Marco Almeida (footballer born 1977)

Marco Almeida

Personal information
Full name	António Bernardo P. Marco Almeida
Date of birth	4 April 1977 (1977-04-04)
Place of birth	Barreiro, Portugal
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Akritas Chlorakas
Youth career
1993–1996	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–1997	Lourinhanense
1997–2000	Sporting CP	5	(2)
1998–1999	→ Campomaiorense (loan)	21	(2)
1999	→ Southampton (loan)	1	(0)
2000–2001	Campomaiorense	19	(1)
2001–2004	Alverca	76	(6)
2004–2005	Ciudad Murcia	3	(0)
2005–2006	Maia	23	(1)
2006–2007	Portimonense	24	(2)
2007–2008	Nea Salamis	3	(0)
2008–2009	Lourosa	9	(2)
2009–	Akritas Chlorakas	36	(2)
National team
1998–2000	Portugal U21	35	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 1 June 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

António Bernardo Parcana Marco Almeida (born 4 April 1977) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus, as a central defender.

Football career

Almeida was born in Barreiro, Setúbal, and started his senior career at Sporting Clube Lourinhanense in 1996, with the former side then acting as feeder club to the Primeira Liga giants. In 1998–99, still in the main level, he was again loaned, now to S.C. Campomaiorense.

In July 1999, Almeida was signed by Southampton's manager Dave Jones on a year's loan, with a view to a permanent move. After impressing in pre-season friendlies he made his first-team debut as a 71st minute substitute for Claus Lundekvam in a Premier League match against Arsenal at the Dell, on 19 September 1999. Within eight minutes, he was alongside fellow substitute Thierry Henry just outside the Southampton area, when Henry received a pass from Tony Adams; in trying to clear the ball, Almeida stumbled, allowing Henry to wrap his foot around the ball and send a rocket of a shot into the far corner of the Southampton net, the Frenchman's first goal in English football.

Although Almeida made a few appearances for Southampton's reserves, including scoring in a 2–2 draw with Chelsea on 22 September 1999, he was never again called into the first team and, in December, the loan was cancelled. In the same country, he would also have unsuccessful trials with Bolton Wanderers in September 2000, and with Cardiff City (managed by former Saints boss Dave Jones) in 2007. Following his Southampton spell, he returned to Sporting, being released in the following summer, after which he re-joined Campomaiorense, now as a free agent.

Almeida's most steady period came at F.C. Alverca, which he helped promote from level two in his second year, netting a career-best six times in 32 contests. After three seasons, he moved abroad again, going almost unnoticed at Ciudad de Murcia (Spanish second division), and he subsequently returned to his country, playing one season apiece with second-tier F.C. Maia and Portimonense SC.

In the following years, Almeida, already in his 30's, alternated between his country's lower levels and Cypriot football.

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Marco Almeida career stats at Soccerbase
• BDFutbol profile
• Official website (Portuguese)