Ballack (footballer, born 1987)

Constantino Lopes Vaz (born 9 June 1987), simply known as Ballack, is a Cape Verdean footballer who plays as a forward for Portuguese club Real SC.

Ballack
Personal information
Full name Constantino Lopes Vaz
Date of birth (1987-06-09) 9 June 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Praia, Cape Verde
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Real
Number 8
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Barcelona Tarrafal
2011–2013 Sporting Praia
2013–2015 Oriental 44 (3)
2015–2016 Loures 28 (11)
2016–2017 Benfica Castelo Branco 14 (4)
2017–2019 Cova da Piedade 61 (3)
2019– Real 96 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 September 2023

Football career

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Born in Praia, Ballack began his career with CD Barcelona Tarrafal and Sporting Clube da Praia in his native Cape Verde, before arriving at Clube Oriental de Lisboa in Portugal's third tier in 2013. In his first season, the team won promotion to the Segunda Liga as runners-up to S.C. Freamunde. In 2015, he dropped back to the third tier with G.S. Loures, and following a career-best 11 goals he transferred to Sport Benfica e Castelo Branco the following June alongside compatriot teammate Patas Moreno.[1]

On 27 January 2017, Ballack returned to the second division with C.D. Cova da Piedade.[2] His appearances were limited by injuries as the team from Almada avoided relegation, and in June he signed a one-year contract extension.[3] On 23 July, he scored his first professional goal to equalise as Cova da Piedade won 3–2 against C.D. Nacional in the first round of the Taça da Liga; he received a straight red card in added time.[4] He got his first such league goal on 19 August to wrap up a 3–0 victory against F.C. Arouca, again at the Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira.[5]

Ballack left Cova da Piedade in July 2019, joining Real S.C. of the third tier.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Jorge, Artur (9 June 2016). "BC Branco: Patas, Ballack e Gilson Varela são os primeiros reforços" [BC Branco: Patas, Ballack and Gilson Varela are the first additions] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Piedenses anunciam Yi Chen e oficializam Ballack" [Piedenses announce Yi Chen and make Ballack official]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Ballack e Adilson renovam contrato por mais uma época com o Cova da Piedade" [Ballack and Adilson renew contracts for one more year with Cova da Piedade] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Cova da Piedade-Nacional, 3-2: Resultado ficou fechado na primeira parte" [Cova da Piedade-Nacional, 3-2: Result was sealed in first half]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 July 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. ^ "COMENTÁRIO: Cova da Piedade atira Arouca para o fundo da tabela com triunfo por 3-0" [COMMENTARY: Cova da Piedade send Arouca to the bottom of the table with 3-0 triumph]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 19 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Cova da Piedade vence Loures antes do arranque oficial da época" [Cova da Piedade defeat Loures before official start of the season]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 24 July 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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  • Ballack at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  • Ballack at ForaDeJogo (archived)