Jordão (footballer, born 1971)

Not to be confused with Rui Jordão or Adelino Batista.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Martins and the second or paternal family name is Batista.
Jordão
Personal information
Full name Adelino José Martins Batista
Date of birth (1971-08-30) 30 August 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Malanje, Angola
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1985–1987 Real Massamá
1987–1990 Estrela Amadora
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1997 Estrela Amadora 81 (7)
1993–1994 → Campomaiorense (loan) 9 (0)
1994–1995 → Leça (loan) 26 (3)
1997 Benfica 6 (0)
1998–2000 Braga 66 (2)
2000–2003 West Bromwich Albion 63 (6)
2004–2007 Estrela Amadora 38 (0)
Total 289 (18)
International career
1992 Portugal U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Adelino José Martins Batista (born 30 August 1971), known as Jordão, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Born in Malanje, Portuguese Angola, Jordão made his professional debut in 1990 for Lisbon-based C.F. Estrela da Amadora, but it took several years for him to become an important first-team member, also being loaned twice, to S.C. Campomaiorense and Leça FC, both in the second division (he also did not manage to appear regularly for the former).

After two solid seasons at Estrela, Jordão joined Primeira Liga club S.L. Benfica, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements following the arrival of Graeme Souness as manager, and moved to fellow league team S.C. Braga in January 1998, where he would spend an additional two campaigns.

In August 2000, having already played one league match for Braga, Jordão joined English side West Bromwich Albion for a transfer fee of £350,000, and made his debut in the same month against Barnsley.[1] In 2001–02, he scored one of his five league goals (a career-best) in the Black Country derby win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium, helping Albion to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League.[2]

After 71 appearances across all competitions – only three in the top flight – and eight goals for WBA, Jordão was released in the summer of 2003,[3] re-joining Estrela da Amadora in January of the following year[4] and playing sparingly until his retirement three years later.

References

  1. ^ Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-85983-474-9.
  2. ^ "Baggies back in big time". BBC Sport. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Baggies begin clear-out". BBC Sport. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Transfers: 5 – 11 January". UEFA. 11 January 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2008.