Ukra Explained

Ukra
Fullname:André Filipe Alves Monteiro[1]
Birth Date:16 March 1988
Birth Place:Famalicão, Portugal
Height:1.76 m
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:1999–2001
Youthclubs1:Famalicão
Youthyears2:2001–2007
Youthclubs2:Porto
Youthyears3:2003–2004
Youthclubs3:Padroense (loan)
Years1:2007–2013
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2007–2008
Clubs2:Varzim (loan)
Caps2:21
Goals2:1
Years3:2008–2010
Clubs3:Olhanense (loan)
Caps3:58
Goals3:7
Years4:2011–2012
Clubs4:Braga (loan)
Caps4:19
Goals4:4
Years5:2012–2013
Clubs5:Rio Ave (loan)
Caps5:26
Goals5:1
Years6:2013–2016
Caps6:84
Goals6:9
Years7:2016–2017
Caps7:19
Goals7:5
Years8:2018
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2018–2021
Caps9:65
Goals9:2
Years10:2021–2024
Caps10:42
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:337
Totalgoals:29
Nationalyears1:2003
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2004–2005
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2005–2006
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2007
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2008
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2008–2010
Nationalcaps6:16
Nationalgoals6:3
Nationalyears7:2010
Nationalcaps7:1
Nationalgoals7:0
Nationalyears8:2015
Nationalcaps8:1
Nationalgoals8:0

André Filipe Alves Monteiro (born 16 March 1988), known as Ukra, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a right winger.

Formed at Porto, where he made eight senior appearances, he played 245 Primeira Liga games for five clubs, mainly in two spells at Rio Ave and also Olhanense, Braga and Santa Clara.

Ukra earned 46 caps for Portugal at youth level, and played one senior match in 2015.

Club career

Porto

Born in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga District, Ukra began playing football for F.C. Famalicão, moving at age 13 to FC Porto to complete his formation. In 2007–08 he got his first taste of first-team football, spending one season on loan to another northern club, Varzim S.C. in the Segunda Liga.[2]

In the following two years, Ukra continued on loan, now in the south of the country with S.C. Olhanense.[3] He scored six goals in 30 matches in his debut campaign, helping the Algarve team to return to the Primeira Liga after 34 years.[4] [5] In November 2009, it was reported that the player was being scouted by Newcastle United of the Football League Championship after an under-21 match against England at Wembley in which he played the full 90 minutes.[6]

In January 2011, Ukra was loaned to S.C. Braga,[7] contributing solidly as the Minho side finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League by netting twice, notably in a 3–1 home win against Vitória S.C. in a local derby.[8] [9] He did not participate in the club's Europa League runner-up campaign, being cup-tied after having appeared in the competition for eventual champions Porto; he made his debut for them on 19 August 2010 by starting in the 3–0 win at K.R.C. Genk in the first leg of the playoff,[10] and came off the bench in a 3–1 win at SK Rapid Wien in the group stage.[11]

Ukra was again loaned to Braga for 2011–12, spending however the better part of the season on the sidelines due to injury a left knee tendon injury picked up in a friendly against C.D. Aves in July.[12] He returned on 4 February 2012 in a Taça da Liga group game against Portimonense SC,[13] and 23 days later again as a late replacement, he scored to conclude a 4–0 home win over Vitória de Guimarães.[14] On 22 March, he was one of two Arsenalistas to miss in the penalty shootout defeat to Gil Vicente F.C. in the league cup semi-finals.[15]

Rio Ave

Ukra spent four years with fellow top-division team Rio Ave FC, the first on loan in 2012–13.[16] [17] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February 2013 to help the hosts defeat Sporting CP 2–1,[18] and also netted twice during the team's runner-up run in the 2013–14 edition of the Taça de Portugal.[19] [20]

Abroad

On 18 July 2016, free agent Ukra signed with Al Fateh SC from the Saudi Pro League.[21] In February 2018, in the same capacity, he joined Bulgaria's PFC CSKA Sofia.[22] He made his first (and only) official appearance for the latter on 31 March, in the 4–1 home victory over Botev Plovdiv in a league match, coming on as a substitute during the second half;[23] in June, he was released.[24]

