João Afonso (footballer, born 1990)

João Afonso
Personal information
Full name	João Ricardo da Silva Afonso
Date of birth	28 May 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Castelo Branco, Portugal
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Vitória Guimarães
Number	15
Youth career
1999–2004	Bairro Valongo
2004–2007	Desportivo Castelo Branco
2007–2008	Benfica Castelo Branco
Senior career*
Years	Team
2008–2014	Benfica Castelo Branco
2014–	Vitória Guimarães
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 25 April 2016 (UTC)

João Ricardo da Silva Afonso (born 28 May 1990) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Vitória S.C. as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Castelo Branco, Afonso started playing with local Sport Benfica e Castelo Branco, after joining its youth system in 2007. He went on to spend several seasons with the club in the lower leagues, also being awarded team captaincy.^[1]

On 20 June 2014, after being linked with C.S. Marítimo and Gil Vicente FC,^[2] Afonso signed with fellow Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães.^[3] He made his debut as a professional on 22 August of that year, replacing injured Moreno midway through the second half of an eventual 3–0 home win against F.C. Penafiel.

^ "João Afonso interessa ao Vitória" (in Portuguese). Vitória Sempre. 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
^ "João Afonso perto do V.Guimarães" (in Portuguese). Agente Desportivo. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
^ "João Afonso assina pelo V.Guimarães" (in Portuguese). Agente Desportivo. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)