Fábio Cardoso

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Rodrigues and the second or paternal family name is Cardoso.
Fábio Cardoso
Personal information
Full name Fábio Rafael Rodrigues Cardoso
Date of birth (1994-04-19) 19 April 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Águeda, Portugal
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Al Ain
(on loan from Porto)
Number 4
Youth career
2003–2006 Águeda
2006–2012 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Benfica B 55 (3)
2015–2016 → Paços Ferreira (loan) 38 (1)
2016–2017 Vitória Setúbal 23 (0)
2017–2018 Rangers 12 (0)
2018–2021 Santa Clara 88 (10)
2021– Porto 49 (3)
2024– → Al Ain (loan) 2 (0)
International career
2009 Portugal U15 2 (0)
2009–2010 Portugal U16 9 (0)
2010 Portugal U17 3 (0)
2011–2012 Portugal U18 6 (0)
2012–2013 Portugal U19 7 (0)
2014 Portugal U20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:53, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

Fábio Rafael Rodrigues Cardoso (born 19 April 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Al Ain, on loan from FC Porto.

Formed at Benfica, where he played only in the reserves, he made over 150 Primeira Liga appearances for Paços de Ferreira, Vitória Setúbal, Santa Clara and Porto. Abroad, he had a brief spell in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers.

Club career

Benfica B

Born in Águeda, Aveiro District, Cardoso played as a youth for hometown club R.D. Águeda before joining S.L. Benfica in 2006. On 11 August 2012, he made his debut with Benfica B in a 2012–13 Segunda Liga match against Braga B where he played 84 minutes as a centre back, partnering with Lionel Carole.[1] On 19 December, he had his only call-up to the first team under manager Jorge Jesus, as one of five new faces for a Taça da Liga group game at Olhanense;[2] he was an unused substitute in the 2–1 win.[3]

He scored the only goal in a victory at Sporting B (0–1) on 5 January 2015.[4] Six days later, he scored twice in a 3–2 win against Porto B.[5]

On 15 January 2015, Benfica announced Cardoso's loan to fellow Primeira Liga club Paços de Ferreira until the end of the season.[6] The deal was subsequently repeated for the following campaign.[7] In 42 total matches for the northern club, he scored once, the only goal of a win at Vitória de Guimarães on 13 March 2016.[8]

Vitória de Setúbal

On 7 July 2016, Cardoso signed a four-year contract with Primeira Liga side Vitória de Setúbal.[9] He made 27 total appearances in his only season, and scored in a 2–1 win over Santa Clara on 26 October to qualify the team to the group stage of the Taça da Liga.[10]

Rangers

In June 2017, Cardoso signed for Rangers on a three-year contract for a reported fee of around £1.3 million.[11][12] He made his debut for Rangers against Progrès Niederkorn in the Europa League on 29 June 2017.[13] Cardoso was picked less frequently after the departure of compatriot manager Pedro Caixinha, and was released from his contract with Rangers on 30 July 2018.[14]

Santa Clara

Cardoso joined Santa Clara on a four-year deal the day after leaving Rangers.[15] On his second league appearance on 19 August 2018, he scored the equaliser as the Azorean side came from 3–0 down at half time to draw at home to Braga.[16] The following 11 January, when his former team Benfica visited the Estádio de São Miguel, he made an error that allowed Haris Seferovic to score and was then sent off just before half time for a foul on Pizzi.[17]

Porto

On 1 July 2021, Cardoso signed a five-year deal at Porto.[18] He made his debut on 28 September in a UEFA Champions League group game at home to Liverpool, due to a warm-up injury to Pepe; his team lost 5–1.[19] His first season at the Estádio do Dragão ended with a league and cup double, though he played under half of the league fixtures and was unused for the cup final win over Tondela.[20]

Al Ain (loan)

On 14 August 2024, Cardoso signed with Al Ain in UAE, on loan.[21]

International career

Cardoso represented Portugal at the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.[22] Cardoso also represented Portugal at Under-20 level during the 2014 Toulon Tournament.[23]

Uncapped, Cardoso was named in the 55-man preliminary Portugal squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, he didn't make the final cut.[24]

