Hélder Sousa

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Hélder Sousa

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Hélder Bruno Macedo Sousa{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/helder-sousa/trofense/1653-373-12555-19646|title=Hélder Sousa|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|access-date=14 October 2021}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Matosinhos, Portugal

| height = {{height|m=1.76}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1987–1991 | youthclubs1 = Boavista

| youthyears2 = 1991–1993 | youthclubs2 = Gatões

| youthyears3 = 1993–1994 | youthclubs3 = Leixões

| youthyears4 = 1994–1996 | youthclubs4 = Senhora da Hora

| years1 = 1996–1997 | clubs1 = Imperial Sobreirense | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1997–1998 | clubs2 = Padroense | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 1998–2000 | clubs3 = Trofense | caps3 = 44 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2000–2003 | clubs4 = Braga B | caps4 = 76 | goals4 = 13

| years5 = 2002 | clubs5 = Braga | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2003 | clubs6 = Ovarense | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2003–2004 | clubs7 = Gondomar | caps7 = 34 | goals7 = 7

| years8 = 2004–2005 | clubs8 = Feirense | caps8 = 14 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2005–2009 | clubs9 = Vizela | caps9 = 113 | goals9 = 9

| years10 = 2009–2010 | clubs10 = Trofense | caps10 = 24 | goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2010–2012 | clubs11 = Olympiakos Nicosia | caps11 = 44 | goals11 = 4

| years12 = 2012–2013 | clubs12 = APOEL | caps12 = 17 | goals12 = 1

| years13 = 2013–2016 | clubs13 = Trofense | caps13 = 108 | goals13 = 22

| years14 = 2016 | clubs14 = Pedras Rubras | caps14 = 11 | goals14 = 2

| years15 = 2016–2017 | clubs15 = Trofense | caps15 = 29 | goals15 = 2

| years16 = 2017–2018 | clubs16 = Merelinense | caps16 = 27 | goals16 = 4

| years17 = 2018–2019 | clubs17 = Rio Ave U23 | caps17 = 7 | goals17 = 0

| years18 = 2018–2019 | clubs18 = Rio Ave B | caps18 = 3 | goals18 = 0

| years19 = 2019–2020 | clubs19 = Trofense | caps19 = 14 | goals19 = 2

| totalcaps = 582 | totalgoals = 72

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| club-update =

}}

Hélder Bruno Macedo Sousa (born 13 October 1977) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Matosinhos, Sousa started his career with amateurs Padroense F.C. in 1997. In his country, in which he competed almost exclusively in the second and third divisions, he also represented C.D. Trofense (two spells), S.C. Braga's reserves, A.D. Ovarense, Gondomar SC, C.D. Feirense and F.C. Vizela. On 15 September 2002, whilst with Braga, he made his only Primeira Liga appearance, which consisted of 20 minutes as a starter in a 2–0 away loss against Varzim SC.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sp--braga/detalhe/varzim-sp-braga-2-0-autentica-procissao-na-vitoria-do-futebol|title=Varzim-Sp. Braga, 2–0: Autêntica procissão na vitória do futebol|trans-title=Varzim-Sp. Braga, 2–0: Procession extraordinaire as football won|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=16 September 2002|access-date=6 March 2020}}

In the summer of 2010, aged nearly 33, Sousa moved abroad for the first time, joining Cypriot club Olympiakos Nicosia. On 10 January 2012 he signed an 18-month contract with fellow First Division team APOEL FC, for a transfer fee of €90,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01f9-0e7b7be70cce-0b4e3cc2cbb4-1000--helder-sousa-given-apoel-chance/|title=Hélder Sousa given APOEL chance|publisher=UEFA|date=10 January 2012|access-date=19 January 2012}} He made his official debut six days later, playing 23 minutes in a 0–0 home draw with his former employers.

Sousa made his UEFA Champions League debut on 14 February 2012 at the age of 34, featuring 72 minutes in a 1–0 defeat at Olympique Lyonnais in the round of 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01fa-0e7bc0e85902-00b3163ce7f0-1000--lacazette-rewards-lyon-dominance-against-apoel/|title=Lacazette rewards Lyon dominance against APOEL|publisher=UEFA|first=Matthew|last=Spiro|date=14 February 2012|access-date=5 January 2016}} He added a further two appearances, as the side reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/apoel-nos-quartos-da-champions-sim-e-verdade|title=APOEL nos quartos da Champions: sim, é verdade|trans-title=APOEL in the Champions' last-eight: yes, it's true|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Catarina|last=Machado|language=pt|date=8 March 2012|access-date=14 October 2021}}

On 29 January 2013, Sousa's contract with APOEL was terminated by mutual consent.{{cite web|url=http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=9132&tt=graphic&lang=l1|title=Ευχαριστούμε τον Sousa|trans-title=Thank you Sousa|publisher=APOEL FC|language=el|date=29 January 2013|access-date=29 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124135/http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=9132&tt=graphic&lang=l1|archive-date=14 July 2014}} The following day, he returned to his homeland and signed for two years with former club Trofense.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdtrofense.pt/news.php?id_noticia=2336|title=Hélder Sousa é reforço|trans-title=Hélder Sousa is an addition|publisher=C.D. Trofense|language=pt|date=30 January 2013|access-date=30 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224158/http://www.cdtrofense.pt/news.php?id_noticia=2336|archive-date=14 July 2014}}

Sousa played well into his 40s, always in lower-league or amateur football.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/record-mais/detalhe/helder-sousa-entre-jovens-aos-40-anos|title=Hélder Sousa: Entre jovens aos 40 anos|trans-title=Hélder Sousa: Amongst youngsters at the age of 40|newspaper=Record|first=João|last=Baptista Seixas|language=pt|date=23 September 2018|access-date=14 October 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/nao-profissional/noticias/helder-sousa-apresentado-como-reforco-do-trofense-mais-uma-vez-11265695.html|title=Hélder Sousa apresentado como reforço do Trofense... mais uma vez|trans-title=Hélder Sousa presented as Trofense addition... again|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=3 September 2019|access-date=14 October 2021}}