André Castro Explained

André Castro
Fullname:André de Castro Pereira[1]
Birth Date:2 April 1988[2]
Birth Place:Gondomar, Portugal
Height:1.79 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Moreirense
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:1997–1999
Youthclubs1:Gondomar
Youthyears2:1999–2007
Youthclubs2:Porto
Years1:2007–2014
Caps1:20
Goals1:1
Years2:2008–2010
Clubs2:Olhanense (loan)
Caps2:56
Goals2:9
Years3:2011–2012
Clubs3:Sporting Gijón (loan)
Caps3:44
Goals3:4
Years4:2013–2014
Clubs4:Kasımpaşa (loan)
Caps4:33
Goals4:3
Years5:2014–2017
Caps5:98
Goals5:15
Years6:2017–2020
Caps6:96
Goals6:8
Years7:2020–2024
Caps7:69
Goals7:3
Years8:2024–
Caps8:14
Goals8:1
Nationalyears1:2004–2005
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2005–2006
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2006–2007
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2007
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2008–2010
Nationalcaps5:19
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2010
Nationalcaps6:3
Nationalgoals6:1
Club-Update:18:57, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

André de Castro Pereira (born 2 April 1988), known as Castro, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Moreirense.

Formed at Porto, where he was mainly loaned out, he spent most of his career in Turkey, making 227 Süper Lig appearances and scoring 26 goals for Kasımpaşa and Göztepe. In his country's Primeira Liga, he also played for Olhanense, Braga and Moreirense.

Club career

Porto

Born in Gondomar, Porto District, Castro joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of 11, from hometown club Gondomar SC.[3] In 2007, he helped the team conquer the junior championship.[4]

Castro made his first-team – and Primeira Liga – debut on 2 February 2008, coming on as a substitute for Paulo Assunção for the last 11 minutes of a 4–0 home win against U.D. Leiria.[5] He appeared in a further two official matches during the season.[3]

In the following two years, Castro played with S.C. Olhanense on loan,[6] helping the Algarve side returned to the top division after an absence of more than 30 years in his debut campaign[7] [8] and winning several Best Young Player monthly awards during his second,[3] where he scored six goals in 28 games as his team retained their status.

Castro returned to Porto for 2010–11, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements by new manager André Villas-Boas as practically all Portuguese players.[3] In January 2011, after having totalled 106 minutes in six competitive matches, he was loaned to Sporting de Gijón in Spain,[9] making his La Liga debut on the 23rd by playing one minute in a 1–0 home victory over Atlético Madrid.[10]

Castro managed to feature regularly for the Asturians during his spell, starting 11 times and scoring against RCD Mallorca (4–0, away)[11] and Getafe CF (2–0 at home),[12] in an eventual escape from relegation. In mid-August 2011, another loan spell was arranged.[13] He started in 26 of his 29 league appearances and added another two goals, but his team dropped down a tier.[14]

Turkey

On 14 August 2013, Castro joined Turkish Süper Lig club Kasımpaşa S.K. on loan.[15] The move was made permanent for the 2014–15 season.[16] On 6 May 2017, he scored twice in a 3–1 win at Galatasaray SK.[17]

Castro signed a three-year contract with Göztepe S.K. of the same league on 8 July 2017.[18] He scored four times in his first year, adding nine assists to help to a sixth-place finish one year after promotion.[19]

Braga

On 28 July 2020, Castro returned to his own country's top flight, on a two-year deal at S.C. Braga.[20] Counting two goals and four assists to his name from 66 games, he renewed for a further year at its conclusion.[21]

On 3 October 2023, Castro scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, coming off the bench in the 86th minute and closing the 3–2 away win over 1. FC Union Berlin in the group stage shortly after.[22]

Later career

Castro remained in the top tier on 17 January 2024, with the 35-year-old signing for Moreirense F.C. until June 2025 after leaving Braga by mutual agreement.[23] [24]

International career

Castro earned 57 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, including 19 for the under-21s.[3] On 5 August 2011, he was called by the full side for a friendly with Luxembourg,[25] but remained an unused substitute.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto2007–08Primeira Liga200020
2010–11Primeira Liga10202050
2012–13Primeira Liga171303020251
Total201503040321
Olhanense (loan)2008–09Segunda Liga28300283
2009–10Primeira Liga2860010296
Total569001000579
Sporting Gijón (loan)2010–11La Liga15200152
2011–12La Liga29200292
Total444000000444
Kasımpaşa (loan)2013–14Süper Lig33310343
Kasımpaşa2014–15Süper Lig32500325
2015–16Süper Lig33400334
2016–17Süper Lig33661397
Total1311871000013819
Göztepe2017–18Süper Lig33400334
2018–19Süper Lig31130341
2019–20Süper Lig32321344
Total968511019
Braga2020–21Primeira Liga212403050332
2021–22Primeira Liga2101010100330
2022–23Primeira Liga241503071392
2023–24Primeira Liga3020002171
Total69312070241001125
Career totals416432921102820048447

Honours

Porto

2007–08, 2010–11, 2012–13[3]

2010–11

2012

2010–11[26]

