João Meira

João Diogo Serpa Meira (born 30 April 1987) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Vitória F.C. as a central defender.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Serpa and the second or paternal family name is Meira.
João Meira
Personal information
Full name João Diogo Serpa Meira[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-30) 30 April 1987[1]
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Vitória Setúbal
Number 66
Youth career
1995–2003 Cova Piedade
2003–2006 Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Cova Piedade
2008–2009 Mafra 24 (0)
2009–2012 Atlético 66 (2)
2012–2015 Belenenses 79 (2)
2016–2017 Chicago Fire 59 (0)
2018 Lorca 0 (0)
2018 Vålerenga 2 (0)
2019 Concordia Chiajna 13 (0)
2019– Vitória Setúbal 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 July 2020

Club career

Born in Setúbal, Meira spent until the age of 24 competing in the third and fourth divisions. In the 2010–11 season, he started in all of his 33 league appearances as Atlético Clube de Portugal returned to the Segunda Liga following a lengthy absence.

Meira made his professional debut on 31 July 2011, in a 0–1 home loss against S.C. Freamunde for the campaign's Taça da Liga.[2] On 2 February 2012, he was suspended for eight months after failing a drug test on 29 May of the previous year, in a match against Padroense FC.[3]

For 2012–13, Meira joined C.F. Os Belenenses also in the second level, signing a three-year contract.[4] He contributed with 34 games and two goals,[5][6] as the Lisbon side returned to the Primeira Liga after three years, as champions with 21 points more than the closest team in the table.[7][8]

From 2013 to 2015, Meira started in 43 of his 45 league appearances, and Belenenses also qualified for the UEFA Europa League in the latter season. On 23 January 2016, aged 28, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer as a free agent.[9] He made his debut on 6 March, as the campaign opened with a 3–4 home loss to New York City FC.[10]

After a solid performance during a 3–0 win against Philadelphia Union at Toyota Park on 4 September 2016, Meira earned a spot on the Team of the Week.[11] In November 2017, he announced he would not continue at the Toyota Park in the following season.[12]

On 11 January 2018, Meira joined Spanish Segunda División club Lorca FC.[13][14] Eleven days later, however, after the latter failed to meet the terms of the contract, he left.[15]

On 23 March 2018, Meira signed a one-year deal with Vålerenga Fotball from the Norwegian Eliteserien.[16] In late January 2019, he moved to the Romanian Liga I with CS Concordia Chiajna.[17]

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References
  1. "João Meira" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. "Freamunde vence Atlético com golo de Matias" [Freamunde beat Atlético with Matias goal]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  3. "Atlético: João Meira suspenso oito meses" [Atlético: João Meira suspended eight months] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  4. "João Meira assina por três épocas" [João Meira signs for three seasons]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  5. "Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira vale triunfo" [Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira gives win]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  6. "Resultados e marcadores" [Scores and scorers] (in Portuguese). Sábado. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  7. Lucas, Cipriano (30 March 2013). "Belenenses regressa à primeira Liga três anos depois" [Belenenses return to the first League three years later]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. "Belenenses um clube de Lisboa" [Belenenses a Lisbon club]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  9. "Chicago Fire add two players to 2016 roster". Chicago Fire. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  10. "Chicago Fire rally falls short in season-opening 4–3 loss vs. NYCFC". Chicago Fire. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. "2016 Team of the Week (Wk 26): Chicago Fire dominate Union front to back". Major League Soccer. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  12. "Joao Meira announces he won't return to Chicago Fire in 2018". Major League Soccer. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  13. "João Meira assina pelo Lorca" [João Meira signs for Lorca]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  14. Montiel, Cayetano (12 January 2018). "El luso Joao Meira pasa el reconocimiento médico con el Lorca" [Lusitanian Joao Meira has medical with Lorca]. La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  15. "João Meira sai do Lorca e está livre" [João Meira leaves Lorca and is free]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  16. Lønning, Simen (23 March 2018). "João Diogo Serpa Meira klar for Vålerenga" [João Diogo Serpa Meira signs for Vålerenga]. Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  17. Nedelea, Vlad (30 January 2019). "EXCLUSIV Concordia Chiajna a transferat un fost coechipier al lui Bastian Schweinsteiger" [EXCLUSIVE Concordia Chiajna signed former Bastian Schweinsteiger teammate]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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