Fábio Espinho Explained

Espinho
Fullname:Fábio Ricardo Gomes Fonseca[1]
Birth Date:18 August 1985
Birth Place:Espinho, Portugal
Height:1.71m (05.61feet)
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1993–2004
Youthclubs1:Porto
Years1:2004–2006
Caps1:36
Goals1:2
Years2:2006–2009
Caps2:79
Goals2:12
Years3:2009–2011
Caps3:40
Goals3:0
Years4:2011–2013
Caps4:51
Goals4:11
Years5:2013–2015
Caps5:52
Goals5:4
Years6:2015–2016
Caps6:2
Goals6:0
Years7:2016
Clubs7:Moreirense (loan)
Caps7:15
Goals7:2
Years8:2016–2019
Caps8:86
Goals8:10
Years9:2019–2023
Caps9:95
Goals9:10
Totalcaps:456
Totalgoals:51

Fábio Ricardo Gomes Fonseca (born 18 August 1985), commonly known as Espinho, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Club career

Espinho was born in Espinho. A product of FC Porto's youth system he never appeared officially for its first team, spending two years with the reserves in the third division. In 2006, he signed with local S.C. Espinho in the same level.

On 8 June 2011, after two seasons in division two with Leixões SC, Espinho joined Moreirense FC.[2] He scored nine goals in his first year to help the club return to the Primeira Liga after a seven-year absence, and, on 19 August 2012, celebrated his debut in the competition by netting his team's goal in a 1–1 away draw against F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[3]

On 11 June 2013, Espinho signed a one-year deal with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the Bulgarian A Football Group, moving abroad for the first time at the age of 28.[4] He appeared in 95 competitive games during his spell (seven goals), helping to back-to-back national championships.[5]

Espinho left Ludogorets in June 2015, and signed a contract with Málaga CF as a free agent.[6] He played only three matches for the Spaniards before returning to Moreirense on loan the following January,[7] then joined fellow league team Boavista F.C. for one year in July.[8]

Career statistics

[9]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B2004–05Segunda Divisão142142
2005–06220220
Total362362
Espinho2006–07Segunda Divisão24131272
2007–0829220312
2008–0926910279
Total7912618513
Leixões2009–10Primeira Liga13051181
2010–11Segunda Liga27052322
Total400103503
Moreirense2011–12Segunda Liga2891023811
2012–13Primeira Liga23270302
Total51111726813
Ludogorets2013–14[10] A Group292100150542
2014–1523262121415
Total524162271957
Career total2582949827133438

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fábio Espinho. Mais Futebol. pt. 21 September 2021.
  2. Web site: Moreirense contrata médio Fábio Espinho e avançado N'Jock. Moreirense sign midfielder Fábio Espinho and forward N'Jock. Guimarães TV. pt. 8 June 2011. 10 June 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026110953/http://www.gmrtv.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6454:moreirense-contrata-medio-fabio-espinho-e-avancado-njock&catid=48:desporto&Itemid=41. 26 October 2017.
  3. Web site: P. Ferreira-Moreirense, 1–1 (resultado final). P. Ferreira-Moreirense, 1–1 (final score). Mais Futebol. pt. 19 August 2012. 25 October 2017.
  4. Web site: Лудогорец представи първото си ново попълнение. Ludogorets introduced their first new addition. Sportal. bg. 11 June 2013. 11 June 2013.
  5. Web site: Ludogorets de Fábio Espinho e Vitinha tetracampeão da Bulgária. Fábio Espinho and Vitinha's Ludogorets Bulgarian champions for the fourth consecutive time. Mais Futebol. pt. 15 May 2015. 21 September 2021.
  6. Web site: В Испания: Ешпиньо се разбра с Малага. In Spain: Espinho commits to Málaga. Sportal. bg. 4 June 2015. 25 April 2016.
  7. Web site: El Málaga y el Moreirense alcanzan un acuerdo para la cesión de Espinho. Málaga and Moreirense reach an agreement for the loan of Espinho. Málaga CF. es. 14 January 2016. 25 November 2016.
  8. News: Fábio Espinho no Boavista. Fábio Espinho at Boavista. O Jogo. pt. 19 July 2016. 25 November 2016.
  9. Web site: Fábio Espinho. Footballdatabase. 10 June 2013.
  10. Web site: Fábio Espinho. Soccerway. 7 April 2015.