Career statistics

As of match played 22 September 2024[25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica B 2012–13 Segunda Liga 16 0 — — — — 16 0
2013–14 27 0 — — — — 27 0
2014–15 12 3 — — — — 12 3
Total 55 3 — — — — 55 3
Paços Ferreira (loan) 2014–15 Primeira Liga 16 0 0 0 0 0 — — 16 0
2015–16 22 1 1 0 4 0 — — 27 1
Total 38 1 1 0 4 0 — — 43 1
Vitória Setúbal 2016–17 Primeira Liga 23 0 1 0 3 1 — — 27 1
Rangers 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 12 0 1 0 3 0 2[c] 0 — 18 0
Santa Clara 2018–19 Primeira Liga 30 5 1 1 0 0 — — 31 6
2019–20 30 2 2 0 2 0 — — 34 2
2020–21 28 3 4 0 — — — 32 3
Total 88 10 7 1 2 0 — — 97 11
Porto 2021–22 Primeira Liga 14 0 5 0 0 0 2[d] 0 — 21 0
2022–23 17 2 4 1 5 0 4[d] 0 0 0 30 3
2023–24 18 1 4 0 2 0 3[d] 0 0 0 27 1
Total 49 3 13 1 7 0 9 0 0 0 78 4
Al Ain 2024–25 UAE Pro League 2 0 0 0 1 0 1[e] 0 1[f] 1 5 1
Career total 267 17 23 2 20 1 12 0 1 1 323 21
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga, Scottish League Cup, UAE League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance in AFC Champions League
  6. ^ Appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Honours

Porto

References

  1. ^ "Benfica B 2-2 Braga B". LPFP. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Cinco jogadores da equipa B para Olhão" [Five players from the B-team for Olhão]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Benfica abre defesa da Taça da Liga com reviravolta em Olhão" [Benfica open Taça da Liga defence with comeback in Olhão] (in Portuguese). TSF. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Sporting B - Benfica B (Jornada 21 Segunda Liga 2014-2015) - Liga Portugal". LPFP. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Benfica B - Porto B (Jornada 22 Segunda Liga 2014-2015) - Liga Portugal". ligaportugal.pt. LPFP. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Fábio Cardoso emprestado ao Paços de Ferreira até ao final da época" [Fábio Cardoso loaned to Paços de Ferreira until the end of the season]. F.C. Paços de Ferreira (in Portuguese). 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. ^ "P. Ferreira inicia época com Fábio Cardoso, Roniel e Christian Fiel" [P. Ferreira start season with Fábio Cardoso, Roniel and Christian Fiel] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Paços de Ferreira sobe ao sétimo lugar, ao vencer em Guimarães" [Paços de Ferreira rise to seventh place, by winning in Guimarães]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Fábio Cardoso assina pelo Vitória até 2020" [Fábio Cardoso signs for Vitória until 2020]. Vitória F.C. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  10. ^ "TL: V. Setúbal vence Santa Clara e está na fase de grupos" [LC: V. Setúbal defeat Santa Clara and is in group phase] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Rangers: Fabio Cardoso becomes fourth signing of busy Ibrox summer". BBC Sport. 7 June 2017.
  12. ^ Gannon, Michael (4 June 2017). "Rangers target Eduardo Herrera arrives in Glasgow to seal £1.5m Ibrox move". Daily Record. Glasgow: Trinity Mirror.
  13. ^ "Rangers 1-0 Progres Niederkorn". BBC Sport. 29 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Rangers: Fabio Cardoso leaves after 'mutual termination' of contract". BBC Sport. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  15. ^ Mackenzie, Alasdair (31 July 2018). "Fabio Cardoso returns to Portugal after Rangers departure". The Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Recuperação épica do Santa Clara vale empate frente ao Braga" [Santa Clara's epic comeback earns a draw against Braga]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 19 August 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  17. ^ Vaza, Marco (11 January 2019). "Benfica deixou o Santa Clara KO e subiu ao segundo lugar" [Benfica left Santa Clara KO'd and rose to second place]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Fábio Cardoso assina por cinco épocas com o FC Porto" [Fábio Cardoso signs for five years with FC Porto]. Público (in Portuguese). 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Fábio Cardoso: "Não era a estreia que desejava"" [Fábio Cardoso: "It wasn't the debut I was wishing for"]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Magalhães, Ana Luisa (29 May 2022). "Fábio Cardoso, a exigência de Conceição e a época do FC Porto: "Dava um oito..."" [Fábio Cardoso, Conceição's demand and FC Porto's season: "I'd give it an eight..."]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  21. ^ "=العين الإماراتي يتعاقد مع مدافع بورتو البرتغالي" (Press release). elsport.
  22. ^ "Sub-19: Rui Silva substitui José Costa" [Sub-19: Rui Silva replaces José Costa]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 July 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  23. ^ "Sub-20: Ilídio Vale convoca 20 para o Torneio de Toulon". Record (in Portuguese). 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Estes foram os jogadores que ficaram fora dos convocados de Portugal para o Mundial 2022" [These were the players who ended up cut from Portugal's squad for the 2022 World Cup] (in Portuguese). Bola na Rede. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  25. ^ Fábio Cardoso at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Taça de Portugal. Sérgio Conceição é o terceiro treinador a vencer quatro finais" [Portugal Cup. Sérgio Conceição is the third manager to win four finals] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.