André Castro

André Castro
Castro (behind) in action for Porto in 2013
Personal information
Full name André de Castro Pereira[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-02) 2 April 1988 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Gondomar, Portugal
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Porto B
Number 2
Youth career
1997–1999 Gondomar
1999–2007 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2014 Porto 20 (1)
2008–2010Olhanense (loan) 56 (9)
2011–2012Sporting Gijón (loan) 44 (4)
2013–2014Kasımpaşa (loan) 33 (3)
2014–2017 Kasımpaşa 98 (15)
2017–2020 Göztepe 96 (8)
2020–2024 Braga 69 (3)
2024 Moreirense 15 (1)
2024– Porto B 6 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Portugal U17 10 (0)
2005–2006 Portugal U18 8 (1)
2006–2007 Portugal U19 14 (0)
2007 Portugal U20 6 (0)
2008–2010 Portugal U21 19 (0)
2010 Portugal U23 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:59, 21 November 2024 (UTC)

André de Castro Pereira (born 2 April 1988), known as Castro, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Porto B.

Formed at Porto, where he was mainly loaned out, he spent most of his career in Turkey, making 227 Süper Lig appearances and scoring 26 goals for Kasımpaşa and Göztepe. In his country's Primeira Liga, he also played for Olhanense, Braga and Moreirense.

Club career

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Porto

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Born in Gondomar, Porto District, Castro joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of 11, from hometown club Gondomar SC.[3] In 2007, he helped the team conquer the junior championship.[4]

Castro made his first-team – and Primeira Liga – debut on 2 February 2008, coming on as a substitute for Paulo Assunção for the last 11 minutes of a 4–0 home win against U.D. Leiria.[5] He appeared in a further two official matches during the season.[3]

In the following two years, Castro played with S.C. Olhanense on loan,[6] helping the Algarve side returned to the top division after an absence of more than 30 years in his debut campaign[7][8] and winning several Best Young Player monthly awards during his second,[3] where he scored six goals in 28 games as his team retained their status.

Castro returned to Porto for 2010–11, but was soon deemed surplus to requirements by new manager André Villas-Boas as practically all Portuguese players.[3] In January 2011, after having totalled 106 minutes in six competitive matches, he was loaned to Sporting de Gijón in Spain,[9] making his La Liga debut on the 23rd by playing one minute in a 1–0 home victory over Atlético Madrid.[10]

Castro managed to feature regularly for the Asturians during his spell, starting 11 times and scoring against RCD Mallorca (4–0, away)[11] and Getafe CF (2–0 at home),[12] in an eventual escape from relegation. In mid-August 2011, another loan spell was arranged.[13] He started in 26 of his 29 league appearances and added another two goals, but his team dropped down a tier.[14]

Turkey

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On 14 August 2013, Castro joined Turkish Süper Lig club Kasımpaşa S.K. on loan.[15] The move was made permanent for the 2014–15 season.[16] On 6 May 2017, he scored twice in a 3–1 win at Galatasaray SK.[17]

Castro signed a three-year contract with Göztepe S.K. of the same league on 8 July 2017.[18] He scored four times in his first year, adding nine assists to help to a sixth-place finish one year after promotion.[19]

Braga

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On 28 July 2020, Castro returned to his own country's top flight, on a two-year deal at S.C. Braga.[20] Counting two goals and four assists to his name from 66 games, he renewed for a further year at its conclusion.[21]

On 3 October 2023, Castro scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, coming off the bench in the 86th minute and closing the 3–2 away win over 1. FC Union Berlin in the group stage shortly after.[22]

Later career

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Castro remained in the top tier on 17 January 2024, with the 35-year-old signing for Moreirense F.C. until June 2025 after leaving Braga by mutual agreement.[23][24]

International career

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Castro earned 57 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, including 19 for the under-21s.[3] On 5 August 2011, he was called by the full side for a friendly with Luxembourg,[25] but remained an unused substitute.

