Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira (born 17 June 1992) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood as a defensive midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 June 1992[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Cascais, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Kholood | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Internacional Almancil | ||
| 2003–2006 | Estoril | ||
| 2006–2011 | Sporting CP | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Córdoba | 2 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | → Atlético (loan) | 67 | (2) |
| 2014–2017 | Estoril | 64 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 31 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Beitar Jerusalem | 17 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Hermannstadt | 10 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | B-SAD | 32 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Casa Pia | 56 | (0) |
| 2023– | Al-Kholood | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Portugal U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Portugal U17 | 11 | (0) |
| 2010 | Portugal U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Portugal U19 | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:12, 27 June 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career edit
Born in Cascais, Lisbon, Taira joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2006 (aged 14) from neighbouring G.D. Estoril Praia.[2] He made his professional debut in 2011 with Córdoba CF in the Spanish Segunda División, signing a three-year contract[3] but making only three competitive appearances during his only season in Andalusia.[4]
In 2012–13, Taira returned to his country after being loaned to Atlético Clube de Portugal of the Segunda Liga.[5] The move was extended for the following campaign.[2]
Taira returned to his former youth club Estoril on 8 June 2014, after agreeing to a four-year deal.[6] He played 13 Primeira Liga matches in his first year, in an eventual 12th-place finish.
Taira scored his only Portuguese top-flight goal on 24 October 2015, in a 2–2 home draw against Rio Ave FC.[7] On 19 July 2017, he signed with Israeli Premier League team Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC,[8] and a year later Beitar Jerusalem F.C. in the same competition.[9]
After spending the 2019–20 season in the Romanian Liga I with FC Hermannstadt,[10] Taira joined top-tier B-SAD on a two-year contract.[11] On 31 August 2021, he moved to Casa Pia A.C. one league below,[12] totalling 28 games in his first season (24 in the league, one assist) to help to a return to the main division after 83 years away.[13][14]
In June 2023, Taira signed with Saudi First Division League club Al-Kholood Club.[15]
Personal life edit
Taira's father, José, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He appeared in more than 100 games in the Portuguese top tier, and also spent six years in Spain, representing mainly UD Salamanca.[16]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Afonso Taira" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ a b Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (22 May 2021). ""Cheguei ao Sporting, deslumbrei-me um pouco e bloqueei. A auto-pressão foi enorme e o meu pai já não sabia o que fazer para me ajudar"" ["I arrived at Sporting, thought I had it made a little and I blocked. The self-pressure was enormous and my father did not know what else to do to help me"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ León, José Carlos (9 July 2011). "Taira llega para tres campañas" [Taira arrives for three seasons]. El Día de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ Muñoz, Blas Jesús (10 July 2017). "¿Ha triunfado algún futbolista portugués en el Córdoba?" [Has any Portuguese ever made it big in Córdoba?]. La Voz de Córdoba (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "El Córdoba cede a Taira al Atlético Clube de Portugal" [Córdoba loan Taira to Atlético Clube de Portugal]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "Estoril agree terms with midfielder Taira". UEFA. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Estoril scores late for 2–2 draw with Rio Ave in Portugal". Fox News. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Elbaz, Shalon (19 July 2017). "אשטוריל הודיעה: טיירה עובר לעירוני קריית שמונה" [Estoril announced: Taira is moving to Kiryat Shmona] (in Hebrew). One. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Buzaglo latest addition to new-look Beitar". The Jerusalem Post. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "VIDEO Mattia Persano și Afonso Taira, prezentați oficial de Hermannstadt » Sibienii se întăresc serios pentru play-off" [VIDEO Mattia Persano and Afonso Taira, officially presented by Hermannstadt » Sibienii seriously play-off contenders]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Afonso Taira assina contrato com o Belenenses SAD" [Afonso Taira signs contract with Belenenses SAD]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 5 August 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Maia, João (31 August 2021). "Deixa o Belenenses e assina pelo Casa Pia, da Liga SABSEG" [He leaves Belenenses and signs for Casa Pia, of SABSEG League]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Nogueira, Carlos (15 May 2022). "Após 83 anos, Casa Pia volta à I Liga. Rio Ave é campeão e também regressa" [83 years later, Casa Pia return to I League. Rio Ave are champions and return as well]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Afonso Taira assina até 2023 pelo Casa Pia" [Afonso Taira signs until 2023 for Casa Pia]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Cravo, Pedro (23 June 2023). "Afonso Taira é reforço do Al Kholood Club" [Afonso Taira is Al Kholood Club addition]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Gouveia, Ricardo (9 July 2014). "Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca" [Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
External links edit
- Afonso Taira at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Afonso Taira national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- Afonso Taira at Soccerway
