Did you know, Portugal has exported 60 professional footballers to the EFL Championship in its modern history? That’s right, EFL clubs have been blessed by 60 of Portugal’s best talents gracing the hallowed turf of EFL Championship stadia this side of the new millennium.
Below, we’re going to shine a spotlight on just five of them, with a quintet of names you may have forgotten had plied their trade in the English second tier.
Nuno Gomes
Gomes appeared 79 times for the Portuguese national team, scoring 29 goals. He played a key role in their EURO 2004 run. In the latter stages of his club career, Gomes was snapped up by Blackburn Rovers from Braga in the summer of 2012. It was at Benfica where he shot to prominence, scoring 125 goals in two spells with the Portuguese giants. Gomes featured just 18 times for Rovers, scoring four goals. Gomes signed a two-year contract but after just 12 months he was released by mutual consent.
Gomes would go on to promptly announce his retirement from professional football. Gomes was quickly hired as director of Benfica’s academy based at Futebol Campus, Seixal.
Filipe Andrade Teixeira
Teixeira was one of the most enjoyable midfield playmakers to ply their trade in the Championship during the 2010s. After a somewhat nomadic start to life in Portugal and France, Teixeira moved to West Bromwich Albion for a three-year stint at The Hawthorns. He became an instant crowd favourite with flair in abundance and exceptional weight of pass.
Teixeira scored five goals in 49 appearances for the Baggies, before making a brief loan switch to fellow Championship side Barnsley in 2009/10. The midfielder then went on to spend time in Ukraine, the UAE and Romania before retiring in 2019 after a brief two-year stint at Steaua Bucharest.
Quevin Castro
21-year-old Castro was a highly rated prospect in the academy of Lisbon giants Sporting Clube de Portugal. However, he later moved to England, where he would shine on the non-league stage at Step 5 sides Mildenhall Town and Thetford Town. It was at nearby Bury Town where he would catch the eye of West Brom who signed him in 2021. After failing to nail down a place in the Baggies’ squad, Castro has dropped down to ply his trade in the National League with York City. A club who are doing their best to try and climb the pyramid after several years in the doldrums. A recent takeover and brand-new stadium has breathed life into City on and off the field of late.
So much so that they are in with a good shout of competing for the National League playoffs in 2023/24. The Minstermen are priced at 15/8 to secure a top seven finish in the latest football odds and they’re also seventh favourites to be promoted in any route at 8/1.
Ricardo Vaz Tê
The enigmatic Ricardo Vaz Tê moved to Bolton Wanderers in 2003 from Farense. He would go on to spend seven years at the Reebok Stadium, becoming something of a cult hero on the terraces. He failed to nail down a regular first team place and flitted around at the likes of Greek side Panionios, Scottish side Hibs before shining for Barnsley in the 2011/12 campaign.
After ten goals in 22 appearances, West Ham – managed by former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce – came in for him. He would have a fine spell for the Hammers, scoring 15 times in 51 appearances, including a playoff final winner against Blackpool. He then spent time in Turkey and China. He closed his career with a brief goal-shy stint with Portimonense in 2020/21.
Tobias Figueiredo
Tall Portuguese centre back Tobias Figueiredo started his career with Sporting before a string of loan spells in Spain, Portugal and in England with Nottingham Forest. Figueiredo impressed to such an extent that Forest signed him permanently. The 6ft 2” defender went on to play over 100 games for the East Midlands club, scoring three goals.
At the end of the 2021/22 campaign, when Forest secured promotion back to the Premier League, where they manage to avoid relegation back to the Championship in their first season back in the top flight. Heading into their second season, book makers predict them to stay up a second time round, priced at 11/4 with Betway to get relegated next season.
After his stint in Nottingham, Figueiredo was released and signed by fellow Championship outfit Hull City on a two-year deal. He made a dismal start to life with the Tigers and by January 2023, he was very much on the periphery. This summer, Brazilian outfit Fortaleza confirmed his signing on a deal through to June 2026.
Simon Pisces
PORTUGOAL.NET
