João Paulo Andrade

João Paulo

File:Joao.paulo.jpg
Personal information
Full name	João Paulo Andrade
Date of birth	(1981-06-06) 6 June 1981
Place of birth	Leiria, Portugal
Height
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	AEL Limassol
Number	50
Youth career
1992–1994	Portomosense
1994–1999	União Leiria
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2006	União Leiria	131	(16)
2000–2001	→ União Tomar (loan)
2003	→ Sporting CP (loan)	6	(0)
2006–2009	Porto	11	(1)
2008–2009	→ Rapid Bucureşti (loan)	26	(3)
2009–2010	Le Mans	23	(0)
2010–2012	Vitória Guimarães	45	(1)
2012–2014	Omonia	43	(6)
2014–2015	Apollon Limassol	19	(3)
2015–	AEL Limassol	17	(1)
International career
2002–2004	Portugal U21	12	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:33, 9 January 2016 (UTC)

João Paulo Andrade (born 6 June 1981 in Leiria), known as João Paulo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Cypriot club AEL Limassol mainly as a central defender.

Club career

A product of U.D. Leiria's youth ranks, João Paulo was loaned to modest U.F.C.I. Tomar for the 2000–01 season, re-joining Leiria in the following campaign, being coached by a young José Mourinho and quickly becoming an important first-team member, while also being called by the Portuguese under-21 side. In January 2003, having already gained the captain's armband, he was loaned to Sporting Clube de Portugal, but appeared sparingly for the Lions.

After having performed solidly during the last two seasons, Paulo was tipped to be transferred to one of the Primeira Liga greats and, in June 2006, FC Porto agreed his transfer. However, in preseason, he suffered a major knee injury that kept him out of action for several months, and went on to only serve as third or fourth option at the northerners; on two rare starts, he netted in a 3–0 win at former club Leiria and was sent off in the 2008 domestic cup final, lost against Sporting.

In August 2008 João Paulo, alongside teammate Pitbull, was loaned to Romania's FC Rapid Bucureşti, joining compatriot José Peseiro whom signed as manager. In the same month of the following year he moved countries again, signing a three-year deal with Le Mans UC 72 in France for about €1,5 million: he began the season as a starter, but eventually lost his importance after the sacking of compatriot Paulo Duarte, going on to suffer Ligue 1 relegation.

Paulo returned to Portugal for 2010–11, joining Vitória SC. On 3 April 2011 he scored his first goal for the Guimarães-based team, netting a last-minute equalizer against former side Sporting in a 1–1 home draw.

International career

Internationally, João Paulo represented the nation at the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and the Summer Olympic Games in the same year.

Club statistics

As of 24 September 2015

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
União Leiria	1999–2000	Primeira Liga	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2000–01	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2001–02	Primeira Liga	17	0	0	0	—		17	0
	2002–03	Primeira Liga	19	3	2	1	—		21	4
	2003–04	Primeira Liga	32	4	2	1	4	0	38	5
	2004–05	Primeira Liga	32	5	2	1	—		37	6
	2005–06	Primeira Liga	31	4	1	0	—		32	4
	Total		131	16	8	3	4	0	143	19
Sporting (loan)	2002–03	Primeira Liga	6	0	1	0	—		7	0
Porto	2006–07	Primeira Liga	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	2007–08	Primeira Liga	8	0	5	0	2	0	15	0
	Total		11	0	6	0	2	0	19	0
Rapid Bucureşti (loan)	2008–09	Liga I	25	3	0	0	1	0	26	3
Le Mans	2009–10	Ligue 1	23	0	3	1	—		26	1
Vitória Guimarães	2010–11	Primeira Liga	22	1	6	1	—		28	2
	2011–12	Primeira Liga	23	0	4	1	3	0	30	1
	Total		45	1	10	2	3	0	58	3
Omonia	2012–13	Cypriot First Division	22	2	5	0	0	0	27	2
	2013–14	Cypriot First Division	21	4	3	0	2	1	26	5
	Total		43	6	8	0	2	1	53	7
Apollon Limassol	2014–15	Cypriot First Division	19	3	1	0	6	0	26	3
AEL Limassol	2015–16	Cypriot First Division	3	0	0	0	—		3	0
Career total			306	29	37	6	18	1	361	36

Honours

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08
• Taça de Portugal: Runner-up 2007–08

Omonia

• Cypriot Super Cup: 2012

External links

• João Paulo at footballzz.co.uk
• João Paulo profile at ForaDeJogo