Niquinha

Niquinha
Personal information
Full name	Edson Pereira de Barros
Date of birth	30 September 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth	Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team
1992–1995	Náutico
1996	Sport
1997	Manchete
1997–2009	Rio Ave
2009–2010	Francana
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Edson Pereira de Barros (born 30 September 1971), known as Niquinha, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Niquinha started his professional career in Brazil with Clube Náutico Capibaribe and Manchete Futebol Clube, with a spell in between with Sport Club do Recife in which he collected no Série A appearances. He moved to Portugal in 1997, joining Rio Ave F.C. where he went on to become one of its most influential players, with nearly 400 competitive games for the Vila do Conde club.

After still contributing regularly in the 2008–09 season – 22 matches, 16 starts – as Rio Ave eventually retained their Primeira Liga status, Niquinha returned home aged 38, joining amateurs Associação Atlética Francana.