Hélio Varela Explained

Hélio Varela
Fullname:Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela
Birth Date:3 May 2002
Birth Place:Almada, Portugal
Height:1.76 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Gent
Clubnumber:29
Youthyears1:2010–2012
Youthclubs1:Monte Caparica
Youthyears2:2012–2014
Youthclubs2:Charneca Caparica
Youthyears3:2014–2018
Youthclubs3:Vitória Setúbal
Youthyears4:2018–2020
Youthclubs4:Cova da Piedade
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Amora
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Caps2:26
Goals2:5
Years3:2022–2024
Caps3:33
Goals3:6
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Gent
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2023–
Nationalteam1:Cape Verde
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:18:11, 16 August 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:18:11, 16 August 2024 (UTC)

Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela (born 3 May 2002) is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in Portugal, Varela plays for the Cape Verde national team.

Club career

Varela is a youth product of Monte Caparica, Charneca Caparica, Vitória Setúbal and Cova da Piedade. He began his senior career with Amora in 2020, before joining Sintrense for the 2021–22 Liga 3 season.[1] He moved to the reserves of Portimonense in the summer of 2022. He made his professional debut with them in a 0–0 (5–4) Taça da Liga penalty shootout loss to Leixões on 30 July 2023.[2] He scored his first league goal in a 1–1 Primeira Liga tie with Arouca on 26 August 2023.[3]

On 16 August 2024, Varela joined Gent.[4]

International Career

Born in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent. He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023.[5] He debuted with Cape Verde as a substitute in a 5–1 friendly loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Liga 3 está mais perto da II Liga do que do Campeonato de Portugal". August 11, 2021. www.ojogo.pt.
  2. Web site: Leixões SC vs Portimonense. SAPO Desporto.
  3. Web site: Nasce de um lançamento lateral. Hélio Varela adianta assim o Portimonense. August 26, 2023. Notícias ao Minuto.
  4. Web site: Helio Varela versterkt aanval van KAA Gent. August 16, 2024. K.A.A. Gent. nl.
  5. Web site: Portimonense: Hélio Varela em estreia na seleção de Cabo Verde | Abola.pt. October 5, 2023. Abola.pt.
  6. Web site: Portimonense: primeira internacionalização para Hélio Varela | Abola.pt. October 12, 2023. Abola.pt.