Silvestre Varela
Varela training with Portugal in 2012
Personal information
Full name Silvestre Manuel Gonçalves Varela[1]
Date of birth (1985-02-02) 2 February 1985 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Almada, Portugal[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1993–2001 Pescadores
2001–2004 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Sporting CP B 1 (0)
2004–2008 Sporting CP 2 (0)
2004–2005 → Casa Pia (loan) 36 (12)
2006–2007 → Vitória Setúbal (loan) 45 (5)
2007–2008 → Recreativo (loan) 22 (0)
2008–2009 Estrela Amadora 28 (6)
2009–2017 Porto 141 (33)
2014–2015 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 7 (1)
2015 → Parma (loan) 19 (3)
2017–2019 Kayserispor 55 (3)
2019–2021 B-SAD 52 (3)
2021–2023 Porto B 41 (4)
Total 449 (70)
International career
2003 Portugal U18 5 (1)
2003–2004 Portugal U19 14 (4)
2005 Portugal U20 4 (1)
2005–2007 Portugal U21 28 (6)
2005–2006 Portugal B 5 (0)
2010–2015 Portugal 27 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Poland-Ukraine
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Silvestre Manuel Gonçalves Varela (born 2 February 1985) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a winger.

He represented mainly Porto during his career, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 268 matches and 47 goals over 12 seasons and winning 11 major titles, including three national championships and the 2011 Europa League. He also competed professionally in Spain, England, Italy and Turkey.

Varela appeared for Portugal at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup, scoring in both tournaments.

Club career

Sporting CP

Born in Almada, Setúbal District and of Cape Verdean descent,[2] Varela was product of Sporting CP's youth system, being loaned to Casa Pia A.C. and Vitória F.C. in his early years as a professional.[3] Despite being a regular with the Portugal under-21s and having enjoyed a decent form in various tournaments, he was not able to secure a place in the Lions' first team, only managing two substitute appearances in the 2005–06 season.[4][5]

In 2007–08, Varela, alongside former Sporting players Beto and Carlos Martins, joined Recreativo de Huelva in Spain (Varela on loan again).[6][7] After a disappointing campaign despite having received playing time in La Liga, he returned to Sporting in July 2008 only to be immediately sold to C.F. Estrela da Amadora.[8]

Porto

Before the season was over, in March 2009, courtesy of his solid performances at Estrela, only relegated from the Primeira Liga off the field, Varela signed a five-year agreement with champions FC Porto on a free transfer, starting in July.[9] He made his debut on 9 August by starting in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, a 2–0 win against F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[10] In his first year he ranked second in overall goals in the squad, only behind Radamel Falcao; in March 2010, however, he broke his fibula in training, being lost for the remainder of the campaign[11] as the team finished third. He missed the conclusion of their conquest of the Taça de Portugal, though he scored in the 5–2 home victory over Sporting in the quarter-finals.[12]

Varela scored a career-best 13 goals in 44 games in 2010–11 as Porto won the supercup, league, cup and UEFA Europa League.[13][14] In the final of the third, he scored in a 6–2 defeat of Vitória de Guimarães.[15]

In the 2011–12 season, under new manager Vítor Pereira, Varela – as practically all Portuguese players (the roster was composed of three nationals) – lost his importance.[16] On 16 February 2012, in a rare start, he put his team ahead against Manchester City in the round of 32 of the Europa League, in an eventual 1–2 home loss.[17] In September, he extended his contract to 2016.[18]

Varela moved to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion on 24 August 2014, in a season-long loan deal.[19] Having arrived whilst still recovering from injury,[20] he made his official debut on 2 December, replacing Craig Gardner midway through the second half of a 1–2 home defeat to West Ham United.[21] He scored his first goal for the Baggies on the 20th, but in a 3–2 loss at Queens Park Rangers.[22]

On 20 January 2015, still owned by Porto, Varela joined Parma F.C. until June.[23] He scored his first goal on 8 April – after the club had been declared bankrupt – as the only one of a home win against Udinese Calcio.[24] In the final two Serie A games of the campaign, his goals earned 2–2 draws against Hellas Verona FC and UC Sampdoria, though the team from the Stadio Ennio Tardini finished dead last.[25][26] Following his loan, he extended his Porto contract for three more years.[27]

Kayserispor

Having made only seven appearances for Porto during the season, Varela, who was by then the club's longest serving player, ended his seven-and-a-half-year link on 20 January 2017 by signing for Turkey's Kayserispor.[28] He and fellow veteran Asamoah Gyan were told at the end of their contracts in June 2018 that they would only be retained if they signed performance-based deals, due to their injury record.[29]

B-SAD

On 8 October 2019, having been a free agent, Varela returned to his country's top-flight by joining B-SAD until the end of the campaign.[30] The following July, he signed for another season and was made captain.[31][32]

Return to Porto

Varela returned to Porto on 20 July 2021; the 36-year-old was brought to pass on experience and knowledge to the young players in the reserves, who competed in the Liga Portugal 2.[33] He scored in his very first match in the competition, a 2–2 home draw against newly promoted C.D. Trofense.[34]

