Joao Pereira

Joao Pedro da Silva Pereira (born 25 February 1984) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played mainly as a right back.

An attacking wingback, he was also known for his fiery temperament that led to altercations with adversary players and referees numerous times. In his country, he represented both Benfica and Sporting CP, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 232 matches and nine goals and winning the 2005 national championship with the former. He also spent two and a half seasons in Spain with Valencia and four in Turkey with Trabzonspor, winning the 2019–20 Turkish Cup before returning to Sporting in February 2021, where he again won the domestic league.

Internationally, Pereira represented Portugal at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup.

Club Career

Benfica

Pereira was born in Lisbon. A product of local S.L. Benfica's youth system, he first appeared with its first team on 17 August 2003 in a 0–0 away draw against Boavista FC, and finished his debut season with 25 Primeira Liga appearances, mostly as a midfielder.

Pereira was part of the Benfica squad that won the 2005 championship, starting often, until a fallout with coach Ronald Koeman relegated him to the bench and later to the B side. He was sold to Gil Vicente F.C. – also in the top flight – in the summer of 2006, after a previous loan to the same club.

Braga

In 2007–08, fully reconverted into a right back, Pereira joined S.C. Braga, as another player in the position, Luis Filipe, went the other way.

An undisputed starter from the beginning, he scored his first goal for the Minho side on 22 February 2009, a 2–1 last-minute winner at Associacao Naval 1º de Maio. He also collected a total of 17 yellow cards and two red in his first two seasons.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Жуан Перейра (russian)