João Pereira (footballer, born 1990)

Born in Cartaxo, Santarém District, Pereira started playing football in 2001 at Sport Lisboa e Cartaxo, a subsidiary club of S.L. Benfica. He represented the former for three years, until he was called up by the latter to finish his development.

After signing a professional contract, Pereira trained with the first team at Benfica Campus in Seixal, but also in the pre-season tour of Nyon.^[2][3] Upon arriving in Switzerland, he was loaned to C.D. Fátima for one year,^[4] making his professional debut on 20 September by playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 home loss against S.C. Beira-Mar.^[5] He appeared in 24 games and scored once in each of his two seasons in the Segunda Liga,^[6] helping to a best-ever eighth place in 2009–10.

In June 2011, Pereira opted to terminate his contract with Benfica and sign a two-year deal with Beira-Mar.^[7][8] He would never appear for the team in a competitive game, being loaned the following month to C.D. Trofense also from the second division.^[9] In December, he agreed to a three-and-a-half-year deal with FC Sheriff Tiraspol.^[10][11][12]

Pereira made his Moldovan National Division debut on 3 March 2012, playing as left back and providing an assist in a 2–0 away win over FC Costuleni,^[12] going on to contribute to the club's eleventh league title.^[13] He moved teams in countries again in January 2013, joining FC Nordsjælland from Denmark,^[14][15] after winning another league medal with Sheriff.^[16]

In late August 2013, after failing to receive any playing time, Pereira signed a six-month contract with Danish second tier club Vejle BK.^[17] He extended his link in November for another six months,^[18] and again in April 2014 for another year.^[19]

Pereira moved to SønderjyskE Fodbold in June 2015.^[20] In January of the following year, website Bold announced that fellow Danish Superliga side Odense Boldklub had signed him for the 2016–17 campaign.^[21]

Pereira earned 49 caps for Portugal across all youth levels. He played seven times for the under-16 team, helping them win the Santarém Tournament in February 2006^[22] and finish seventh in the Montaigu Tournament in April.^[23] Later in the year, he participated in the Nike Tournament with the under-17s,^[24] also competing in the Algarve International Tournament in February 2007.^[25]

Pereira represented the under-19 team during the Ireland Tournament in August 2008,^[26] the La Manga Tournament in February 2009^[27] and the Porto Tournament in April.^[28] Additionally, he played in the two qualifying rounds for the 2009 UEFA European Championship, but the nation did not qualify.^[29]

On 9 February 2011, Pereira first appeared with the under-21 side, starting in a 3–1 friendly victory over Sweden in his hometown.^[30] His only international goal arrived on 1 September of that year during a 2–0 away defeat of Moldova for the 2013 European Championship qualifiers,^[31] in which Portugal finished in second thus failing to progress to the finals.^[32]

As of match played 10 December 2017^[33]