Camora (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Malico and the second or paternal family name is Paulino.
Camora
Camora with CFR Cluj in 2022
Personal information
Full name Mário Jorge Malico Paulino[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-10) 10 November 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Samora Correia, Portugal
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 CFR Cluj
Number 45
Youth career
1994–2005 Samora Correia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 Valdevez 10 (2)
2006–2009 Beira-Mar 24 (1)
2006 → Avanca (loan) 4 (1)
2007 → Pampilhosa (loan) 10 (1)
2009–2011 Naval 64 (2)
2011– CFR Cluj 401 (13)
International career
2020–2023 Romania 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 December 2024

Mário Jorge Malico Paulino (born 10 November 1986), known as Camora, is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Liga I club CFR Cluj, which he captains.

He spent most of his professional career at CFR Cluj in Romania, with which he won nine domestic trophies since signing in 2011.[2] Previously, he totalled 66 matches in the Primeira Liga over four seasons, 64 of those with Naval.

Born in Portugal, Camora acquired Romanian citizenship in 2020 and began representing the national team later that year.

Club career

Portugal

Camora was born in Samora Correia, Benavente, Santarém District.[3] After beginning in amateur football, in January 2006 he signed with S.C. Beira-Mar in the Segunda Liga. He appeared rarely for the Aveiro-based team in his first years, also being loaned once;[4] in the 2006–07 season he played two games with them in the Primeira Liga,[5][6] eventually suffering relegation.

In summer 2008, Camora joined Associação Naval 1º de Maio of the top tier, making his official debut for the club in the competition on 15 February 2009 by featuring 27 minutes in a 2–2 away draw against C.D. Trofense.[7] After only eight matches in his first year, he went on to become an important first-team unit at the Figueira da Foz side.[8]

Camora scored the first of two goals in the Portuguese top flight on 28 November 2009, opening an eventual 1–1 away draw against C.D. Nacional.[9]

CFR Cluj

On 24 May 2011, following Naval's relegation, Camora moved abroad to Romania's CFR Cluj, where he joined several compatriots.[10] He contributed one goal[11] from 28 appearances in his debut campaign, as the club won the third Liga I championship in its history.[12]

Camora became the player with the most league appearances for CFR on 17 April 2018, after surpassing Cadú's record of 202 matches.[13] On 24 January 2019, it was announced that the captain had agreed to a three-year contract extension, at the same time expressing his desire to retire at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu and move permanently to Romania.[14][15]

International career

Camora earned his first cap for Romania on 8 October 2020, playing the entire 2–1 away loss to Iceland in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.[16] In doing so, he reportedly became the oldest footballer to make his debut for the national team at the age of 33 years, 10 months and 28 days.[17]

Camora appeared in a further nine internationals, his last being against Kosovo in the Euro 2024 qualifying phase. He suffered an injury early into the 0–0 draw in Pristina, but also surpassed Miodrag Belodedici and Lucian Sânmărtean to become the sixth oldest player in history to take the field for the country, at 36 years, seven months and six days.[18][19]

Personal life

Camora married a Romanian woman, Mirabela, with the couple having one son.[20] On 24 August 2020, he obtained Romanian citizenship and became eligible to represent the national team.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 9 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Valdevez 2005–06[22] Segunda Divisão 10 2 0 0 — — — 10 2
Beira-Mar 2005–06[22] Segunda Liga 2 0 0 0 — — — 2 0
2006–07[22] Primeira Liga 2 0 0 0 — — — 2 0
2007–08[22] Segunda Liga 20 1 6 0 2 0 — — 28 1
Total 24 1 6 0 2 0 — — 32 1
Avanca (loan) 2006–07[22] Segunda Divisão 4 1 0 0 — — — 4 1
Pampilhosa (loan) 2006–07[22] Segunda Divisão 10 1 0 0 — — — 10 1
Naval 2008–09[22] Primeira Liga 8 0 0 0 — — — 8 0
2009–10[22] 29 1 6 0 1 0 — — 35 1
2010–11[22] 27 1 1 0 3 0 — — 31 1
Total 64 2 7 0 4 0 — — 75 2
CFR Cluj 2011–12[23] Liga I 28 1 0 0 — — — 28 1
2012–13[23] 25 0 5 0 — 12 0 1 0 43 0
2013–14[23] 31 1 1 0 — — — 32 1
2014–15[23] 33 1 4 0 — 3 0 — 40 1
2015–16[23] 37 2 6 0 2 0 — — 45 2
2016–17[23] 24 0 3 0 1 0 — 1 0 29 0
2017–18[23] 30 1 0 0 — — — 30 1
2018–19[23] 32 1 4 0 — 6 0 1 0 43 1
2019–20[23] 29 2 0 0 — 16 0 1 0 46 2
2020–21[23] 35 0 0 0 — 10 0 1 0 46 0
2021–22[23] 31 1 0 0 — 12 0 1 0 44 1
2022–23[23] 29 1 2 0 — 15 0 2[a] 0 48 1
2023–24[23] 28 2 4 1 — 2 0 — 34 3
2024–25[23] 9 0 1 0 — 6 0 — 16 0
Total 401 13 30 1 3 0 82 0 8 0 524 14
Career total 513 20 43 1 9 0 82 0 8 0 655 21
  1. ^ One appearance in Supercupa României, one appearance in Liga I European play-offs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania[24] 2020 2 0
2021 4 0
2022 3 0
2023 1 0
Total 10 0