Olhanense

2008–09[7]

Braga

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Castro. Mais Futebol. pt. 18 January 2024.
  2. Web site: André Castro. Eurosport. 10 September 2020.
  3. News: André Castro: “Vi a final da Liga dos Campeões que o FC Porto ganhou em 1987 mais de 100 vezes. Já quase sei os comentários de cor”. André Castro: "I've seen the Champions League final that FC Porto won in 1987 more than 100 times. I know pretty much every commentary by heart". Expresso. Alexandra. Simões de Abreu. pt. 2 November 2019. 22 July 2021.
  4. News: Tiago Silva entra e dá título. Tiago Silva comes in and gives title. Jornal de Notícias. Susana. Silva. pt. 11 June 2007. 10 September 2020.
  5. News: FC Porto goleia União de Leiria por 4–0. FC Porto rout União de Leiria by 4–0. Público. pt. 2 February 2008. 12 July 2017.
  6. News: Dragõezinhos de Olhão procuram chegar a bom Porto. Little dragons from Olhão trying to reach a good Port ("Porto" in English, pun on club name). Diário de Notícias. Nuno. Coelho. pt. 4 October 2009. 21 December 2017.
  7. News: Subida do Olhanense gera 'guerra' entre câmaras. Olhanense promotion leads to 'war' between city halls. Diário de Notícias. José Manuel. Oliveira. pt. 19 May 2009. 22 July 2021.
  8. News: Boas relações podem ajudar. Good relations may help. Diário de Notícias. pt. 18 October 2010. 22 July 2021.
  9. Web site: Official: Andre Castro joins Sporting Gijon on season-long loan from Porto. Goal. Rick. D'Andrea. 11 January 2011. 25 May 2011.
  10. News: Un fallo defensivo del Atlético da al Sporting tres puntos vitales. Atlético defensive blunder gives Sporting three vital points. 20 minutos. es. 23 January 2011. 28 December 2018.
  11. Web site: Gijon hit Mallorca for four. ESPN Soccernet. 29 January 2011. 25 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025212101/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=302058&cc=5739. 25 October 2012.
  12. Web site: Sporting end unwanted run. ESPN Soccernet. 6 March 2011. 25 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121025212111/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=302128&cc=5739. 25 October 2012.
  13. Web site: Cerrada la cesión de André Castro. André Castro loan completed. Sporting Gijón. es. 16 August 2011. 17 August 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20120629030029/http://www.realsporting.com/wrsg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=232:cerrada-la-cesion-de-andre-castro&catid=36:actualidad&Itemid=186. 29 June 2012.
  14. News: ¿Qué fue de André Castro?. What happened to André Castro?. La Voz de Asturias. Alejandro. Ordóñez. es. 21 November 2017. 22 July 2021.
  15. News: Andre Castro Pereira Kasımpaşa'da. Andre Castro Pereira to Kasımpaşa. Milliyet. tr. 14 August 2013. 14 August 2013.
  16. Web site: FC Porto: Castro vai assinar pelo Kasimpasa por três anos. FC Porto: Castro will sign with Kasimpasa for three years. Mais Futebol. João Tiago. Figueiredo. pt. 8 May 2014. 25 July 2022.
  17. News: Galatasaray: 1 – Kasımpaşa: 3. Gazete Duvar. tr. 6 May 2017. 17 February 2023.
  18. News: Turquia: André Castro assina pelo Göztepe por três épocas. Turkey: André Castro signs with Göztepe for three seasons. Record. pt. 8 July 2017. 10 September 2020.
  19. Web site: André Castro eleito o melhor jogador pelos adeptos do Goztepe. André Castro voted best player by Goztepe fans. Domínio de Bola. pt. 27 December 2018. 10 September 2020.
  20. News: André Castro por dois anos no Sp. Braga. André Castro to Sp. Braga for two years. Record. pt. 28 July 2020. 12 August 2020.
  21. News: André Castro renovou com o Sp. Braga por mais uma temporada. André Castro renewed with Sp. Braga for one more season. Record. pt. 19 May 2022. 17 February 2023.
  22. Web site: 1. FC Union Berlin 2–3 Sporting Braga. BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. 6 October 2023.
  23. News: Castro reforça Moreirense com contrato até 2025 após deixar Sporting de Braga. Castro strengthens Moreirense with contract until 2025 after leaving Sporting de Braga. Observador. pt. 17 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  24. Web site: André Castro chega para o meio-campo. André Castro arrives for the midfield. Moreirense F.C.. pt. 17 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  25. News: André Castro se convierte en compañero de Cristiano. André Castro becomes Cristiano's teammate. La Nueva España. es. 5 August 2011. 18 July 2016.
  26. News: Villas-Boas assinala 10 anos da conquista da Liga Europa: "Um salto para a eternidade". Villas-Boas highlights 10 years of Europa League conquest: "A leap to eternity". O Jogo. pt. 18 May 2021. 22 July 2021.
  27. Web site: Braga beat nine-man Benfica to lift Portuguese Cup. PortuGOAL. Patrick. Ribeiro. 23 May 2021. 24 May 2021.