Career statistics

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As of match played on 7 January 2024[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Porto 2007–08 Primeira Liga 2 0 0 0 2 0
2010–11 Primeira Liga 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 5 0
2012–13 Primeira Liga 17 1 3 0 3 0 2[b] 0 25 1
Total 20 1 5 0 3 0 4 0 32 1
Olhanense (loan) 2008–09 Segunda Liga 28 3 0 0 28 3
2009–10 Primeira Liga 28 6 0 0 1 0 29 6
Total 56 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 57 9
Sporting Gijón (loan) 2010–11 La Liga 15 2 0 0 15 2
2011–12 La Liga 29 2 0 0 29 2
Total 44 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 4
Kasımpaşa (loan) 2013–14 Süper Lig 33 3 1 0 34 3
Kasımpaşa 2014–15 Süper Lig 32 5 0 0 32 5
2015–16 Süper Lig 33 4 0 0 33 4
2016–17 Süper Lig 33 6 6 1 39 7
Total 131 18 7 1 0 0 0 0 138 19
Göztepe 2017–18 Süper Lig 33 4 0 0 33 4
2018–19 Süper Lig 31 1 3 0 34 1
2019–20 Süper Lig 32 3 2 1 34 4
Total 96 8 5 1 101 9
Braga 2020–21 Primeira Liga 21 2 4 0 3 0 5[a] 0 33 2
2021–22 Primeira Liga 21 0 1 0 1 0 10[a] 0 33 0
2022–23 Primeira Liga 24 1 5 0 3 0 7[c] 1 39 2
2023–24 Primeira Liga 3 0 2 0 0 0 2[b] 1 7 1
Total 69 3 12 0 7 0 24 1 0 0 112 5
Career totals 416 43 29 2 11 0 28 2 0 0 484 47
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

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Porto

Olhanense

Braga

References

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  1. ^ "Castro" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b "André Castro". Eurosport. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (2 November 2019). "André Castro: "Vi a final da Liga dos Campeões que o FC Porto ganhou em 1987 mais de 100 vezes. Já quase sei os comentários de cor"" [André Castro: "I've seen the Champions League final that FC Porto won in 1987 more than 100 times. I know pretty much every commentary by heart"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  4. ^ Silva, Susana (11 June 2007). "Tiago Silva entra e dá título" [Tiago Silva comes in and gives title]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "FC Porto goleia União de Leiria por 4–0" [FC Porto rout União de Leiria by 4–0]. Público (in Portuguese). 2 February 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  6. ^ Coelho, Nuno (4 October 2009). "Dragõezinhos de Olhão procuram chegar a bom Porto" [Little dragons from Olhão trying to reach a good Port ("Porto" in English, pun on club name)]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b Oliveira, José Manuel (19 May 2009). "Subida do Olhanense gera 'guerra' entre câmaras" [Olhanense promotion leads to 'war' between city halls]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Boas relações podem ajudar" [Good relations may help]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 18 October 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  9. ^ D'Andrea, Rick (11 January 2011). "Official: Andre Castro joins Sporting Gijon on season-long loan from Porto". Goal. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Un fallo defensivo del Atlético da al Sporting tres puntos vitales" [Atlético defensive blunder gives Sporting three vital points]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 23 January 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Gijon hit Mallorca for four". ESPN Soccernet. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Sporting end unwanted run". ESPN Soccernet. 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Cerrada la cesión de André Castro" [André Castro loan completed] (in Spanish). Sporting Gijón. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  14. ^ Ordóñez, Alejandro (21 November 2017). "¿Qué fue de André Castro?" [What happened to André Castro?]. La Voz de Asturias (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Andre Castro Pereira Kasımpaşa'da" [Andre Castro Pereira to Kasımpaşa]. Milliyet (in Turkish). 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  16. ^ Figueiredo, João Tiago (8 May 2014). "FC Porto: Castro vai assinar pelo Kasimpasa por três anos" [FC Porto: Castro will sign with Kasimpasa for three years] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Galatasaray: 1 – Kasımpaşa: 3". Gazete Duvar (in Turkish). 6 May 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Turquia: André Castro assina pelo Göztepe por três épocas" [Turkey: André Castro signs with Göztepe for three seasons]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 July 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  19. ^ "André Castro eleito o melhor jogador pelos adeptos do Goztepe" [André Castro voted best player by Goztepe fans] (in Portuguese). Domínio de Bola. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  20. ^ "André Castro por dois anos no Sp. Braga" [André Castro to Sp. Braga for two years]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 July 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  21. ^ "André Castro renovou com o Sp. Braga por mais uma temporada" [André Castro renewed with Sp. Braga for one more season]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 May 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  22. ^ "1. FC Union Berlin 2–3 Sporting Braga". BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Castro reforça Moreirense com contrato até 2025 após deixar Sporting de Braga" [Castro strengthens Moreirense with contract until 2025 after leaving Sporting de Braga]. Observador (in Portuguese). 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  24. ^ "André Castro chega para o meio-campo" [André Castro arrives for the midfield] (in Portuguese). Moreirense F.C. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  25. ^ "André Castro se convierte en compañero de Cristiano" [André Castro becomes Cristiano's teammate]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 5 August 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  26. ^ André Castro at Soccerway
  27. ^ "Villas-Boas assinala 10 anos da conquista da Liga Europa: "Um salto para a eternidade"" [Villas-Boas highlights 10 years of Europa League conquest: "A leap to eternity"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 18 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  28. ^ Ribeiro, Patrick (23 May 2021). "Braga beat nine-man Benfica to lift Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
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