Hélio Varela

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Oliveira Alves and the second or paternal family name is Varela.
Hélio Varela
Personal information
Full name Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela
Date of birth (2002-05-03) 3 May 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Almada, Portugal
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Gent
Number 29
Youth career
2010–2012 Monte Caparica
2012–2014 Charneca Caparica
2014–2018 Vitória Setúbal
2018–2020 Cova da Piedade
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Amora 8 (0)
2021–2022 Sintrense 26 (5)
2022–2024 Portimonense 34 (6)
2024– Gent 8 (0)
International career‡
2023– Cape Verde 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:36, 26 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:11, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela (born 3 May 2002) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in Portugal, Varela plays for the Cape Verde national team.

Club career

Varela is a youth product of Monte Caparica, Charneca Caparica, Vitória Setúbal and Cova da Piedade. He began his senior career with Amora in 2020, before joining Sintrense for the 2021–22 Liga 3 season.[1] He moved to the reserves of Portimonense in the summer of 2022. He made his professional debut with them in a 0–0 (5–4) Taça da Liga penalty shootout loss to Leixões on 30 July 2023.[2] He scored his first league goal in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Arouca on 26 August 2023.[3]

On 16 August 2024, Varela joined Gent.[4] On 30 October, Varela made his debut with Gent in the Croky Cup against Union Rochefortoise, he immediately scored 2 goals.

International career

Born in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent. He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023.[5] He debuted with Cape Verde as a substitute in a 5–1 friendly loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023.[6]

Career statistics

As of match played 26 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Amora 2020–21 Campeonato de Portugal 8 0 1 0 — — — 9 0
Sintrense 2021–22 Campeonato de Portugal 26 5 1 0 — — — 27 5
Portimonense 2023–24 Primeira Liga 33 6 1 0 1 0 — 2[a] 0 37 6
2023–24 Liga Portugal 2 1 0 0 0 — — — 1 0
Total 34 6 1 0 1 0 — 2 0 38 6
Gent 2024–25 Belgian Pro League 8 0 1 2 — 4[b] 0 — 13 2
Career total 76 10 4 2 1 0 4 0 2 0 85 12
  1. ^ Appearances in relegation play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

References

  1. ^ ""Liga 3 está mais perto da II Liga do que do Campeonato de Portugal"". www.ojogo.pt. 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Leixões SC vs Portimonense". SAPO Desporto.
  3. ^ "Nasce de um lançamento lateral. Hélio Varela adianta assim o Portimonense". Notícias ao Minuto. 26 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Helio Varela versterkt aanval van KAA Gent" (in Dutch). K.A.A. Gent. 16 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Portimonense: Hélio Varela em estreia na seleção de Cabo Verde | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. 5 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Portimonense: primeira internacionalização para Hélio Varela | Abola.pt". Abola.pt. 12 October 2023.