Rúben Fernandes
Portuguese footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rúben Miguel Marques dos Santos Fernandes (born 6 May 1986) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Liga Portugal 2 club Farense.
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Fernandes with Estoril in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rúben Miguel Marques dos Santos Fernandes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 May 1986[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Portimão, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Farense | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2004 | Portimonense | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2008 | Portimonense | 53 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | → Varzim (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Varzim | 13 | (1) |
| 2009–2013 | Portimonense | 114 | (12) |
| 2013–2015 | Estoril | 55 | (5) |
| 2015–2017 | Sint-Truiden | 64 | (6) |
| 2017–2019 | Portimonense | 66 | (4) |
| 2019–2025 | Gil Vicente | 179 | (5) |
| 2025– | Farense | 7 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Portugal U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2006 | Portugal B | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:39, 20 December 2025 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Born in Portimão, Faro District, Fernandes started his career with local Portimonense SC. In the summer of 2007, he joined Varzim S.C. on loan as a replacement for Bruno Miguel,[2] returning at the end of the season and renewing his contract for another year.[3]
Fernandes made his debut in the Primeira Liga in the 2010–11 campaign, playing 20 games and scoring once[4] as his team was relegated one year after being promoted. He only returned to the top division for 2013–14 after signing with G.D. Estoril Praia,[5] taking part in two UEFA Europa League campaigns with the team and scoring a late equaliser as a substitute in a 1–1 group stage draw against eventual champions Sevilla FC, on 28 November 2013.[6]
In late April 2015, as his contract with the Lisbon outskirts club was about to expire, Fernandes hinted in his Facebook page he was open to negotiations for its renewal.[7] However, in June, he signed a two-year deal with the option for a third one with promoted Belgian Pro League side Sint-Truidense V.V.[8] In September, he stated in an interview that the main reason for moving abroad was to experience another championship.[9]
Fernandes scored his first goal for his new team on 24 July 2015, to help the hosts to defeat Club Brugge KV 2–1.[10] His second came on 19 September, in a 3–0 away victory over K.V.C. Westerlo.[11]
Fernandes then returned to his country's top tier, where he represented Portimonense[12] and Gil Vicente FC.[13][14] On 5 October 2024, he made his 300th appearance in the competition in a 3–0 defeat of C.F. Estrela da Amadora.[15]
On 25 June 2025, the 39-year-old Fernandes went back to Liga Portugal 2 on a one-year contract at S.C. Farense.[16]
International career
Fernandes won three caps for the Portugal under-20 team, all in 2006. His first arrived on 5 October, in a 6–0 defeat of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Lusophony Games.[17]
Career statistics
- As of match played 17 December 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Portimonense | 2004–05[18] | Segunda Liga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06[18] | Liga de Honra | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2006–07[18] | Liga de Honra | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | |||
| Total | 53 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 58 | 4 | ||||
| Varzim | 2007–08[18] | Liga de Honra | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[18] | Liga de Honra | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 1 | |||
| Portimonense | 2009–10[18] | Liga de Honra | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[18] | Primeira Liga | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2011–12[18] | Liga de Honra | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13[18] | Segunda Liga | 41 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 46 | 11 | ||
| Total | 114 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 2 | — | 136 | 15 | |||
| Estoril | 2013–14[18] | Primeira Liga | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 1 | 33 | 2 |
| 2014–15[18] | Primeira Liga | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 35 | 4 | |
| Total | 55 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 68 | 6 | ||
| Sint-Truiden | 2015–16[19] | Belgian Pro League | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17[19] | Belgian First Division A | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 3 | |||
| Total | 64 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 67 | 6 | ||||
| Portimonense | 2017–18[18] | Primeira Liga | 33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 38 | 4 | |
| 2018–19[19] | Primeira Liga | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| Total | 66 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 73 | 4 | |||
| Gil Vicente | 2019–20[19] | Primeira Liga | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | |
| 2020–21[19] | Primeira Liga | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22[19] | Primeira Liga | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23[19] | Primeira Liga | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[19] | Primeira Liga | 29 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25[19] | Primeira Liga | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | |||
| Total | 179 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 203 | 6 | ||
| Farense | 2025–26[19] | Liga Portugal 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 561 | 37 | 37 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 638 | 42 | ||
- Includes Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in UEFA Conference League
