Minhoca
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 29 April 1988||
Place of birth | Ponta Delgada, Portugal | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Rabo de Peixe | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2004 | Marítimo Ponta Delgada | ||
2005 | Oliveirenses | ||
2005–2006 | Marítimo Ponta Delgada | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2011 | Micaelense | 68 | (14) |
2011–2014 | Santa Clara | 80 | (7) |
2014–2017 | Paços Ferreira | 64 | (2) |
2017–2019 | Santa Clara | 37 | (3) |
2019–2020 | Varzim | 19 | (0) |
2020–2022 | Torreense | 25 | (2) |
2022– | Rabo de Peixe | 41 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:30, 16 June 2024 (UTC) |
Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela (born 29 April 1988), known as Minhoca, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Rabo de Peixe as an attacking midfielder.
He achieved totals of 70 Primeira Liga games and 2 goals for Paços de Ferreira and Santa Clara, while adding 130 games and 10 goals in the second tier for Santa Clara and Varzim.
Club career
[edit]Born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Minhoca earned his nickname meaning "earthworm" in his native language for his dribbling ability while a youth player at Marítimo Sport Clube in his hometown.[2] He began his senior career with CU Micaelense in the fourth division and, in June 2011, he signed a three-year deal with C.D. Santa Clara of the Segunda Liga, again in his native islands.[3]
In January 2014, Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira secured Minhoca on a 31⁄2-year contract.[4] He scored his first goal on 21 May as a substitute confirming a 3–1 home win over C.D. Aves in the promotion/relegation play-off;[5] he added a brace on 23 November in a 9–0 rout of amateurs Clube Atlético Riachense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[6] On 13 December he was sent off before half time in a 2–1 win against F.C. Arouca at the Estádio da Mata Real.[7] His first top-flight goal was on 17 April 2016, in a 4–3 away win against C.F. União.[8]
Minhoca returned to Santa Clara in May 2017, on a two-year deal.[9] In his first season in his second spell, he contributed three goals as they were promoted as runners-up to C.D. Nacional. On 17 September he received a straight red card after half an hour in a 2–1 victory at Gil Vicente FC.[10]
In July 2019, released by Santa Clara, Minhoca agreed to a one-year contract at Varzim S.C. in division two.[11] At its conclusion, he dropped down to the third tier and joined S.C.U. Torreense.[12] After winning promotion to Liga 3, he signed for another season in Torres Vedras in July 2021.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Minhoca" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Minhoca rendido ao potencial do Paços de Ferreira" [Minhoca surrendered to Paços de Ferreira's potential]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Minhoca é primeiro reforço do Santa Clara" [Minhoca is Santa Clara's first addition]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Paços de Ferreira contrata Minhoca ao Santa Clara" [Paços de Ferreira sign Minhoca from Santa Clara] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Ruela, João (21 May 2014). "Paços de Ferreira bate Desp. Aves e fica na I Liga" [Paços de Ferreira beat Desp. Aves and stay in the I League]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Com show de Cícero e Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira faz 9 a 0 em time da 3ª divisão" [With a show from Cícero and Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira do a 9–0 against 3rd division team] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Ruela, João (12 December 2014). "Paços de Ferreira vence Arouca e sobe ao 6.º lugar" [Paços de Ferreira defeat Arouca and rise to 6th place]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Paços de Ferreira vence União da Madeira por 4–3 na I Liga" [Paços de Ferreira defeat União da Madeira 4–3 in I League] (in Portuguese). TSF. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Santa Clara assegura Minhoca até 2019" [Santa Clara secure Minhoca until 2019]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Açorianos mantêm liderança" [Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Azoreans maintain lead]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Minhoca muda-se do Santa Clara para o Varzim" [Minhoca moves from Santa Clara to Varzim] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Minhoca é reforço do Torreense" [Minhoca is addition to Torreense] (in Portuguese). Torres Vedras Web. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Ponte, Pedro (15 July 2021). "Minhoca renova pelo Torreense por mais uma época" [Minhoca renews with Torreense for one more season]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
External links
[edit]- 1988 births
- Living people
- People from Ponta Delgada
- Footballers from the Azores
- Portuguese men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Primeira Liga players
- Liga Portugal 2 players
- Campeonato de Portugal (league) players
- CU Micaelense players
- C.D. Santa Clara players
- F.C. Paços de Ferreira players
- Varzim S.C. players
- S.C.U. Torreense players
- 21st-century Portuguese sportsmen