João Pica
Portuguese footballer (born 1986)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
João Miguel Passos Manuel Pica (born 8 April 1986) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Miguel Passos Manuel Pica[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 April 1986[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Moura, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2003 | Moura | ||
| 2003–2004 | Desportivo Beja | ||
| 2004–2005 | Vitória Setúbal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Vitória Setúbal B | 3 | (0) |
| 2007 | Elvas | ||
| 2008–2009 | Ribeirão | 43 | (1) |
| 2009–2010 | Varzim | 21 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | Moreirense | 16 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | → Tondela (loan) | 26 | (2) |
| 2012–2017 | Tondela | 103 | (6) |
| 2017–2022 | Académico Viseu | 81 | (2) |
| 2022–2024 | Castro Daire | 44 | (3) |
| Total | 337 | (16) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Pica was born in Moura, Alentejo. Until the age of 23, he alternated between the third and fourth divisions of Portuguese football, representing Vitória de Setúbal B, O Elvas C.A.D. and G.D. Ribeirão.
In the summer of 2009, Pica signed for Segunda Liga club Varzim S.C. and, on 8 August, made his professional debut in a 1–0 home win against C.D. Fátima in the first round of the Taça da Liga.[2] In January 2011, he moved to Moreirense F.C. in the same league.[3]
In June 2012, after spending one season with C.D. Tondela in division three on loan, Pica agreed to a permanent deal after helping to promotion to the second tier. In the 2014–15 campaign, he contributed 19 games and one goal[4] as his team reached the Primeira Liga for the first time in their history[5] and, subsequently, renewed his expiring contract for a further year.[6]
Pica played his first match in the top flight on 20 December 2015, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 1–3 home loss to Vitória de Setúbal.[7][8] Initially fourth or fifth-choice stopper, he was ever-present in the season's final stretch,[9] scoring three goals in seven games as Tondela avoided relegation in the last matchday.[10][11][12]
On 27 June 2017, Pica joined Académico de Viseu F.C. of the second division.[13]
