Alvarinho (footballer) explained

Alvarinho
Fullname:Álvaro Ricardo Faustino Gomes[1]
Birth Date:3 September 1990
Birth Place:Faro, Portugal
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Anadia
Clubnumber:27
Youthyears1:2000–2009
Youthclubs1:Farense
Years1:2009–2010
Caps1:27
Goals1:7
Years2:2010–2012
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2011–2012
Clubs3:Fátima (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2012
Clubs4:Torreense (loan)
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2014
Caps5:46
Goals5:14
Years6:2014–2015
Caps6:45
Goals6:10
Years7:2015–2017
Caps7:10
Goals7:0
Years8:2016–2017
Clubs8:Śląsk Wrocław (loan)
Caps8:23
Goals8:1
Years9:2017–2021
Caps9:51
Goals9:5
Years10:2021–2022
Caps10:19
Goals10:9
Years11:2022–2023
Caps11:24
Goals11:3
Years12:2023–
Caps12:25
Goals12:6
Club-Update:00:49, 6 May 2024 (UTC)

Álvaro Ricardo Faustino Gomes (born 3 September 1990), known as Alvarinho, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Anadia.

He played five Primeira Liga games for Paços de Ferreira and Farense, nearly a decade apart, as well as 37 matches and four goals in the second tier for the latter. Abroad, he represented three clubs in the Polish Ekstraklasa, winning the national cup with Zawisza Bydgoszcz in 2014.

Club career

Early career

Born in Faro, Algarve, Alvarinho began his career at hometown club S.C. Farense in 2009 before a transfer to F.C. Paços de Ferreira a year later.[2] He made his professional debut in his only Primeira Liga appearance for the latter, a 5–1 home win over Académica de Coimbra on the last day of the 2010–11 season, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Manuel José.[3]

A serious injury limited Alvarinho's prospects at Paços, and after loans to third division sides C.D. Fátima and S.C.U. Torreense, he joined Sport Benfica e Castelo Branco of the same tier in 2012.[2]

Poland

Halfway through the 2013–14 campaign, after he scored seven goals with Benfica, Alvarinho and strike partner Marocas trained at Zawisza Bydgoszcz of the Polish Ekstraklasa, and the former eventually made the move permanent.[4] He won the Polish Cup also that year, playing the final nine minutes of extra time in place of Jakub Wójcicki; the game finished goalless and he scored in the penalty shootout against Zagłębie Lubin at the Stadion Narodowy.[5]

On 9 July 2014, now under compatriot manager Jorge Paixão, Alvarinho scored as Zawisza defeated league champions Legia Warsaw 3–2 at the Polish Army Stadium in the Polish SuperCup.[6] However, his team was relegated in 2015 and he remained in the top flight, signing for Jagiellonia Białystok on 20 August.[7] A year later, he was loaned to a third team of the league, Śląsk Wrocław.[2]

Return to Portugal

On 30 August 2017, Alvarinho returned to Farense and the Portuguese third tier, now renamed Campeonato de Portugal.[8] In his first season they were promoted to LigaPro as runners-up to C.D. Mafra, and at the end of the second, he signed a new two-year contract featuring an undisclosed release clause.[9]

In 2019–20, Farense won promotion to the top flight by being in second when the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Alvarinho's one goal came from the bench in a 3–1 home victory over Casa Pia A.C. on the first matchday.[10] After making just four brief cameos as the team went straight back down, he moved to nearby Louletano D.C. in the fourth tier, calling it the "best decision".[11]

Honours

Zawisza Bydgoszcz

2013–14[5]

2014[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alvarinho. Mais Futebol. Portuguese. 7 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Nós lá fora. Us abroad. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. José Carlos. Lopes. Portuguese. 2 October 2016. 2 August 2019.
  3. Web site: Paços de luxo arrasa Académica. Deluxe Paços crush Académica. SAPO. Portuguese. 14 May 2011. 10 August 2019.
  4. News: BC Branco segura Marocas mas perde Alvarinho. BC Branco secure Marocas but lose Alvarinho. Record. Portuguese. 6 February 2014. 2 August 2019.
  5. News: Polónia: Duo português conquista Taça. Poland: Portuguese duo win Cup. Record. Portuguese. 2 May 2014. 2 August 2019.
  6. News: Polónia: Jorge Paixão conquista Supertaça. Poland: Jorge Paixão wins Supercup. Record. Portuguese. 9 July 2014. 2 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Mercado: OFICIAL – Avançado português Alvarinho assina pelo Jagiellonia. Transfer market: OFFICIAL – Portuguese striker Alvarinho signs for Jagiellonia. Futebol 365. José. Pestana. Portuguese. 20 August 2015. 2 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Futebol: Alvarinho regressa ao Farense para reforçar o setor ofensivo. Football: Alvarinho returns to Farense to strengthen the attacking sector. Região Sul. Portuguese. 30 August 2017. 2 August 2019.
  9. News: Extremo Alvarinho renova pelo Farense. Winger Alvarinho renews at Farense. Record. Armando. Alves. Portuguese. 29 May 2019. 2 August 2019.
  10. News: Farense-Casa Pia, 3–1: Vitória algarvia com reviravolta na 2.ª parte. Farense-Casa Pia, 3–1: Algarvean victory with comeback in the 2nd half. Record. Portuguese. 10 August 2019. 1 July 2023.
  11. News: "Vir de uma I Liga para uma quarta divisão custa, mas foi a melhor decisão". "Coming from a I League to a fourth division is costly, but it was the best decision. O Jogo. João. Maia. Portuguese. 28 September 2021. 1 July 2023.