 1988[1]
Place of birth Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rabo de Peixe
Youth career
1999–2004 Marítimo Ponta Delgada
2005 Oliveirenses
2005–2006 Marítimo Ponta Delgada
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Micaelense 68 (14)
2011–2014 Santa Clara 80 (7)
2014–2017 Paços Ferreira 64 (2)
2017–2019 Santa Clara 37 (3)
2019–2020 Varzim 19 (0)
2020–2022 Torreense 25 (2)
2022– Rabo de Peixe 24 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 April 2023

He achieved totals of 70 Primeira Liga games and 2 goals for Paços de Ferreira and Santa Clara, while adding 130 games and 10 goals in the second tier for Santa Clara and Varzim.

Club career

Born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Minhoca earned his nickname meaning "earthworm" in his native language for his dribbling ability while a youth player at Marítimo Sport Clube in his hometown.[2] He began his senior career with CU Micaelense in the fourth division and, in June 2011, he signed a three-year deal with C.D. Santa Clara of the Segunda Liga, again in his native islands.[3]

In January 2014, Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira secured Minhoca on a 31⁄2-year contract.[4] He scored his first goal on 21 May as a substitute confirming a 3–1 home win over C.D. Aves in the promotion/relegation play-off;[5] he added a brace on 23 November in a 9–0 rout of amateurs Clube Atlético Riachense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[6] On 13 December he was sent off before half time in a 2–1 win against F.C. Arouca at the Estádio da Mata Real.[7] His first top-flight goal was on 17 April 2016, in a 4–3 away win against C.F. União.[8]

Minhoca returned to Santa Clara in May 2017, on a two-year deal.[9] In his first season in his second spell, he contributed three goals as they were promoted as runners-up to C.D. Nacional. On 17 September he received a straight red card after half an hour in a 2–1 victory at Gil Vicente FC.[10]

In July 2019, released by Santa Clara, Minhoca agreed to a one-year contract at Varzim S.C. in division two.[11] At its conclusion, he dropped down to the third tier and joined S.C.U. Torreense.[12] After winning promotion to Liga 3, he signed for another season in Torres Vedras in July 2021.[13]

References
  1. "Minhoca" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. "Minhoca rendido ao potencial do Paços de Ferreira" [Minhoca surrendered to Paços de Ferreira's potential]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. "Minhoca é primeiro reforço do Santa Clara" [Minhoca is Santa Clara's first addition]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. "Paços de Ferreira contrata Minhoca ao Santa Clara" [Paços de Ferreira sign Minhoca from Santa Clara] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. Ruela, João (21 May 2014). "Paços de Ferreira bate Desp. Aves e fica na I Liga" [Paços de Ferreira beat Desp. Aves and stay in the I League]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. "Com show de Cícero e Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira faz 9 a 0 em time da 3ª divisão" [With a show from Cícero and Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira do a 9–0 against 3rd division team] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. Ruela, João (12 December 2014). "Paços de Ferreira vence Arouca e sobe ao 6.º lugar" [Paços de Ferreira defeat Arouca and rise to 6th place]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. "Paços de Ferreira vence União da Madeira por 4–3 na I Liga" [Paços de Ferreira defeat União da Madeira 4–3 in I League] (in Portuguese). TSF. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. "Santa Clara assegura Minhoca até 2019" [Santa Clara secure Minhoca until 2019]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. "Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Açorianos mantêm liderança" [Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Azoreans maintain lead]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  11. "Minhoca muda-se do Santa Clara para o Varzim" [Minhoca moves from Santa Clara to Varzim] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. "Minhoca é reforço do Torreense" [Minhoca is addition to Torreense] (in Portuguese). Torres Vedras Web. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. Ponte, Pedro (15 July 2021). "Minhoca renova pelo Torreense por mais uma época" [Minhoca renews with Torreense for one more season]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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