André Horta Explained

André Horta
Fullname:André Filipe Luz Horta[1]
Birth Date:7 November 1996
Birth Place:Almada, Portugal
Height:[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Braga
Clubnumber:10
Youthyears1:2004–2012
Youthclubs1:Benfica
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:Vitória Setúbal
Years1:2014–2016
Caps1:38
Goals1:2
Years2:2016–2018
Caps2:10
Goals2:1
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Braga (loan)
Caps3:22
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2019
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2019–
Caps5:120
Goals5:5
Years6:2024
Clubs6:Olympiacos (loan)
Caps6:12
Goals6:2
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2014–2015
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2016
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2016–2018
Nationalcaps4:9
Nationalgoals4:3
Club-Update:19:06, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

André Filipe Luz Horta (born 7 November 1996) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Braga.

He made over 175 Primeira Liga appearances for Vitória de Setúbal, Benfica and Braga, winning a league and cup double with the second of those teams in 2017 as well as the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga with the third. He also played for a year at Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

Club career

Vitória Setúbal

Born in Almada, Setúbal District, Horta spent eight years in S.L. Benfica's youth system, joining local Vitória F.C. at the age of 15.[3] In late 2014, whilst still a junior, he was promoted to the first team by manager Domingos Paciência.[4]

Horta made his first-team and Primeira Liga debut on 12 December 2014, playing the second 45 minutes of a 0–1 home loss against Boavista FC.[5] He finished his first full season with 32 games – 21 starts – and two goals, helping his team narrowly avoid relegation; his goals contributed to wins at C.F. Os Belenenses and C.D. Tondela in December 2015.[6] [7]

Benfica

On 1 June 2016, Horta signed a five-year contract with defending champions Benfica.[8] He played his first competitive match on 7 August, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory over S.C. Braga in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.[9] Six days later, on his league debut, he scored his only goal of 14 appearances that campaign, concluding a 2–0 win at Tondela.[10]

Horta joined Braga on a season-long loan deal on 30 August 2017.[11] He scored once in 22 competitive matches during his tenure, wrapping up a 3–1 away defeat of Boavista on 3 January 2018.[12]

Los Angeles FC

Horta agreed to join Los Angeles FC on 27 March 2018, as their final Designated Player ahead of their inaugural season in Major League Soccer.[13] The deal was made effective on 23 June that year,[14] and he made his league debut on 27 July when he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for scorer Lee Nguyen against the LA Galaxy, his backpass nine minutes later resulting in Ola Kamara's 2–2 equaliser (final score).[15]

Braga

On 10 June 2019, Horta returned to Portugal and Braga on a five-year deal,[16] for a reported fee of $2.75 million and 50% of any future transfer.[17] In his first games back at the club in August, he scored his first European goals in each leg of a 7–3 aggregate defeat of Brøndby IF in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[18] [19] He made three appearances in the Taça da Liga for the eventual winners, scoring in the 2–1 group stage win over C.S. Marítimo.[20]

Horta played six games as Braga won the 2020–21 Taça de Portugal, coming off the bench in four of them including the 2–0 final victory against Benfica.[21] On 23 December, he and Abel Ruiz were sent off as the team's defence of the trophy ended with a 1–0 loss at neighbours F.C. Vizela in the last 16.[22]

In June 2022, Horta extended his contract to 2027, with a buyout clause of €30 million. The news was announced through a video of him conducting a performance of "The Show Must Go On" at Braga's Theatre Circo.[23]

On 20 January 2024, Horta was loaned to Super League Greece club Olympiacos F.C. until the end of the season, being reunited with his former Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal.[24] [25] The deal included an optional buying clause, reported to be €6 million.[26]

International career

Horta earned 28 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, scoring five goals. He made his debut on 25 March 2014 in a friendly 4–2 win for the under-18 team against Belgium in Santarém, and scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against the same opponents two days later.[27] While he never went to a major tournament, he scored in 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification victories over Switzerland, Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina for his side in 2018.[28] [29] [30]

