Márcio Sousa Explained

Márcio Sousa
Fullname:Márcio Daniel Ribeiro de Sousa[1]
Birth Date:23 March 1986
Birth Place:Sande, Portugal
Height:1.69 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1995–1996
Youthclubs1:Torcatense
Youthyears2:1996–2002
Youthclubs2:Vitória Guimarães
Youthyears3:2002–2005
Youthclubs3:Porto
Years1:2003–2007
Caps1:24
Goals1:1
Years2:2006
Clubs2:Covilhã (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2006–2007
Clubs3:Vizela (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2007–2008
Caps4:27
Goals4:1
Years5:2008–2009
Caps5:11
Goals5:1
Years6:2009
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2009–2010
Caps7:30
Goals7:6
Years8:2010–2015
Caps8:134
Goals8:17
Years9:2015–2016
Caps9:24
Goals9:1
Years10:2016–2017
Caps10:11
Goals10:0
Years11:2017
Caps11:13
Goals11:0
Years12:2017–2018
Caps12:25
Goals12:2
Years13:2018
Clubs13:Torcatense
Caps13:14
Goals13:0
Years14:2019
Caps14:15
Goals14:3
Years15:2019–2020
Caps15:13
Goals15:1
Years16:2020–2021
Caps16:12
Goals16:1
Totalcaps:379
Totalgoals:34
Nationalyears1:2001–2002
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2002–2003
Nationalcaps2:24
Nationalgoals2:6
Nationalyears3:2004
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2004–2005
Nationalcaps4:14
Nationalgoals4:4

Márcio Daniel Ribeiro de Sousa (born 23 March 1986) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

He amassed LigaPro totals of 110 matches and four goals over six seasons, mainly with Tondela (three years). He spent the rest of his career in the lower leagues.

Sousa was a youth international for Portugal, notably winning the European Under-17 Championship.

Club career

Born in the village of Sande (São Clemente) in Guimarães,[2] Sousa moved to FC Porto's youth system at the age of 16 alongside Rabiola and Vieirinha, in a deal that sent Brazilian striker Rafael in the opposite direction. On 17 December 2003, he was called by first-team coach José Mourinho for a Taça de Portugal match against F.C. Maia, but eventually did not leave the bench,[3] [4] subsequently returning to the juniors.

After being released by Porto in June 2007, Sousa spent several seasons in the lower divisions of his country. Prior to that, he competed in the Segunda Liga on loan, with S.C. Covilhã and F.C. Vizela.[5]

Sousa signed for C.D. Tondela in July 2010, scoring nine times in 32 games in his second year as they promoted to the second tier for the first time ever.[6] He made his league debut with the club on 12 August 2012 in a 2–2 home draw against FC Porto B,[7] and scored his first goal on 23 September to help the hosts to defeat Associação Naval 1º de Maio 3–1.[8]

Having been deemed surplus to requirements, Sousa joined S.C. Farense of the same league in summer 2015.[9] He found the net in the last matchday against Gil Vicente FC, but the 3–2 away win amounted to nothing as the team finished in 20th position and were relegated.[10]

Until his retirement, Sousa competed exclusively in the lower leagues or amateur football.[11] [12] Early in his career, he earned the nickname Maradona.[13] [14]

International career

Sousa helped Portugal under-17s to win their fifth title in the category in the 2003 UEFA European Championship held on home soil, scoring twice; both goals came in the final against Spain.[15] He was also part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in that year's FIFA World Cup in Finland, netting once.[16]

In 2004, Sousa played for the under-19 side in the 2005 European Championship qualifiers, scoring in a 4–1 away victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina,[17] but the country failed to ensure a place in the finals in Northern Ireland.

