Orlando Neto

Rui Orlando Ribeiro Santos Neto (born 24 October 1979), known as Orlando, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a central defender.

Orlando
Personal information
Full name Rui Orlando Ribeiro Santos Neto
Date of birth (1979-10-24) 24 October 1979
Place of birth Santo Tirso, Portugal
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1991–1994 1º Maio Figueiró
1994–1998 Vitória Guimarães
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Fafe 57 (0)
2001–2006 Moreirense 83 (6)
2006–2007 Freamunde 22 (3)
2007–2012 Académica 90 (3)
2013 Freamunde 14 (1)
2013–2014 Felgueiras 1932 30 (2)
2014–2015 Leixões 37 (0)
2015–2017 São Martinho 53 (5)
Total 386 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He appeared in at least 100 matches in each of the three major levels of Portuguese football during a 19-year professional career, including 124 in the Primeira Liga (where he represented Moreirense and Académica and scored five goals).

Club career

Born in Santo Tirso, Porto District, Orlando started his career with AD Fafe in the third division in 1998, moving on to Moreirense FC after three years. Under the guidance of Manuel Machado, he was an important defensive member of a side that promoted to the Primeira Liga – the season prior to the player's arrival, the club was also in the third level.

In 2006, Orlando returned to division three with S.C. Freamunde. After a good season, he was signed by Académica de Coimbra, being an undisputed starter from his debut onwards. In 2008–09 he scored in both matches against F.C. Paços de Ferreira (2–1 win at home, 1–1 away),[1][2] and continued to be an automatic first-choice in the following top flight campaigns, also being named captain.[3]

Orlando spent the better part of 2010–11 and 2011–12 on the sidelines, nursing an injury.[4] In the first game upon his return, on 15 January 2012, he had to be stretchered off in the early minutes of the home fixture against Vitória de Guimarães, in an eventual 0–2 loss; after surgery, he remained inactive for nearly one more year.[5]

In the summer of 2012, after five seasons with the Briosa, Orlando parted ways with the club. In January of the following year he agreed on a return to Freamunde, who now competed now in the second tier.[6]

Following Freamunde's relegation, Orlando signed for FC Felgueiras on a one-year deal.[7]

References
  1. Académica volta a vencer três meses depois graças a golo a dois minutos do fim de Orlando (Académica win again three months later thanks to Orlando goal two minutes from time); Público, 7 December 2008 (in Portuguese)
  2. Académica não deixa Paços continuar os festejos da Taça (Académica halt Paços' Cup celebrations); Público, 28 April 2009 (in Portuguese)
  3. Académica: Orlando sucede a Piloto com a braçadeira (Académica: Orlando takes armband from Piloto); Mais Futebol, 19 July 2009 (in Portuguese)
  4. Orlando, sócio 844 da Mancha Negra (Orlando, Mancha Negra associate nº 844); Académica Coimbra, 23 August 2011 (in Portuguese)
  5. Orlando vai ser operado na quinta-feira (Orlando to undergo surgery on Thursday); Académica Coimbra, 16 January 2012 (in Portuguese)
  6. Freamunde chegou a acordo com Tengarrinha e Orlando (Freamunde reached agreement with Tengarrinha and Orlando); Expresso, 31 January 2013 (in Portuguese)
  7. Orlando é reforço do FC Felgueiras (Orlando is a FC Felgueiras addition); Notícias FC Felgueiras, 6 July 2013 (in Portuguese)
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