Ferro (footballer)
{{short description|Portuguese footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Portuguese name|Reis|Ferreira}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Ferro
|image = Ferro 2021.png
|image_size =
|caption = Ferro with Valencia in 2021
|full_name = Francisco Reis Ferreira
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal
|height = 1.91 m
|position = Centre back
|currentclub = Estrela da Amadora
|clubnumber = 4
|youthyears1 = 2005–2008
|youthclubs1 = Oliveirense
|youthyears2 = 2008–2009
|youthclubs2 = Casa do Benfica de Estarreja
|youthyears3 = 2009–2011
|youthclubs3 = AD Taboeira
|youthyears4 = 2011–2016
|youthclubs4 = Benfica
|youthyears5 = 2014
|youthclubs5 = → Casa Pia (loan)
|years1 = 2016–2019
|clubs1 = Benfica B
|caps1 = 91
|goals1 = 5
|years2 = 2019–2023
|clubs2 = Benfica
|caps2 = 43
|goals2 = 3
|years3 = 2021
|clubs3 = → Valencia (loan)
|caps3 = 3
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2022
|clubs4 = → Hajduk Split (loan)
|caps4 = 13
|goals4 = 1
|years5 = 2022–2023
|clubs5 = → Vitesse (loan)
|caps5 = 9
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2023–2024
|clubs6 = Hajduk Split
|caps6 = 14
|goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2024–
|clubs7 = Estrela da Amadora
|caps7 = 11
|goals7 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2013–2014
|nationalteam1 = Portugal U17
|nationalcaps1 = 14
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2015
|nationalteam2 = Portugal U18
|nationalcaps2 = 7
|nationalgoals2 = 1
|nationalyears3 = 2015–2016
|nationalteam3 = Portugal U19
|nationalcaps3 = 13
|nationalgoals3 = 1
|nationalyears4 = 2016–2017
|nationalteam4 = Portugal U20
|nationalcaps4 = 9
|nationalgoals4 = 1
|nationalyears5 = 2017–2018
|nationalteam5 = Portugal U21
|nationalcaps5 = 8
|nationalgoals5 = 0
|club-update = 27 February 2025
}}
Francisco Reis Ferreira (born 26 March 1997), commonly known as Ferro, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Estrela da Amadora.
Formed at Benfica, he made over 60 appearances for the club, winning the Primeira Liga in 2018–19. He was loaned to Valencia, Hajduk Split and Vitesse, winning the Croatian Football Cup with the second in 2022.
Ferro earned 51 caps for Portugal at youth level, and was called up for the senior team in 2019.
Club career
Born in Oliveira de Azeméis, Aveiro District, Ferro started his football career at local club Oliveirense in 2005, where he remained until 2008. He then played for CB Estarreja and AD Taboeira before joining Benfica's youth system in 2011.{{cite news|date=7 February 2019|title=Quem é Francisco Ferreira, ou Ferro, o primeiro estreante do Benfica de Bruno Lage?|trans-title=Who is Francisco Ferreira, or Ferro, the first debutant of Bruno Lage's Benfica|url=https://observador.pt/2019/02/07/quem-e-francisco-ferreira-ou-ferro-o-primeiro-estreante-do-benfica-de-bruno-lage/|language=pt|work=Observador|access-date=14 February 2019}} Following his progress to the club's reserve team, he made his professional debut in a 2–1 away win over Oliveirense in LigaPro on 30 January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.ligaportugal.pt/oou/jogo/20152016/segundaliga/27/1|title=UD Oliveirense - SL Benfica B (Jornada 27 Segunda Liga 2015–2016)|language=pt|website=Liga Portugal|access-date=1 February 2016}}
Ferro was promoted to Benfica's first team on 1 February 2019, alongside three other reserve team players,{{cite news|last=Sanches|first=João|date=1 February 2019|title=Zlobin, Ferro, Florentino, and Jota permanently in the first team|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/agora/noticias/2018-2019/02/01/futebol-benfica-quarteto-zlobin-ferro-florentino-jota-integrados-em-definitivo-no-plantel-principal|work=S.L. Benfica|access-date=1 February 2019}} and six days later, he debuted with the Lisbon side as a 38th-minute substitute, replacing Jardel in a 2–1 home win over Sporting CP in the first leg of the Taça de Portugal semi-finals.{{cite news|date=6 February 2019|title=Jardel saiu lesionado, Ferro em estreia|trans-title=Jardel went off injured, Ferro in debut|url=https://www.abola.pt/Clubes/Noticias/Ver/772306/40|language=pt|url-status=dead|work=A Bola|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207012009/https://www.abola.pt/Clubes/Noticias/Ver/772306/40|archive-date=7 February 2019|access-date=14 February 2019}} In his first appearance as a starter, he scored his first goal for Benfica, the sixth in a 10–0 home thrashing of Nacional in Primeira Liga on 10 February.{{cite news|date=10 February 2019|title=Benfica 10–0 Nacional: Chuva de golos deixa 'águias' a um ponto da liderança|trans-title=Benfica 10–0 Nacional: goal rain moves "eagles" within a point of the lead|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/benfica-10-0-nacional-chuva-de-golos-deixa-aguias-a-um-ponto-da-lideranca|language=pt|work=SAPO Desporto|access-date=11 February 2019}}