Post-retirement

After retiring in 2021 at age 35, Sousa worked as a dispatcher for a fire department in the Algarve.[2]

Career statistics

[18]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B2003–0410colspan="2"-colspan="2"-colspan="2"-10
2004–05160colspan="2"-colspan="2"-colspan="2"-160
2005–0670colspan="2"-colspan="2"-colspan="2"-70
Total240240
Covilhã2005–067000colspan="2"-colspan="2"-70
Vizela2006–076000colspan="2"-colspan="2"-610
Rio Maior2007–0827110colspan="2"-colspan="2"-281
Nelas2008–0911100colspan="2"-colspan="2"-111
Penafiel2008–0913000colspan="2"-colspan="2"-130
Esmoriz2009–1030621colspan="2"-colspan="2"-327
Tondela2010–1129510colspan="2"-colspan="2"-305
2011–1232941colspan="2"-colspan="2"-3610
2012–134121020colspan="2"-442
2013–142911030colspan="2"-331
2014–15300020colspan="2"-50
Total13417717015818
Farense2015–161701010colspan="2"-190
Career totals222228230colspan="2"-!28824

Honours

Tondela

2014–15[19]

Portugal

2003[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Márcio Sousa. Mais Futebol. pt. 31 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Márcio Sousa: o Maradona que ajuda a salvar vidas. Márcio Sousa: the Maradona that helps to save lives. Mais Futebol. Vítor Hugo. Alvarenga. pt. 2 November 2022. 17 May 2023.
  3. News: Márcio Sousa convocado. Márcio Sousa called. Record. pt. 17 December 2003. 17 May 2023.
  4. Web site: Márcio Sousa, as primeiras palavras de José Mourinho. Márcio Sousa, José Mourinho's first words. Mais Futebol. Ana Luísa. Pereira. pt. 30 May 2008. 17 May 2023.
  5. News: Campeão europeu joga na II Divisão. European champion plays in the II Division. Diário de Notícias. Amadeu. Araújo. pt. 31 October 2008. 31 March 2020.
  6. News: Márcio Sousa: "É uma honra enorme e motivo de orgulho". Márcio Sousa: "It's a great honour and something to be proud of". Record. pt. 24 May 2013. 17 May 2023.
  7. News: Tondela-FC Porto B, 2–2: Dellatorre evita derrota dos dragões. Tondela-FC Porto B, 2–2: Dellatorre prevents dragon loss. Record. pt. 12 August 2012. 31 March 2020.
  8. News: Tondela-Naval, 3–1: Anfitriões mais fortes na fase decisiva evita derrota dos dragões. Tondela-Naval, 3–1: Hosts stronger in the decisive stage. Record. pt. 23 September 2012. 31 March 2020.
  9. Web site: Farense apresenta plantel com 11 reforços. Farense present squad with 11 additions. SAPO. pt. 28 June 2015. 11 July 2015.
  10. News: Gil Vicente-Farense, 2–3: Triunfo amargo. Gil Vicente-Farense, 2–3: Bitter win. Record. pt. 14 May 2016. 31 March 2020.
  11. News: Márcio Sousa reforça Limianos. Márcio Sousa bolsters Limianos. Record. João. Baptista Seixas. pt. 15 February 2017. 31 March 2020.
  12. News: Campeonato de Portugal: um reforço azarado, um ex-Benfica em Loulé e muito mais. Portugal Championship: unlucky addition, former Benfica man in Loulé and many more. O Jogo. pt. 10 January 2019. 31 March 2020.
  13. Web site: F.C. Porto: Márcio Sousa, o Maradona das Antas. F.C. Porto: Márcio Sousa, the Maradona of the Antas. Mais Futebol. pt. 16 December 2003. 31 March 2020.
  14. News: Márcio Sousa: "Não cheguei ao patamar que pretendia". Márcio Sousa: "I did not reach the level I wanted". Record. pt. 16 May 2013. 31 March 2020.
  15. News: Europeu sub-17: Portugal campeão. Under-17 European Championship: Portugal champions. Record. pt. 17 May 2003. 31 March 2020.
  16. News: Mundial sub-17: Vitória a ferros na estreia lusa. Under-17 World Cup: Hard-fought win in Lusitanian debut. Record. pt. 14 August 2003. 31 March 2020.
  17. News: Europeu sub-19: Portugal com goleada à Bósnia. Under-19 Euro: Portugal qualified with rout of Bosnia. Record. pt. 6 October 2004. 17 May 2023.
  18. Web site: Márcio Sousa. Soccerway. 25 May 2014.
  19. News: Freamunde-Tondela, 1–1: Golo nos descontos carimbou subida. Freamunde-Tondela, 1–1: Injury time goal sealed promotion. Record. pt. 24 May 2015. 17 May 2023.
  20. Web site: Márcio Sousa resolve. Márcio Sousa gets job done. UEFA. pt. 31 March 2020.