Personal life

Horta's older brother, Ricardo, is also a footballer. They played together at Benfica, Vitória de Setúbal and Braga.[31]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vitória Setúbal2014–15Primeira Liga60002080
2015–16Primeira Liga3223010362
Total3823030442
Benfica2016–17Primeira Liga10110202010161
Braga (loan)2017–18Primeira Liga221102050301
Los Angeles FC2018Major League Soccer11010120
2019Major League Soccer40000040
Total1501000160
Braga2019–20Primeira Liga250202151342
2020–21Primeira Liga211600080351
2021–22Primeira Liga281301010010431
2022–23Primeira Liga321704070501
2023–24Primeira Liga142302060252
Total120521091360101876
Olympiacos (loan)2023–24Super League Greece122000090212
Career total217112701615202031412

Honours

Benfica

2016–17

2016–17

2016[9]

Braga

2019–20,[32] 2023–24[33]

Olympiacos

2023–24[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: André Horta. Mais Futebol. pt. 2 February 2021.
  2. Web site: André Horta. S.C. Braga. pt. 15 November 2019.
  3. News: Domingos rendido a André Horta. Domingos head over heels with André Horta. Record. Ricardo. Lopes Pereira. pt. 13 August 2014. 25 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152556/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/nacional/1a-liga/vitoria-setubal/detalhe/domingos-rendido-a-andre-horta-899573.html. 24 September 2015.
  4. News: André Horta nos seniores. André Horta with seniors. Record. Ricardo. Lopes Pereira. pt. 9 December 2014. 25 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152553/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/nacional/1a-liga/vitoria-setubal/detalhe/andre-horta-nos-seniores-919165.html. 24 September 2015.
  5. Web site: V. Setúbal-Boavista, 0–1 (crónica). V. Setúbal-Boavista, 0–1 (match report). Mais Futebol. Sérgio. Pereira. pt. 12 December 2014. 25 August 2015.
  6. Web site: André Horta e as lágrimas "Pensei no meu irmão e deixei-me levar". André Horta and the tears "I thought of my brother and I let myself go". Mais Futebol. Tiago Filipe. Silva. pt. 5 December 2015. 17 May 2022.
  7. News: Vitória de Setúbal vence em Tondela e sobe ao 5.º lugar. Vitória de Setúbal win at Tondela and rise to 5th place. Diário de Notícias. pt. 20 December 2015. 17 May 2022.
  8. News: André Horta assinou por cinco anos pelo Benfica. André Horta signed for five years with Benfica. Jornal de Notícias. pt. 1 June 2016. 2 June 2016.
  9. News: Benfica eficaz vence Supertaça. Effective Benfica win Supercup. Diário de Notícias. pt. 7 August 2016. 7 August 2016.
  10. Web site: Tondela–Benfica, 0–2 (crónica). Tondela–Benfica, 0–2 (report). Mais Futebol. Adérito. Esteves. pt. 13 August 2016. 24 February 2018.
  11. Web site: André Horta emprestado ao SC Braga. André Horta loaned out to SC Braga. S.L. Benfica. Marco. Rebelo. pt. 30 August 2017. 30 August 2017.
  12. News: Sp. Braga sofre mas vence no Bessa. Sp. Braga suffer but win at the Bessa. Público. pt. 3 January 2018. 30 March 2018.
  13. News: LAFC fills final roster spot with Portuguese midfielder Andre Horta. Los Angeles Times. Kevin. Baxter. 27 March 2018. 30 March 2018.
  14. Web site: LAFC unveils Horta: Here's what's next for the player. Los Angeles FC. Vince. La Rosa. 24 June 2018. 24 June 2018.
  15. Web site: LA Galaxy roar back for 2–2 draw with LAFC in rivalry series. Associated Press. Greg. Beacham. 27 July 2018. 10 August 2018.