Four days later, Ferro made his European debut as Benfica beat Galatasaray 2–1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 32, their first ever victory in Turkey.{{cite news|last=Fernandes|first=Nuno|date=14 February 2019|title=Benfica de Lage faz história na Turquia e tem os oitavos à vista|trans-title=Lage's Benfica make history in Turkey and have the round of 16 in sight|url=https://www.dn.pt/desportos/interior/galatasaray-benfica-corchia-florentino-e-gedson-no-onze-de-bruno-lage-10577248.html|language=pt|work=Diário de Notícias|access-date=18 February 2019}} He scored his first UEFA goal on 14 March, the second in a 3–0 (a.e.t.) win over Dinamo Zagreb in the round of 16's second leg.{{cite news|date=14 March 2019|title=Ferro: "Golo foi especial porque foi o primeiro na Europa"|trans-title=Ferro: "Goal was special because it was my first in Europe|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/liga-europa/artigos/ferro-golo-foi-especial-porque-foi-o-primeiro-na-europa|language=pt|work=SAPO Desporto|access-date=17 March 2019}}
On 17 October 2019, Ferro extended his Benfica contract until 2024.{{cite news|title=Benfica oficializa renovação de Ferro|trans-title=Benfica make Ferro's renewal official|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/benfica-oficializa-renovacao-de-ferro|access-date=18 October 2019|work=Record|date=17 October 2019|language=pt}}
On 31 January 2021, Spanish club Valencia announced the signing of Ferro on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.valenciacf.com/es/article/es-comunicado-oficial-ferro-2021-01-31|title=Comunicado oficial Ferro|trans-title=Official announcement Ferro|publisher=Valencia CF|date=31 January 2021|access-date=31 January 2021|language=es}} He made three La Liga appearances, beginning on 14 February with a 2–0 loss at Real Madrid.{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Rafael |title=Real Madrid estraga estreia a Ferro|trans-title=Real Madrid ruin Ferro's debut |url=https://www.record.pt/internacional/paises/espanha/valencia/detalhe/real-madrid-estraga-estreia-a-ferro |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Record |date=15 February 2021 |language=Portuguese}}
Unused by Benfica in the league, Ferro was loaned to Hajduk Split of the Croatian Football League on 31 January 2022.{{cite news |title=Benfica arruma a casa: Ferro emprestado para a Croácia e Helton Leite para França|trans-title=Benfica tidy the house: Ferro loaned to Croatia and Helton Leite to France |url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/benfica-arruma-a-casa-ferro-emprestado-para-a-croacia-e-helton-leite-para-franca |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=SAPO |date=31 January 2022 |language=Portuguese}} On his debut for the eventual runners-up five days later, he scored in the third minute of a 4–0 win at Gorica;{{cite news |title=Defesa central Ferro marca na estreia pelo Hajduk Split|trans-title=Central defender Ferro scores on debut for Hajduk Split |url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-internacional/defesa-central-ferro-marca-na-estreia-pelo-hajduk-split_d1382415 |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal |date=5 February 2022 |language=Portuguese}} he equalised in the Dalmatian club's 3–1 win over Rijeka in the cup final on 26 May.{{cite news |last1=Pedrosa Coelho |first1=Eduardo |title=Ferro conquista a Taça da Croácia ao serviço do Hajduk Split|trans-title=Ferro wins Croatian Cup in service of Hajduk Split |url=https://www.jn.pt/desporto/ferro-conquista-a-taca-da-croacia-ao-servico-do-hajduk-split-14892332.html |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Jornal de Notícias |date=26 May 2022 |language=Portuguese}}
On 14 July 2022, Ferro joined Vitesse in the Netherlands on a season-long loan, with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=SBV Vitesse|url=https://www.vitesse.nl/nieuws/2022/vitesse-heet-portugese-verdediger-ferro-welkom|title=Vitesse heet Portugese verdediger Ferro welkom|trans-title=Vitesse welcomes Portuguese defender Ferro|date=14 July 2022|access-date=20 July 2022|language=nl}}
After just half a year with Vitesse, he rejoined Hajduk Split, but this time on a permanent transfer for a fee of around €500,000.
