João Fajardo
Encyclopedia
João Paulo Silva Freitas Fajardo (born 27 October 1978) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for C.D. Santa Clara
as a winger.
, Fajardo started playing professional football with modest club of Grupo Desportivo dos Pescadores
, in Costa da Caparica
. He went on to have two stints with both C.F. Os Belenenses and Atlético Clube de Portugal
, then played four full seasons with Associação Naval 1º de Maio
, helping the Figueira da Foz
outfit promote to the top division in 2005, with a career-best 10 goals in 33 games.
In 2007–08, with Vitória de Guimarães, Fajardo scored four league goals in the first five games, as the team from Minho eventually achieved an historic UEFA Champions League
qualification, finishing third straight out of the second division
.
In late July 2009, Fajardo belatedly started a career abroad. At nearly 31 years of age, he moved to Greece
's Panthrakikos FC
. However, in late January 2010, he agreed on a return to his country, being loaned to former side Belenenses until the end of the season, with the Lisbon club eventually ranking last in the league.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who plays for C.D. Santa Clara
C.D. Santa Clara
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara is a Portuguese football club from Ponta Delgada, Azores. They are the most successful football team from the Azores islands. To date, it is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, although they currently...
as a winger.
Football career
Born in LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Fajardo started playing professional football with modest club of Grupo Desportivo dos Pescadores
Grupo Desportivo dos Pescadores da Costa de Caparica
Grupo Desportivo dos Pescadores da Costa de Caparica is a football club, an institution and a public utility that is based in the city of Costa da Caparica, Almada in Portugal. It was founded on January 1, 1944....
, in Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is a Portuguese city and a parish, located in the municipality of Almada. It has a population of 11,707 inhabitants and a total area of 10.88 km². Costa da Caparica is a city since December 2004.-Beaches:...
. He went on to have two stints with both C.F. Os Belenenses and Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a Portuguese football team from Alcântara, Lisbon, founded on 18 September 1942. The club was formed with the union of two clubs – Carcavelinhos Football Clube and União Foot-ball Lisboa. They currently play in the Liga de Honra after gaining promotion in the 2010-11...
, then played four full seasons with Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio, commonly known as Naval, is a Portuguese football club based in Figueira da Foz, Coimbra District. Founded on 1 May 1893, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estádio Municipal José Bento Pessoa, with a capacity for 12,630 spectators.Naval is...
, helping the Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz , also known as Figueira for short, is a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills ....
outfit promote to the top division in 2005, with a career-best 10 goals in 33 games.
In 2007–08, with Vitória de Guimarães, Fajardo scored four league goals in the first five games, as the team from Minho eventually achieved an historic UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification, finishing third straight out of the second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
.
In late July 2009, Fajardo belatedly started a career abroad. At nearly 31 years of age, he moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Panthrakikos FC
Panthrakikos F.C.
Panthrakikos is a football club in Komotini of Thrace in North Eastern Greece founded in 1963. The club competed in Super League Greece during the season 2008–2009 for the first time.-History:The early years, 1963-2001...
. However, in late January 2010, he agreed on a return to his country, being loaned to former side Belenenses until the end of the season, with the Lisbon club eventually ranking last in the league.