Return to Portugal

Ukra returned to Portugal's top flight on 8 August 2018, signing with newly promoted C.D. Santa Clara.[25] After making 23 appearances in his first season in the Azores, he was given a two-year contract extension.[26] He missed only seven games in his final season as the team came a best-ever sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League; his one goal that campaign was a penalty in the sixth minute of added time to conclude a 5–1 rout of C.D. Nacional at the Estádio de São Miguel on 11 April 2021.[27]

On 12 July 2021, the 33-year-old Ukra returned to Rio Ave on a one-year deal.[28] After helping to promotion as champions, he was retained in the top flight by manager Luís Freire for the next two seasons.[29] [30]

International career

In mid-2009, courtesy of his solid Olhanense displays, Ukra was summoned for the Portugal under-21s.[31] He represented the nation at the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[32] and also took part in the unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2007 European Under-21 Championship.[33] [34]

Ukra made his debut for the full side on 31 March 2015, coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for João Mário in a 0–2 friendly defeat against Cape Verde in Estoril.[35]

Personal life

Ukra's nickname derives from his youth, when his thin-blond hair led to him being called "Ukrainian" ("Ucraniano" in Portuguese), which was then shortened to "Ukra".[36]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[37]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto2007–08Primeira Liga000000000000
2008–09Primeira Liga000000000000
2009–10Primeira Liga000000000000
2010–11Primeira Liga203010200080
Total203010200080
Varzim (loan)2007–08Liga de Honra2111021242
Olhanense (loan)2008–09Liga de Honra3062160387
2009–10Primeira Liga2810010291
Total5872170678
Braga (loan)2010–11Primeira Liga122001000132
2011–12Primeira Liga7200200092
Total194003000224
Rio Ave (loan)2012–13Primeira Liga2611050321
Rio Ave2013–14Primeira Liga2546252368
2014–15Primeira Liga334622010010526
2015–16Primeira Liga2615010321
Total110101841321001015216
Al Fateh2016–17Saudi Pro League195101031246
CSKA Sofia2017–18Bulgarian First League100010
Santa Clara2018–19Primeira Liga2301000240
2019–20Primeira Liga1511040201
2020–21Primeira Liga27142313
Total6526240754
Rio Ave2021–22Liga Portugal 22103040280
2022–23Primeira Liga1501020180
2023–24Primeira Liga60001070
Total4204070530
Career total337293573831511042640
  1. Web site: Ukra. Mais Futebol. pt. 11 April 2021.
  2. News: Candeias e Ukra fecham plantel. Candeias and Ukra complete squad. Record. pt. 19 June 2007. 7 February 2023.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. News: Boas relações podem ajudar. Good relations may help. Diário de Notícias. pt. 18 October 2010. 22 July 2021.
  6. News: Stuart Pearce's shuffle puts young Portugal in the shade. The Guardian. Paul. Doyle. 15 November 2009. 22 November 2009. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20091118224013/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/15/england-portugal-kieran-gibbs-ryan-bertrand. 18 November 2009.
  7. Web site: Ukra and Marco Ramos join Braga as Arsenalistas continue squad overhaul. PortuGOAL. 24 January 2011. 27 July 2011.
  8. News: Paços prova em Braga que está na luta pela Europa. Paços prove they fight for Europe in Braga. Público. pt. 20 February 2011. 21 December 2017.
  9. Web site: Sp. Braga-V. Guimarães, 3–1 (ficha). Sp. Braga-V. Guimarães, 3–1 (match sheet). Mais Futebol. pt. 11 April 2011. 11 April 2021.
  10. Web site: FC Porto vence Genk por 3–0 e fica muito perto da fase de grupos. FC Porto defeat Genk 3–0 and get very close to the group stage. TSF. pt. 19 August 2010. 23 January 2023.
  11. News: Falcao deu festival de patinagem na cidade das mais belas memórias. Falcao put on a festival on ice in the city of the most beautiful memories. Diário de Notícias. João. Rosado. pt. 3 December 2010. 23 January 2023.
  12. News: Ukra vai ser operado ao joelho esquerdo. Ukra to undergo left knee surgery. Record. pt. 28 July 2011. 21 December 2017.
