Niquinha Explained

Niquinha
Fullname:Edson Pereira de Barros
Birth Date:30 September 1971
Birth Place:Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1992–1995
Years2:1996
Years3:1997
Years4:1997–2009
Years5:2009–2010
Clubs2:Sport
Clubs5:Francana
Caps1:44
Caps2:0
Caps4:340
Goals1:5
Goals2:0
Goals4:18

Edson Pereira de Barros (born 30 September 1971), known as Niquinha, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Niquinha started his professional career in Brazil with Clube Náutico Capibaribe and Manchete Futebol Clube, with a spell in between with Sport Club do Recife in which he collected no Série A appearances. He moved to Portugal in 1997, joining Rio Ave F.C. where he went on to become one of its most influential players, with nearly 400 competitive games for the Vila do Conde club.

After still contributing regularly in the 2008–09 season – 22 matches, 16 starts – as Rio Ave eventually retained their Primeira Liga status, Niquinha returned home aged 38, joining amateurs Associação Atlética Francana.