  16. Web site: André Horta está de volta ao Sporting de Braga. André Horta is back at Sporting Braga. TSF. pt. 10 June 2019. 17 May 2022.
  17. Web site: Official: LAFC transfer midfielder Andre Horta to SC Braga. Major League Soccer. Tom. Bogert. 10 June 2019. 22 June 2019.
  18. Web site: Kouka assists in Braga's victory over Brondby. KingFut. Ahmed. Wagih. 9 August 2019. 17 May 2022.
  19. News: Sp. Braga aproveita erro para dominar Brondby. Sp. Braga take advantage of error to dominate Brøndby. Público. Augusto. Bernardino. pt. 15 August 2019. 17 May 2022.
  20. News: Sp. Braga vence Marítimo e fica a um pequeno passo da final four. Sp. Braga beat Marítimo and move one step closer to final four. Record. pt. 13 October 2019. 2 February 2021.
  21. Web site: Braga beat nine-man Benfica to lift Portuguese Cup. PortuGOAL. Patrick. Ribeiro. 23 May 2021. 24 May 2021.
  22. Web site: Golaço e duas expulsões. Vizela elimina Braga e está nos quartos de final da Taça de Portugal. Wondergoal and two sendings-off. Vizela eliminate Braga and are in the Portuguese Cup quarter-finals. TSF. pt. 23 December 2021. 17 May 2022.
  23. Web site: OFICIAL: Sp. Braga anuncia de forma original renovação do maestro André Horta. OFFICIAL: Sp. Braga announce in an original way the renewal of the maestro André Horta. Mais Futebol. pt. 13 June 2022. 15 June 2022.
  24. Web site: Ο Αντρέ Όρτα στον Ολυμπιακό. André Horta at Olympiacos. Olympiacos F.C.. el. 20 January 2024. 20 January 2024.
  25. Web site: André Horta cedido ao Olympiacos FC. André Horta loaned to Olympiacos FC. S.C. Braga. pt. 20 January 2024. 20 January 2024.
  26. News: Mercado: André Horta emprestado ao Olympiakos. Market: André Horta loaned to Olympiakos. A Bola. Luís. Magalhães. pt. 19 January 2024. 20 January 2024.
  27. Web site: Sub-18 empatam com Bélgica em jogo de preparação. Under-18s draw with Belgium in preparation game. SAPO. pt. 27 March 2014. 17 May 2022.
  28. Web site: Sub-21 de Portugal vence Suíça com reviravolta fantástica após 2.ª parte de luxo. Portugal under-21 defeat Switzerland with fantastic comeback after deluxe 2nd half. SAPO. pt. 27 March 2018. 17 May 2022.
  29. News: Mixed fortunes for Welsh U21 side at Bangor City. North Wales Chronicle. 14 September 2018. 17 May 2022.
  30. Web site: Sub-21: Portugal-Bósnia-Herzegovina, 4–2 (crónica). Under-21: Portugal-Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4–2 (report). Mais Futebol. Raul. Caires. pt. 16 October 2018. 17 May 2022.
  31. News: André Horta acredita numa surpresa na Luz. André Horta believes in surprise at the Luz. Record. Ricardo. Lopes Pereira. pt. 13 February 2015. 25 August 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706054057/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/vitoria_setubal/interior.aspx?content_id=930982. 6 July 2015.
  32. Web site: Late Ricardo Horta strike wins the Taça da Liga for Braga. PortuGOAL. Richard. Cole. 25 January 2020. 2 February 2021.
  33. News: Sp. Braga vence a Taça da Liga pela terceira vez. Sp. Braga win League Cup for the third time. Público. Marco. Vaza. pt. 27 January 2024. 28 January 2024.
  34. Web site: Olympiacos 1–0 Fiorentina (aet): El Kaabi swoops to secure Greece's first major European trophy. UEFA. 29 May 2024. 30 May 2024.