João Diogo (footballer, born 1988) explained

João Diogo
Fullname:João Diogo Gomes de Freitas[1]
Birth Date:28 February 1988
Birth Place:Funchal, Portugal
Height:1.75 m
Position:Right-back
Youthyears1:1996−2007
Youthclubs1:Marítimo
Years1:2007–2015
Caps1:108
Goals1:7
Years2:2011–2016
Caps2:89
Goals2:2
Years3:2016–2017
Caps3:31
Goals3:2
Years4:2018
Caps4:9
Goals4:2
Years5:2019
Caps5:17
Goals5:1
Years6:2019
Caps6:16
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2021
Caps7:23
Goals7:0
Years8:2021–2022
Caps8:14
Goals8:0
Years9:2022
Caps9:12
Goals9:0
Years10:2022
Clubs10:Cruzado Canicense
Caps10:7
Goals10:1
Totalcaps:326
Totalgoals:15
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0

João Diogo Gomes de Freitas (born 28 February 1988), known as João Diogo, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Club career

Marítimo

Born in Funchal, João Diogo joined local C.S. Marítimo's youth system in 1996, at the age of 8. He spent the better part of his first four seasons as a senior with the reserves, in the third division.

João Diogo made his Primeira Liga debut with the Madeirans on 13 January 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[2] It would be the first of just two league appearances during the campaign, the other also coming against the same opponent.[3]

From 2013–14 onwards, João Diogo became Marítimo's first choice in his position. In 2015 and 2016, he started and scored in Taça da Liga finals against S.L. Benfica, but lost both games held in Coimbra (2–1 and 6–2, respectively).[4] [5]

Belenenses

On 25 May 2016, João Diogo signed for C.F. Os Belenenses.[6] He scored twice from 31 appearances in his first season,[7] [8] helping to a 14th-place finish.

João Diogo spent the first part of the following campaign on the sidelines, nursing an injury. In late December 2017, he terminated his contract.[9]

Romania

In January 2018, João Diogo joined CS Gaz Metan Mediaș of the Romanian Liga I.[10] On 7 February of the following year he signed with FCV Farul Constanța in the same country (Liga II), owned by former Romanian international Ciprian Marica.[11]

International career

João Diogo represented Portugal at under-21 level, appearing for the nation at the 2009 Lusofonia Games.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: João Diogo. Mais Futebol. pt. 29 January 2021.
  2. News: Empate foi mal menor. Draw was the lesser evil. Diário de Notícias. pt. 14 January 2012. 19 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Marítimo e Paços de Ferreira terminam época com empate. Marítimo and Paços de Ferreira end season with draw. TSF. pt. 12 May 2012. 19 January 2018.
  4. News: Benfica conquista 6.ª Taça da Liga. Benfica conquer 6th League Cup. Correio da Manhã. Octávio. Lopes. pt. 29 May 2015. 20 May 2016.
  5. Web site: Depois do "tri", o "hepta". Benfica goleia e vence Taça da Liga. After "tri", "hepta". Benfica rout and win League Cup. Rádio Renascença. pt. 20 May 2016. 21 May 2016.
  6. Web site: João Diogo reforça Belenenses. João Diogo strengthens Belenenses. Mais Futebol. pt. 25 May 2016. 1 June 2016.
  7. Web site: Boavista-Belenenses, 0–1 (destaques). Boavista-Belenenses, 0–1 (highlights). Mais Futebol. Ricardo Jorge. Castro. pt. 27 January 2017. 19 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Moreirense empata no Restelo. Manutenção a dois pontos. Moreirense draw at Restelo. Survival two points away. Rádio Renascença. pt. 12 May 2017. 19 January 2018.
  9. News: João Diogo rescindiu com o Belenenses. João Diogo cut ties with Belenenses. O Jogo. pt. 21 December 2017. 19 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Madeirense João Diogo na Roménia. Madeira's own João Diogo in Romania. RTP Madeira. Ana. Santos. pt. 16 January 2018. 3 April 2019.
  11. News: Primele "lovituri" din cariera de patron a lui Ciprian Marica! Trei jucători "peste medie" vin la Farul: unul dintre ei e fost campion al României. First "strikes" of Marica's new career as an owner! Three "above average" players come to Farul: one of them is a former champion of Romania. ProSport. Marius. Anghel. ro. 7 February 2019. 7 February 2019.