In June 2022, Varela agreed to a one-year extension.[35] He then retired.[36]

International career

Varela in action against Croatia in 2013

Due to his Porto performances, Varela earned his first full cap for the Portugal national team on 3 March 2010, appearing in the second half of the 2–0 friendly win over China in a match played in Coimbra.[37] His first goal came on 26 March 2011 in a 1–1 friendly draw with Chile, in Leiria.[38]

Varela was selected by manager Paulo Bento for the 23-man squad that competed in UEFA Euro 2012. He played ten minutes in the group stage opener against Germany, in an eventual 1–0 loss.[39] Again coming from the bench for Raul Meireles, he scored an 88th-minute 3–2 winner over Denmark in the following game.[40]

On 19 May 2014, Varela was picked for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[41] On 23 June, again after having replaced Meireles, he headed home in the 94th minute to earn his team a 2–2 draw against the United States in the group phase.[42]

Personal life

Varela's nephew Nilton is also a footballer, playing in defence. The pair were teammates at B-SAD and Porto B.[43][44]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 23 December 2021[45]
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting CP 2005–06 Primeira Liga 2 0 0 0 — 2[c] 0 — 4 0
Casa Pia (loan) 2004–05 Segunda Divisão 36 12 1 0 — — — 37 12
Vitória Setúbal (loan) 2005–06 Primeira Liga 15 2 4 1 — — — 19 3
2006–07 Primeira Liga 30 3 1 0 — 2[c] 0 1[d] 0 34 3
Total 45 5 5 1 — 2 0 1 0 53 6
Recreativo (loan) 2007–08 La Liga 22 0 2 0 — — — 24 0
Estrela Amadora 2008–09 Primeira Liga 28 5 6 1 1 2 — — 35 8
Porto 2009–10 Primeira Liga 18 8 3 1 2 1 5[e] 1 1[d] 0 29 11
2010–11 Primeira Liga 26 10 5 2 0 0 12[f] 1 1[d] 0 44 13
2011–12 Primeira Liga 21 3 2 1 3 1 8[g] 1 2[h] 0 36 6
2012–13 Primeira Liga 25 4 1 0 3 0 8[e] 2 1[d] 0 38 6
2013–14 Primeira Liga 25 5 6 4 4 1 12[i] 1 1[d] 0 48 11
2015–16 Primeira Liga 22 3 6 0 3 0 3[j] 0 — 34 3
2016–17 Primeira Liga 4 0 1 0 1 0 1[e] 0 — 7 0
Total 141 33 24 8 16 3 49 6 6 0 236 50
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2014–15 Premier League 7 1 1 0 1 0 — — 9 1
Parma (loan) 2014–15 Serie A 19 3 1 0 — — — 20 3
Kayserispor 2016–17 Süper Lig 15 0 2 0 — — — 17 0
2017–18 Süper Lig 8 2 3 0 — — — 11 2
2018–19 Süper Lig 32 1 4 1 — — — 36 2
Total 55 3 9 1 — — — 64 4
B-SAD 2019–20 Primeira Liga 21 3 2 0 0 0 — — 23 3
2020–21 Primeira Liga 31 0 3 0 — — — 34 0
Total 52 3 5 0 0 0 — — 57 3
Porto B 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 16 3 — — — — 16 3
Career total 423 68 54 11 18 5 53 6 7 0 555 90
  1. ^ Includes the Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, FA Cup, Coppa Italia and Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Includes the Taça da Liga and Football League Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  5. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ One appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  9. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  10. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

Portugal[46]
Year Apps Goals
2010 2 0
2011 3 1
2012 10 2
2013 5 1
2014 6 1
2015 1 0
Total 27 5
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Varela goal.[46]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 26 March 2011 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal  Chile 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2. 13 June 2012 Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine  Denmark 3–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2012
3. 11 September 2012 Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal  Azerbaijan 1–0 3–0 2014 World Cup qualification
4. 15 October 2013 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal  Luxembourg 1–0 3–0 2014 World Cup qualification
5. 22 June 2014 Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil  United States 2–2 2–2 2014 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Porto