Honours

Camora celebrating the 2021–22 Liga I title

Beira-Mar

CFR Cluj

Individual

  • Liga I Team of the Season: 2018–19[27]
  • Liga I Team of the Regular Season: 2018–19[28]
  • Liga I Team of the Championship Play-offs: 2018–19[29]

Records

References

Notes

  1. ^ Camora is the player born outside Romania with the most Liga I appearances, but holds Romanian citizenship and has earned international caps for the country.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c "Camora" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  2. ^ Marques, David (5 February 2019). "O português que reina na Transilvânia do conde Drácula" [The Portuguese who reigns in count Dracula's Transylvania] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Grécia derrota Roménia com Vlachodimos a titular" [Greece beat Romania with start from Vlachodimos]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b Balsinha, Joel (5 August 2020). "Samorense Camora foi tricampeão na Roménia" [Samora-born Camora was three-time champion in Romania]. Voz Ribatejana (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Beira-Mar vence Estrela por 2–0" [Beira-Mar defeat Estrela 2–0]. Público (in Portuguese). 17 September 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Benfica vence Beira-Mar por 3–0" [Benfica defeat Beira-Mar 3–0] (in Portuguese). TSF. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Guardião Paulo Lopes traiu Trofense" [Keeper Paulo Lopes betrayed Trofense]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 16 February 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. ^ Diogo, Conceição (3 March 2010). "Camora já treina para o regresso" [Camora already trains eyeing return]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Mateus salva madeirenses da derrota nos últimos instantes" [Mateus saves Madeirans from defeat in curtain call]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 November 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Camora has signed with CFR 1907 Cluj!". CFR 1907. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ – CFR Cluj, scor 0–2, în Liga I" [Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ – CFR Cluj, 0–2 the score, in Liga I] (in Romanian). Mediafax. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b "VIDEO "U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. Oaspeții revin de la 0–2 și câștigă al treilea titlu din istorie!" [VIDEO „U“ Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. Visitors come back from 0–2 and win third title in history!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  13. ^ "RECORD: Camora a intrat în istoria CFR Cluj!" [RECORD: Camora entered CFR Cluj's history!] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Camora și-a prelungit contractul cu CFR Cluj!" [Camora has extended his contract with CFR Cluj!] (in Romanian). CFR 1907. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  15. ^ "E gata! Şi-a prelungit contractul cu CFR Cluj! Prima reacţie: "Mă voi stabili definitiv aici, în România"" [It's done! He extended his contract with CFR Cluj! First reaction: "I will move permanently here, in Romania"] (in Romanian). Telekom TV. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  16. ^ Gafiuc, Justin (8 October 2020). "ISLANDA – ROMÂNIA 2–1. FOTO+CRONICĂ Prea slabi pentru Euro » Visul "tricolorilor", spulberat la Reykjavik!" [ICELAND – ROMANIA 2–1. PHOTOS+REPORT Too weak for Euro » The dream of „the Tricolours”, shattered in Reykjavik!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  17. ^ Toma, Răzvan (9 October 2020). "Mario Camora, cel mai vârstnic debutant, dar nu și primul străin din naționala României!" [Màrio Camora, the oldest débutant, but not the first foreigner of the Romanian national team!]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  18. ^ Tudorache, Viorel (16 June 2023). "Camora urcă pe locul 6 într-un top all-time al naționalei României » L-a depășit și pe Belodedici!" [Camora climbs to 6th place in Romanian national team all-time best » He also surpassed Belodedici!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Borna bifată de Mario Camora la meciul Kosovo – România" [Mário Camora milestone in Kosovo – Romania match] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  20. ^ Apostol, Eduard (2 September 2020). "Mario Camora, căpitanul portughez de la CFR Cluj, a primit cetățenia română. Johan Van Heerden, naturalizat tot azi" [Mario Camora, CFR Cluj Portuguese captain, obtained Romanian citizenhip. Johan Van Heerden, naturalised today]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Mario Camora așteaptă acum un semn de la Mirel Rădoi! Căpitanul CFR-ului a devenit oficial cetățean român" [Mario Camora is waiting for a sign from Mirel Radoi. The CFR captain has officially obtained Romanian citizenship] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i Camora at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Camora". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Camora". European Football. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  25. ^ "VIDEO + FOTO Magistrala CFR! Clujenii se impun cu 5–4 la penalty-uri după o finală dramatică, încheiată 2–2 în timpul regulamentar!" [VIDEO + PHOTO The great CFR! The Cluj men win 5–4 on a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw at the end of extra time!]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 18 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  26. ^ "FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a câștigat Supercupa României!" [PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  27. ^ Stîngă, Răzvan (6 March 2019). "Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal a anunţat echipa sezonului regulat a Ligii 1" [Professional Football League has announced Liga I team of the regular season] (in Romanian). Mediafax. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Liga 1 Betano: Echipa sezonului regulat" [Liga I Betano: Team of the regular season] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Liga 1 Betano: echipa ideală a play-off-ului" [Liga 1 Betano: team of the championship play-offs] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  • Camora at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  • Camora at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  • Camora at National-Football-Teams.com