  13. News: Ukra esperou 266 dias para ter os 11 minutos. Ukra waited 266 days to have the 11 minutes. Record. pt. 6 February 2012. 21 December 2017.
  14. News: Sp. Braga goleia V. Guimarães e entra na luta pelo título. Sp. Braga rout V. Guimarães and enter the fight for the title. Diário de Notícias. Tiago. Silva Pires. pt. 27 February 2012. 23 January 2023.
  15. Web site: Gil Vicente garante presença histórica numa final. Gil Vicente guarantee historic presence in a final. TSF. pt. 22 March 2012. 23 January 2023.
  16. News: Esperança por Ukra. Hoping on Ukra. Record. pt. 6 April 2013. 14 February 2018.
  17. Web site: Ukra fica no Rio Ave por três épocas. Ukra stays in Rio Ave for three seasons. Rio Ave F.C. pt. 7 August 2013. 11 April 2021.
  18. Web site: Rio Ave 2–1 Sporting (final). Rio Ave 2–1 Sporting (end). Rádio Renascença. pt. 2 February 2013. 14 February 2018.
  19. Web site: Penálti de Ukra nos descontos coloca Rio Ave nos "quartos". Injury-time Ukra penalty puts Rio Ave in "last eight". Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 4 January 2014. 14 February 2018.
  20. Web site: Rio Ave vence Sp. Braga e volta 30 anos depois à final da Taça de Portugal (vídeo). Rio Ave beat Sp. Braga and return to Portuguese Cup final 30 years later (video). TSF. pt. 16 April 2014. 14 February 2018.
  21. News: Ukra é o novo reforço do Al-Fateh de Sá Pinto. Ukra is the new addition of Sá Pinto's Al-Fateh. Diário de Notícias. pt. 18 July 2016. 14 February 2018.
  22. Web site: ЦСКА парафира с португалец. CSKA get started with a Portuguese. Gong.bg. bg. 13 February 2018. 14 February 2018.
  23. Web site: ЦСКА – Ботев (Пловдив) 4:1. CSKA – Botev (matchcast) 4:1. Topsport. bg. 31 March 2018. 7 June 2018.
  24. Web site: ЦСКА се раздели с петима футболисти. CSKA part ways with five players. CSKA Sofia. bg. 7 June 2018. 9 June 2018.
  25. Web site: Ukra é reforço do Santa Clara. Ukra is addition for Santa Clara. Rádio Renascença. pt. 8 August 2018. 20 July 2019.
  26. News: Ukra renova pelo Santa Clara por duas temporadas. Ukra renews for two seasons for Santa Clara. Record. pt. 21 June 2019. 20 July 2019.
  27. News: Santa Clara goleia Nacional e complica situação dos madeirenses. Santa Clara rout Nacional and make the Madeirans' situation complicated. O Jogo. pt. 11 April 2021. 23 January 2023.
  28. News: "O regresso do Rei": foi assim que o Rio Ave apresentou Ukra. "The King's return": that's how Rio Ave presented Ukra. Record. pt. 12 July 2021. 22 July 2021.
  29. News: Oficial: João Graça renova contrato com o Rio Ave. Official: João Graça renews contract with Rio Ave. Record. Diogo. Matos. pt. 27 June 2022. 23 January 2023.
  30. Web site: Rio Ave renova com Zé Manuel, Ukra e Vítor Gomes até 2024. Rio Ave renew with Zé Manuel, Ukra and Vítor Gomes until 2024. SAPO. pt. 2 July 2023. 11 July 2023.
  31. Web site: Portugal in Cruz control. UEFA. Hugo. Pietra. 4 September 2009. 27 November 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090908154150/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round=2000006/match=2000217/report=rp.html. 8 September 2009.
  32. News: Sub-19: Portugal empata com Espanha e tem apuramento em risco. Under-19: Portugal draw with Spain and risk not going through. Público. pt. 18 July 2007. 21 December 2017.
  33. Web site: Oceano com maré cheia de golos. Ocean ("Oceano" in English, pun on manager's name) with tideful of goals. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 4 September 2009. 21 December 2017.
  34. News: Portugal vence Grécia e mantém esperança na qualificação. Portugal beat Greece and remain hopeful in qualifying. Diário de Notícias. pt. 17 November 2009. 21 December 2017.
  35. Web site: Portugal 0–2 Cape Verde Islands. BBC Sport. 31 March 2015. 1 April 2015.
  36. Web site: Entrevista com Ukra. Interview with Ukra. Notícias do Futebol. Fábio. Lima. pt. 30 September 2009. 26 January 2012.
  37. Web site: Ukra. Soccerway. 8 July 2014.

Honours

Porto

2010–11

2010–11

2010[38]

2010–11[39]

Olhanense

2008–09[4]

Rio Ave

2021–22[40]