Ricardo (footballer, born 1976)

Ricardo

Ricardo with Betis in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Ricardo Alexandre Martins Soares Pereira
Date of birth	(1976-02-11) 11 February 1976 (age 41)
Place of birth	Montijo, Portugal
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1987–1990	Unidos Barreiro
1990–1994	Montijo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1995	Montijo	18	(0)
1995–2003	Boavista	154	(1)
2003–2007	Sporting CP	118	(0)
2007–2011	Betis	48	(0)
2011	Leicester City	8	(0)
2011–2012	Vitória Setúbal	3	(0)
2012–2014	Olhanense	13	(0)
Total		362	(1)
National team
1998	Portugal U21	1	(0)
2001–2008	Portugal	79	(0)
Honours Representing  Portugal Men's Football UEFA European Championship Portugal 2004 Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Ricardo Alexandre Martins Soares Pereira, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁiˈkaɾdu]; born 11 February 1976), known simply as Ricardo, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent most of his professional career with Boavista and Sporting, helping the former to its only Primeira Liga title and appearing with the latter in more than 150 official games, winning one Portuguese Cup. In his 30s he moved abroad, representing mainly Betis.

Ricardo won 79 caps with Portugal, appearing with the nation at two World Cups and as many European Championships, notably reaching the final at Euro 2004.

Born in Montijo, Setúbal, Ricardo started his career at hometown club C.D. Montijo, signing with Boavista F.C. in 1995. After battling during several seasons for first-choice status with William Andem he eventually became first-choice, and appeared in 28 matches in the Chequereds 2000–01 conquest of the Primeira Liga championship, the club history's only.