Afonso Taira

Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira (born 17 June 1992) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Belenenses SAD as a defensive midfielder.

Afonso Taira
Personal information
Full name Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira
Date of birth (1992-06-17) 17 June 1992
Place of birth Cascais, Portugal
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Belenenses SAD
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– Belenenses SAD 0 (0)
National team
2007–2008 Portugal U16 5 (0)
2008–2009 Portugal U17 11 (0)
2010 Portugal U18 3 (0)
2011 Portugal U19 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 February 2020

Club career

Born in Cascais, Lisbon, Taira joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2006 (aged 14) from neighbouring G.D. Estoril Praia. He made his professional debut in 2011 with Córdoba CF in the Spanish second division, signing a three-year contract[1] but making only three competitive appearances during his only season in Andalusia.[2]

In 2012–13, Taira returned to his country after being loaned to Atlético Clube de Portugal in the second level.[3] The move was extended for the following campaign.

Taira returned to former youth club Estoril on 8 June 2014, after agreeing to a four-year deal.[4] He played only 13 Primeira Liga matches in his first year, in an eventual 12th-place finish.

Taira scored his first Portuguese top flight goal on 24 October 2015, in a 2–2 home draw against Rio Ave FC.[5] On 19 July 2017, he signed with Israeli Premier League team Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC,[6] and a year later Beitar Jerusalem F.C. in the same competition.[7]

Personal life

Taira's father, José, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He appeared in more than 100 games in the Primeira Liga, and also spent six years in Spain, representing mainly UD Salamanca.[8]

References
  1. Taira llega para tres campañas (Taira arrives for three seasons); El Día de Córdoba, 9 July 2011 (in Spanish)
  2. ¿Ha triunfado algún futbolista portugués en el Córdoba? (Has any Portuguese ever made it big in Córdoba?); La Voz de Córdoba, 10 July 2017 (in Spanish)
  3. El Córdoba cede a Taira al Atlético Clube de Portugal (Córdoba loan Taira to Atlético Clube de Portugal); Marca, 6 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  4. Estoril garante Taira para o meio-campo (Estoril confirm Taira for midfield); UEFA, 8 June 2014 (in Portuguese)
  5. Estoril scores late for 2–2 draw with Rio Ave in Portugal); Fox Sports, 24 October 2015
  6. אשטוריל הודיעה: טיירה עובר לעירוני קריית שמונה (Estoril announced: Taira is moving to Kiryat Shmona); One, 19 July 2017 (in Hebrew)
  7. "Buzaglo latest addition to new-look Beitar". The Jerusalem Post. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  8. Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca (Taira: from perseverance at the Restelo to glory in Salamanca); Mais Futebol, 9 July 2014 (in Portuguese)
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