International career
Ferro earned 51 caps for Portugal at youth level, starting with a 2–0 under-17 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 October 2013, in qualification for the following May's UEFA European Championship. He was called up for the finals in Malta, where the team were eliminated 2–0 in the semi-finals by eventual champions England.{{cite news |title=Sub-17: PORTUGAL-INGLATERRA, 0-2|trans-title=Under-17: PORTUGAL-ENGLAND, 0-2 |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/selecoes/detalhe/sub-17-portugal-inglaterra-0-2-883810 |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Record |date=18 May 2014 |language=Portuguese}} On 3 June 2015, he scored the first of his three international goals at the end of a 2–0 under-18 win over Norway in Mafra.{{cite news |title=Portugal derrota Noruega (2-0)|trans-title=Portugal defeat Norway (2-0) |url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/selecoes/sub18/detalhe/portugal-derrota-noruega-2-0-952813 |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Record |date=3 June 2015 |language=Portuguese}}
On 10 November 2015, Ferro scored the only goal as the under-19 team defeated Moldova in Nelas in a qualifier for the European Championship.{{cite news |title=Portugal entra a ganhar no apuramento para o Euro|trans-title=Portugal get off to winning start in Euro qualifiers|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/selecoes/sub19/detalhe/portugal-entra-a-ganhar-no-apuramento-para-o-euro |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Record |date=10 November 2015 |language=Portuguese}} He played the following July in the finals in Germany, where the side were eliminated by France in the last four.{{cite news |last1=Palma |first1=Tiago |title=Portugal perde (3-1) com a França e falha final do Euro Sub-19|trans-title=Portugal lose (3-1) to France and miss Under-19 Euro final |url=https://observador.pt/2016/07/21/euro-sub-19-portugal-franca-1-1/ |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=Observador |date=21 July 2016 |language=Portuguese}} He also went with the under-20 team to the 2017 FIFA World Cup in South Korea.{{cite news |title=Francisco Ferreira: "Agora, o nosso sonho é vencer o Uruguai"|trans-title=Francisco Ferreira: "Now, our dream is to defeat Uruguay"|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/mundial-sub-20/artigos/francisco-ferreira-agora-o-nosso-sonho-e-vencer-o-uruguai |access-date=8 August 2022 |work=SAPO |date=1 June 2017 |language=Portuguese}}
In early September 2019, Ferro was called up for the first time to the Portugal national team for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers against Serbia and Lithuania, replacing injured Pepe.{{cite news|title=Portugal's Pepe ruled out of Euro 2020 qualifiers|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/portugals-pepe-ruled-out-of-euro-2020-qualifiers/articleshow/70960276.cms|access-date=6 September 2019|work=The Times of India|date=3 September 2019}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 23 September 2023}}{{Soccerway|francisco-reis-ferreira/318333}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Croatian Football Cup, KNVB Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Taça da Liga}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Benfica B
|rowspan="4"|LigaPro |9 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||||
| 2016–17
|30 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 3 | |||||
| 2017–18
|33 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 2 | |||||
| 2018–19
|19 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!91 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 91 | 5 | |||||
| rowspan="5"|Benfica
|rowspan="4"|Primeira Liga |13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20
|26 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7{{efn|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira}} | 0 | 40 | 1 | |
| 2020–21
|4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!43 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 4 | |
| Valencia (loan)
|3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Hajduk Split (loan)
|13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 2 | ||||
| Vitesse (loan)
|9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Hajduk Split
|rowspan="2"|Croatian Football League |9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Croatian Football Super Cup}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!172 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 202 | 11 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 2018–19
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2019[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2019/08/04/portugal/super-cup/benfica/sporting-clube-de-portugal/3024399/ Benfica 5–0 Sporting Lisbon] Soccerway
Hajduk Split
- Croatian Cup: 2021–22,{{cite web|url=https://hns-cff.hr/en/matches/52339406/rijeka-hajduk/|title=Rijeka - Hajduk 1:3|website=HNS-CFF|language=Croatian|date=26 May 2022|accessdate=27 May 2022}} 2022–23
Individual
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2014{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2014/technical-report/tr-under17-2014.pdf|title=Team of the Tournament|website=UEFA|page=21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813011930/http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2014/technical-report/tr-under17-2014.pdf|archive-date=13 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
- Primeira Liga Defender of the Month: March 2019
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.ligaportugal.pt/en/liga/clube/20182019/liganos/278/jogador/70914 Liga Portugal profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20211027144438/https://www.foradejogo.net/player.php?player=199703260001 Ferro] at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{FPF national player|773561}}
{{C.F. Estrela da Amadora squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferro}}
Category:Footballers from Oliveira de Azeméis
Category:Portuguese men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:U.D. Oliveirense players
Category:Casa Pia A.C. players
Category:S.L. Benfica B players
Category:S.L. Benfica footballers
Category:HNK Hajduk Split players
Category:C.F. Estrela da Amadora players
Category:Liga Portugal 2 players
Category:Primeira Liga players
Category:Croatian Football League players
Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers
Category:Portugal men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia
Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands