João Amaral (footballer, born 1991)

João Pedro Reis Amaral (born 7 September 1991) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for F.C. Paços de Ferreira on loan from Lech Poznań as a winger.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Reis and the second or paternal family name is Amaral.
João Amaral
Personal information
Full name João Pedro Reis Amaral
Date of birth (1991-09-07) 7 September 1991
Place of birth Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Paços Ferreira
(on loan from Lech Poznań)
Number 42
Youth career
2003–2009 Vilanovense
2009 Vila
2009–2010 Candal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Candal 63 (14)
2012–2013 Padroense 30 (3)
2013–2014 Mirandela 32 (6)
2014–2016 Pedras Rubras 40 (7)
2014–2015 → Oliveirense (loan) 21 (6)
2016–2018 Vitória Setúbal 66 (14)
2018 Benfica 0 (0)
2018– Lech Poznań 40 (11)
2020– → Paços Ferreira (loan) 9 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 March 2020

Club career

V. Setúbal

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Amaral played lower league and amateur football until the age of 24, working in a wine bottle label factory during this timeframe.[1] On 6 June 2016, he moved straight into the Primeira Liga after signing a three-year contract with Vitória F.C. from F.C. Pedras Rubras.[2][3]

Amaral made his debut in the Portuguese top division on 21 August 2016, starting and featuring 64 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against S.L. Benfica.[4] He scored his first goal in the competition the following weekend to help the hosts defeat F.C. Arouca 2–0,[5] adding a further four until the end of the season – while providing two assists – to help his team finish 12th.[6]

Benfica and Lech Poznań

On 29 May 2018, Amaral joined Benfica on a three-year contract.[7][8] Shortly after, on 21 July, he signed a four-year deal with Polish club Lech Poznań.[9] He made his debut for the latter five days later, netting in the last minute of the 1–1 away draw against FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.[10]

Amaral returned to his country and its top tier on 2 January 2020, being loaned to F.C. Paços de Ferreira until 30 June.[11]

Career statistics

Club
As of 22 December 2019.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mirandela 2013–14[12] Campeonato de Portugal 32600––326
Pedras Rubras 2014–15[12] Campeonato de Portugal 8100––81
2015–16[12] 32600––326
Total40700––407
Oliveirense 2014–15[12] Campeonato de Portugal 21600––216
Vitória Setúbal 2016–17[12] Primeira Liga 33510–2[lower-alpha 1]0365
2017–18[12] 33910–6[lower-alpha 1]0409
Total661420–807614
Lech Poznań 2018–19[13] Ekstraklasa 2582131–3010
2019–20[13] 15320––173
Total40114131–4713
Career total 1994461318021646
  1. All appearances in Taça da Liga

References
  1. Marques, David (8 February 2017). "O "baldas" na escola que era outro João no futebol" [The «slacker» in school who was another João in football] (in Portuguese). Maisfutebol. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. "Extremo João Amaral garantido até 2019" [Winger João Amaral confirmed until 2019] (in Portuguese). Vitória F.C. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. "Do Campeonato de Portugal para a I Liga, uma aposta cada vez mais óbvia" [From the Portugal Championship to the I League, a safer bet by the day]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. "Benfica 1–1 V. Setúbal" (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  5. "Vitória de Setúbal vence Arouca" [Vitória de Setúbal beat Arouca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. Miguel Azevedo, Pedro (27 May 2017). "João Amaral negociado e muito perto de ser jogador do Benfica" [João Amaral negotiated and very close to becoming a Benfica player]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  7. "João Amaral contratado pelo Benfica ao Setúbal" [João Amaral signed by Benfica from Setúbal]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  8. "João Amaral signed". S.L. Benfica. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  9. Szymczak, Lilianna (21 July 2018). "João Amaral zawodnikiem Kolejorza" [João Amaral joins railwaymen] (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  10. Pereira, David (26 July 2018). "João Amaral não chegou a jogar pelo Benfica, mas teve estreia de sonho pelo Lech Poznan" [João Amaral never played for Benfica, but had dream debut for Lech Poznan]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  11. "João Amaral reforça Paços de Ferreira" [João Amaral bolsters Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  12. "João Amaral". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  13. "João Amaral" (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
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