Ruben Amorim
Encyclopedia
Ruben Filipe Marques Amorim (born 27 January 1985 in Lisbon
) is a Portuguese
professional footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica as a midfielder
.
His style is similar to countryman Tiago
, with both playing the same position, operating in central midfield, both defensive and offensive (Amorim, however, is also able to play as a right defender).
. From 2005–06 onwards, he became a cornerstone for the squad in which youth system he finished his formation.
In the 2007 summer, several clubs showed interested in Amorim's services, but he insisted on not leaving, with Belenenses also rejecting bids from S.L. Benfica, Sporting de Braga, F.C. Porto, FC Schalke 04
, Tottenham Hotspur
and Toulouse FC
. He played in 29 matches (2,491 minutes) to help his club finish eighth in the top level.
. During his first season, he was an undisputed starter, scoring his first goal with the Reds on 23 November, in a 2–0 win at Académica de Coimbra.
Challenged by new signings Javi García
and Ramires
, Amorim appeared less in 2009–10, but still featured prominently (24 matches with ten starts) as Benfica won the league – and the League Cup – after a five-year drought.
Amorim was again regularly used by manager Jorge Jesus in the 2010–11 season, when healthy. On 19 January 2011, however, after undergoing surgery on both knees, he was sidelined for several months.
In early October 2011, whilst on duty with the national team
, Amorim duly criticized Jesus' preferences - Benfica played most of its games without one single national player.
at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
in the Netherlands
, as the national side eventually lost to Italy
for the final berth for the following year
's Summer Olympic Games
.
On 10 May 2010, although not part of the senior squad
's list of 23 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, he was named in a backup list of six players. On 8 June, he replaced Nani
, after the Manchester United
player sustained a clavicle
injury which ruled him out of the finals in South Africa
; his senior debut came on the 15th, as he played the last five minutes of the group stage opener against Côte d'Ivoire
(0–0), in the place of Raul Meireles.
Lisbon
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...
) is a Portuguese
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...
professional footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
His style is similar to countryman Tiago
Tiago Mendes
Tiago Cardoso Mendes , simply Tiago, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.A versatile midfielder, adept as both a central or defensive unit and with good overall skills, he played professionally in four of Europe's major leagues: England, France, Italy and Spain.A...
, with both playing the same position, operating in central midfield, both defensive and offensive (Amorim, however, is also able to play as a right defender).
Belenenses
Amorim made his debut in the Portuguese first division on 14 December 2003, playing one minute for hometown's C.F. Os Belenenses in a 2–0 home win over F.C. AlvercaF.C. Alverca
Futebol Clube de Alverca is a Portuguese football club based in Alverca do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon. Founded on 1 September 1939, it currently plays in the Lisbon District Championships.-History:...
. From 2005–06 onwards, he became a cornerstone for the squad in which youth system he finished his formation.
In the 2007 summer, several clubs showed interested in Amorim's services, but he insisted on not leaving, with Belenenses also rejecting bids from S.L. Benfica, Sporting de Braga, F.C. Porto, FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
. He played in 29 matches (2,491 minutes) to help his club finish eighth in the top level.
Benfica
In late April 2008, Amorim signed a four-year deal with Benfica, after his Belenenses link ran outFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. During his first season, he was an undisputed starter, scoring his first goal with the Reds on 23 November, in a 2–0 win at Académica de Coimbra.
Challenged by new signings Javi García
Francisco Javier García
Francisco Javier "Javi" García Fernández is a Spanish footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in Portugal...
and Ramires
Ramires
Ramires Santos do Nascimento , commonly Ramires and Rambo, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea and the Brazilian national side. In 2008, he won a Bronze medal in the XXIX Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China...
, Amorim appeared less in 2009–10, but still featured prominently (24 matches with ten starts) as Benfica won the league – and the League Cup – after a five-year drought.
Amorim was again regularly used by manager Jorge Jesus in the 2010–11 season, when healthy. On 19 January 2011, however, after undergoing surgery on both knees, he was sidelined for several months.
In early October 2011, whilst on duty with the national team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, Amorim duly criticized Jesus' preferences - Benfica played most of its games without one single national player.
International career
Amorim appeared for PortugalPortugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, as the national side eventually lost to Italy
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
for the final berth for the following year
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
's Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
On 10 May 2010, although not part of the senior squad
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
's list of 23 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, he was named in a backup list of six players. On 8 June, he replaced Nani
Nani (footballer)
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha , commonly known as Nani, is a Portuguese footballer currently playing as a winger for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the Portugal national team...
, after the Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
player sustained a clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
injury which ruled him out of the finals in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
; his senior debut came on the 15th, as he played the last five minutes of the group stage opener against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
(0–0), in the place of Raul Meireles.
Honours
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 2009–10
- Portuguese League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Belenenses | 2003–04 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2006–07 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| 2007–08 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| Benfica | 2008–09 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| 2009–10 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2010–11 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total (Portugal) | 158 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 196 | 11 | |
| Career Total | 158 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 196 | 11 | |
- Last updated on 09/05/2011