:Delfim Teixeira

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Delfim

| image =

| fullname = Delfim José Fernandes Rola Teixeira

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|2|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Amarante, Portugal

| height = 1.79 m

| position = Defensive midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1987–1992

| youthyears2 = 1992–1996

| youthclubs1 = Amarante

| youthclubs2 = Boavista

| years1 = 1996–1998

| years2 = 1996–1997

| years3 = 1998–2001

| years4 = 2001–2006

| years5 = 2005

| years6 = 2006

| years7 = 2007–2008

| years8 = 2008–2009

| clubs1 = Boavista

| clubs2 = → Aves (loan)

| clubs3 = Sporting CP

| clubs4 = Marseille

| clubs5 = → Moreirense (loan)

| clubs6 = Young Boys

| clubs7 = Naval

| clubs8 = Trofense

| caps1 = 16

| caps2 = 29

| caps3 = 58

| caps4 = 33

| caps5 = 7

| caps6 = 10

| caps7 = 32

| caps8 = 20

| totalcaps = 205

| goals1 = 1

| goals2 = 3

| goals3 = 7

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 1

| goals8 = 0

| totalgoals = 13

| nationalyears1 = 1994

| nationalyears2 = 1994

| nationalyears3 = 1996–1998

| nationalyears4 = 1997–1999

| nationalyears5 = 2001

| nationalyears6 = 2000

| nationalteam1 = Portugal U17

| nationalteam2 = Portugal U18

| nationalteam3 = Portugal U20

| nationalteam4 = Portugal U21

| nationalteam5 = Portugal B

| nationalteam6 = Portugal

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalcaps3 = 14

| nationalcaps4 = 15

| nationalcaps5 = 1

| nationalcaps6 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalgoals3 = 4

| nationalgoals4 = 4

| nationalgoals5 = 0

| nationalgoals6 = 0

}}

Delfim José Fernandes Rola Teixeira (born 5 February 1977), known simply as Delfim, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

In a career marred by injury problems, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 133 games and nine goals over as many seasons, in representation of five clubs. The owner of a powerful shot, he also competed professionally in France and Switzerland.[https://rr.sapo.pt/opiniao_detalhe.aspx?fid=2&did=193049 A vida de Delfim dava um filme... com final feliz (Life of Delfim would make a movie... with a happy end)]; Rádio Renascença, 9 July 2015 (in Portuguese)

Club career

Delfim was born in Amarante, Porto District. After making his Primeira Liga debut aged 19 with Boavista F.C. he signed for Sporting CP, being an essential midfield player alongside Aldo Duscher in the latter club's 1999–2000 league conquest, after an 18-year drought.[http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/depois-do-adeus/rubrica/delfim-a-gloria-em-alvalade-e-a-lesao-que-quase-lhe-matou-o-sonho Delfim: a glória em Alvalade e a lesão que quase lhe matou o sonho (Delfim: the glory at Alvalade and the injury that nearly killed his dream)]; Mais Futebol, 12 March 2014 (in Portuguese)[https://tribuna.expresso.pt/a-casa-as-costas/2018-02-11-Delfim-Contra-todas-as-perspetivas-e-dados-estatisticos-depois-de-tres-anos-parado-voltei-a-jogar.-Com-quatro-parafusos-nas-costas Delfim: “Contra todas as perspetivas e dados estatísticos, depois de três anos parado, voltei a jogar. Com quatro parafusos nas costas” (Delfim: "Against all odds and statistical data, after three years out, I played again. With four screws in my back")]; Expresso, 11 February 2018 (in Portuguese)

In 2001, Delfim moved to Olympique de Marseille in France, but also began an excruciating battle with injuries, appearing very rarely for the Ligue 1 side and almost retiring from football.[https://www.maxifoot.fr/football/article-2481.htm La deuxième vie de Delfim (Delfim's second life)]; Maxi Foot, 23 November 2005 (in French)[https://www.eurosport.fr/football/coupe-de-l-uefa/2005-2006/delfim-en-accelere_sto802901/story.shtml Delfim en accéléré (Delfim gains speed)]; Eurosport, 15 December 2005 (in French) In January 2002 he was reunited with former Sporting teammate Dimas[https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/internacional/franca-marselha-de-dimas-e-delfim-volta-a-perder França: Marselha de Dimas e Delfim volta a perder (Dimas and Delfim's Marseille lose again)]; Mais Futebol, 24 February 2002 (in Portuguese) and, after an unassuming stint with BSC Young Boys,[http://www.fussball.ch/Ein+Portugiese+fuer+YB/243841/detail.htm Ein Portugiese für YB (A Portuguese for YB)]; Fussball.ch, 9 June 2006 (in German) eventually returned to Portugal.

Delfim was able to revive his career in the 2007–08 season, being very important as Associação Naval 1º de Maio retained their status in the main division; on 27 April 2008, his long-distance shot was the only goal of the home fixture against his former employers Boavista.[https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/naval-boavista-1-0-cronica Naval-Boavista, 1–0 (crónica) (Naval-Boavista, 1–0 (report))]; Mais Futebol, 27 April 2008 (in Portuguese) For the following campaign he joined top-tier newcomers C.D. Trofense,[http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/portugal-prio/trofense/detalhe/delfim-reforca-o-meio-campo.html Delfim reforça o meio-campo (Delfim bolsters midfield)]; Record, 26 June 2008 (in Portuguese)[http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/trofense-delfim-foi-operado-ao-joelho Trofense: Delfim foi operado ao joelho (Trofense: Delfim underwent knee surgery)]; Mais Futebol, 25 March 2009 (in Portuguese) retiring at the age of 32 after his team suffered relegation.

International career

Delfim earned his only full cap for Portugal on 15 November 2000, playing the entire 2–1 friendly win over Israel in Braga.

Honours

Boavista

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1997

Sporting CP

Primeira Liga: 1999–2000

Marseille

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html|title=Marseille 5–1 Deportivo (Aggregate: 5–3)|publisher=UEFA|date=23 August 2005|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531214209/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html|archive-date=31 May 2006}}