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Silvestre Varela" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  2. ^ Pires, Sérgio (13 October 2015). "Nélson Semedo: e Portugal lá pescou mais um "tubarão"..." [Nélson Semedo: and Portugal caught another "shark"...] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  3. ^ Figueiredo, Mário (22 February 2014). "Varela: Toque português no melhor ataque" [Varela: Portuguese touch in best attack] (in Portuguese). Sábado. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Sporting sofre para ganhar" [Sporting suffer to win]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 20 August 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. ^ "A febre fatal do leão" [The lion's deadly fever]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 10 December 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. ^ "El Recreativo presenta a Silvestre Varela y confirma el fichaje de Camuñas" [Recreativo present Silvestre Varela and confirm signing of Camuñas]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 June 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  7. ^ "El Recreativo de Huelva confirma el fichaje del portugués 'Beto'" [Recreativo de Huelva confirm signing of Portuguese 'Beto']. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 July 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ^ Ferreira, Luís Pedro (24 August 2008). "E. Amadora: Varela rescinde com Sporting para "relançar carreira"" [E. Amadora: Varela cuts ties with Sporting to "relaunch career"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Silvestre Varela assina por 5 anos" [Silvestre Varela signs for 5 years]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 March 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  10. ^ a b "FC Porto bate Paços de Ferreira e conquista Supertaça" [FC Porto beat Paços de Ferreira and conquer Supercup] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  11. ^ Kundert, Tom (20 March 2010). "Silvestre Varela to miss World Cup after breaking leg in training". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  12. ^ a b "FC Porto goleia Sporting por 5–2 e está nas meias-finais" [FC Porto rout Sporting 5–2 and are in the semi-finals]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 2 February 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Varela no papel de gazúa" [Varela in the lockpicker role]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Dragão insaciável fecha época de sonho" [Insatiable Dragon closes dream season] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Avassalador, Porto goleia e conquista a Taça de Portugal. Hulk deixa o dele" [Overwhelming, Porto rout and conquer the Portuguese Cup. Hulk leaves his mark] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Vitor Pereira chama Hulk, Varela fica de fora" [Vitor Pereira calls Hulk, Varela is left out]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 8 September 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  17. ^ Burke, Chris (16 February 2012). "Agüero caps late City comeback at Porto". UEFA. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  18. ^ "Varela renova contrato até 2016" [Varela renews contract to 2016]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 6 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Porto winger Silvestre Varela joins West Brom on loan". BBC Sport. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  20. ^ Dick, Brian (8 October 2014). "West Bromwich Albion: Groin injury operation for Silvestre Varela". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  21. ^ Whalley, Mike (2 December 2014). "West Bromwich Albion 1–2 West Ham United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  22. ^ Baker, Ian (20 December 2014). "Queens Park Rangers 3–2 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Parma seal Silvestre Varela, Cristian Rodriguez deals". ESPN FC. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Long overdue victory for Parma". Times of Malta. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Serie A: Toni infinito, il Verona rimonta il Parma" [Serie A: Infinite Toni, Verona come back against Parma]. Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). 24 May 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  26. ^ Ossorio, Armando (31 May 2015). "Sampdoria-Parma 2–2: l'Europa dei doriani sembra salva, i ducali salutano con un pari" [Sampdoria-Parma 2–2: Europe seems safe for the Doriani, the Ducali say goodbye with a draw]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  27. ^ "Silvestre Varela renova com o FC Porto" [Silvestre Varela renews with FC Porto]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 7 July 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  28. ^ "FC Porto confirma que Varela se vai transferir para o Kayserispor" [FC Porto confirm that Varela will transfer to Kayserispor] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Kayserispor to review Asamoah Gyan contract". Ghana Web. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  30. ^ Pinto, Pedro Gonçalo (8 October 2019). "Silvestre Varela reforça Belenenses SAD" [Silvestre Varela bolsters Belenenses SAD]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  31. ^ "Silvestre Varela renova com Belenenses SAD" [Silvestre Varela renews with Belenenses SAD]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  32. ^ "I Liga: Belenenses SAD com sete 'caras novas' para assegurar nova manutenção" [I League: Belenenses SAD with seven 'new faces' to ensure another survival] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Silvestre Varela de regresso ao FC Porto" [Silvestre Varela back to FC Porto] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Varela marca no empate do FC Porto B" [Varela scores in FC Porto B draw]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 7 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  35. ^ Sebe, Francisco (30 June 2022). "Varela renova pelo FC Porto: "É a minha casa"" [Varela renews with FC Porto: "It's my home"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Silvestre Varela: "Onde nunca jogaria em Portugal? No Benfica..."" [Silvestre Varela: "Where would I never play in Portugal? For Benfica..."]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Vídeo: Varela e Hilário felizes pela estreia" [Video: Varela and Hilário happy with debut]. Expresso (in Portuguese). 4 March 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  38. ^ "Chile peg Portugal back after Varela strike". UEFA. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  39. ^ Atkin, John (9 June 2012). "Gomez gives Germany edge over Portugal". UEFA. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  40. ^ Atkin, John (13 June 2012). "Last-gasp Varela revives Portugal's hopes". UEFA. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  41. ^ Kundert, Tom (19 May 2014). "Paulo Bento announces Portugal's 23-man World Cup squad". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  42. ^ "Varela strikes to save Portugal". FIFA. 22 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  43. ^ Magalhães, Luís; Magalhães, Sérgio (10 November 2019). "Nilton Varela e a estreia com o tio: "É um dia que vai ficar marcado na minha vida"" [Nilton Varela and the debut with uncle: "It's a day that will stay etched in my life"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  44. ^ "FC Porto anuncia Nilton Varela como reforço da equipa B" [FC Porto announce Nilton Varela as B-team addition]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 August 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Silvestre Varela". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  46. ^ a b "Silvestre Varela". European Football. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  47. ^ "FC Porto volta a conquistar a Taça de Portugal" [FC Porto win Portuguese Cup again] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2023.

External links

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