Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho
Real MadridReal Madrid
Ricardo Carvalho
Full Name: Ricardo Alberto Silveira Carvalho
Date of Birth:18 May 1978 (Age 34)
Place of Birth:Amarante
Nationality:Portugal
Height:183 cm.
Weight:79 Kg.
Position:Defender
Squad Number:2
More On :  Portugal, Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho - Chelsea
Born in Amarante, Alberto Ricardo Carvalho began his footballing education with Leca, before signing professional papers with FC Porto in 1997. He was quickly loaned back to his first club before continuing the learning process and gaining experience over the next two seasons with loan spells at Vitória de Setúbal and Alverca. The mobile defender subsequently carved out a career based upon the reccurring theme of having to step into some mighty big shoes.

He first real action with Porto was as a direct replacement to club legend Jorge Costa and he went onto become a pivotal player for the team, playing an integral role in Porto’s UEFA Champions League winning campaign under Jose Mourinho in the 2003/04 season. The solid centre-back had carved out quite a reputation for himself by then and made his International debut at the end of 2003, brought into the team as replacement for another defender with a high-profile reputation – Fernando Couto, who earned over 100 caps for Portugal.

His big move came in the Porto exodus following that historic 2003/04 season when he followed coach Jose Mourinho and defender Paulo Ferreira to London in a deal worth just under £20 million during Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea revolution. The Portuguese again faced the challenge of filling high expectations, stepping into the heart of the Chelsea defence in place of former France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly. Carvalho formed a firm partnership with John Terry at the heart of a defence that saw the club lift back-to-back Premier League titles, the first in the club’s history, in 2004–05 and 2005-06 while becoming a constant fixture in the Portguese national team. Since Pepe's move to a more advanced role, the reliable defender has partnered with Bruno Alves to good effect and featured in seven of Seleccao’s ten qualifying matches.


Did You Know?

He played every minute of FC Porto's 2003/0 Champions League-winning campaign.
 

Awards

Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2002-03
UEFA Club Best Defender of the Year: 2003-04
UEFA Team of the Year: 2003-04
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2004
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2007-08


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