Orlando Neto

{{short description|Portuguese footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Orlando

| image =

| fullname = Rui Orlando Ribeiro Santos Neto{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/orlando/leixoes/1603-600-19719|title=Orlando|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|access-date=22 February 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|10|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Santo Tirso, Portugal

| height = {{Height|m=1.83}}

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1991–1994 | youthclubs1 = 1º Maio Figueiró

| youthyears2 = 1994–1998 | youthclubs2 = Vitória Guimarães

| years1 = 1998–2001 | clubs1 = Fafe | caps1 = 57 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2001–2006 | clubs2 = Moreirense | caps2 = 83 | goals2 = 6

| years3 = 2006–2007 | clubs3 = Freamunde | caps3 = 22 | goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2007–2012 | clubs4 = Académica | caps4 = 90 | goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2013 | clubs5 = Freamunde | caps5 = 14 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2013–2014 | clubs6 = Felgueiras 1932 | caps6 = 30 | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2014–2015 | clubs7 = Leixões | caps7 = 37 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015–2017 | clubs8 = São Martinho | caps8 = 53 | goals8 = 5

| totalcaps = 386 | totalgoals = 20

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

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Rui Orlando Ribeiro Santos Neto (born 24 October 1979), known as Orlando, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a central defender.

He appeared in at least 100 matches in each of the three major levels of Portuguese football in a 19-year professional career, including 124 in the Primeira Liga (where he represented Moreirense and Académica and scored five goals).

Club career

Born in Santo Tirso, Porto District, Orlando started his career with AD Fafe in the third division in 1998, moving on to Moreirense FC after three years. Under the guidance of Manuel Machado, he was an important defensive member of a side that was promoted to the Primeira Liga – the season prior to the player's arrival, the club was also in the third tier.

In 2006, Orlando returned to division three with S.C. Freamunde. After a good season, he was signed by Académica de Coimbra, being an undisputed starter from his debut onwards. In 2008–09 he scored in both matches against F.C. Paços de Ferreira (2–1 win at home, 1–1 away),[https://www.publico.pt/2008/12/07/jornal/academica-volta-a-vencer-tres-meses-depois-gracas-a-golo-a-dois-minutos-do-fim-de-orlando-287010 Académica volta a vencer três meses depois graças a golo a dois minutos do fim de Orlando (Académica win again three months later thanks to Orlando goal two minutes from time)]; Público, 7 December 2008 (in Portuguese)[https://www.publico.pt/2009/04/28/jornal/academica--nao-deixa-pacos-continuar-os-festejos-da-taca-304505 Académica não deixa Paços continuar os festejos da Taça (Académica halt Paços' Cup celebrations)]; Público, 28 April 2009 (in Portuguese) and continued to be first-choice in the following top-flight campaigns, also being named captain.[https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/academica-orlando-sucede-a-piloto-com-a-bracadeira Académica: Orlando sucede a Piloto com a braçadeira (Académica: Orlando takes armband from Piloto)]; Mais Futebol, 19 July 2009 (in Portuguese)

Orlando spent the better part of 2010–11 and 2011–12 on the sidelines, nursing an injury.[http://www.academica-oaf.pt/noticias/futebol-profissional/1600-orlando-socio-844-da-mancha-negra/ Orlando, sócio 844 da Mancha Negra (Orlando, Mancha Negra associate nº 844)]; Académica Coimbra, 23 August 2011 (in Portuguese) In the first game upon his return, on 15 January 2012, he had to be stretchered off in the early minutes of the home fixture against Vitória de Guimarães, in an eventual 0–2 loss; after surgery, he remained inactive for nearly one year.[http://www.academica-oaf.pt/noticias/futebol-profissional/2113-orlando-vai-ser-operado-na-quinta-feira/ Orlando vai ser operado na quinta-feira (Orlando to undergo surgery on Thursday)]; Académica Coimbra, 16 January 2012 (in Portuguese)

In the summer of 2012, after five seasons with the Briosa, Orlando parted ways with the club. In January of the following year he agreed on a return to Freamunde, who now competed now in the Segunda Liga.[https://expresso.pt/freamunde-chegou-a-acordo-com-tengarrinha-e-orlando=f783747 Freamunde chegou a acordo com Tengarrinha e Orlando (Freamunde reached agreement with Tengarrinha and Orlando)]; Expresso, 31 January 2013 (in Portuguese)

Following Freamunde's relegation, Orlando signed for FC Felgueiras on a one-year deal.[http://noticiasfcfelgueiras.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/orlando-e-reforco-do-fc-felgueiras.html Orlando é reforço do FC Felgueiras (Orlando is a FC Felgueiras addition)]; Notícias FC Felgueiras, 6 July 2013 (in Portuguese)

References

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