Ricardo Fernandes (footballer, born January 1978)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ricardo Fernandes

| image =

| fullname = Ricardo Manuel da Silva Fernandes{{WorldFootball.net|ricardo-fernandes_2}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|1|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Azurém, Portugal

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1988–1997

| youthclubs1 = Vitória Guimarães

| years1 = 1997–1999

| years2 = 1999–2003

| years3 = 2003–2005

| years4 = 2005–2008

| years5 = 2008–2010

| years6 = 2011

| years7 = 2011–2013

| years8 = 2013–2016

| years9 = 2016–2017

| years10 = 2017–2018

| clubs1 = Fafe

| clubs2 = Salgueiros

| clubs3 = Moreirense

| clubs4 = Nacional

| clubs5 = Rapid București

| clubs6 = Rio Ave

| clubs7 = Moreirense

| clubs8 = Fafe

| clubs9 = {{ill|G.D.U. Torcatense|lt=Torcatense|pt|Grupo Desportivo União Torcatense}}

| clubs10 = Pevidém

| caps1 = 43

| caps2 = 112

| caps3 = 51

| caps4 = 82

| caps5 = 47

| caps6 = 0

| caps7 = 37

| caps8 = 65

| caps9 = 8

| caps10 = 1

| totalcaps = 446

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 4

| goals5 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 2

| goals8 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 = 0

| totalgoals = 15

| nationalyears1 = 2001

| nationalteam1 = Portugal B

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update =

}}

Ricardo Manuel da Silva Fernandes (born 14 January 1978) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Fernandes was born in the village of Azurém, Guimarães. After making his Primeira Liga debut with lowly S.C. Salgueiros, which folded soon after, he moved to Moreirense FC, spending a further two top-flight seasons there. For 2005–06 he joined Madeira's C.D. Nacional,{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/nacional/detalhe/ricardo-fernandes-foi-apresentado|title=Ricardo Fernandes foi apresentado|trans-title=Ricardo Fernandes was presented|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=17 June 2005|access-date=14 March 2025}} being an undisputed starter from the beginning and helping them to achieve a fifth place (with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Cup) in his first year.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/nacional/detalhe/manuel-machado-com-varias-propostas|title=Manuel Machado com várias propostas|trans-title=Manuel Machado with several offers|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=6 May 2006|access-date=14 March 2025}}

Fernandes signed with Romania's FC Rapid București on 10 June 2008, alongside compatriot José Peseiro whom arrived as manager.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/nacional/detalhe/ricardo-fernandes-e-juliano-no-rapid|title=Ricardo Fernandes e Juliano no Rapid|trans-title=Ricardo Fernandes and Juliano to Rapid|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=10 June 2008|access-date=14 March 2025}} In the 2010–11 campaign he lost his starting position at the Liga I club and, in January 2011, aged 33, returned to his country and joined Rio Ave FC.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/rio-ave-ricardo-fernandes-ex-rapid-bucareste-e-reforco|title=Rio Ave: Ricardo Fernandes (ex-Rapid Bucareste) é reforço|trans-title=Rio Ave: Ricardo Fernandes (ex-Rapid Bucharest) is an addition|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Pedro Jorge|last=Cunha|language=pt|date=26 January 2011|access-date=14 March 2025}}

In June 2011, having made no official appearances for the Vila do Conde team, Fernandes signed with his former employers Moreirense in the Segunda Liga.{{cite web|url=https://www.guimaraesdigital.pt/index.php/informacao/desporto/22052-pevidem-oficializou-continuidade-de-jorginho-emanuel-oliveira-e-tiago-ronaldo|title=Ricardo Fernandes vai reforçar Moreirense|trans-title=Ricardo Fernandes will bolster Moreirense|publisher=Guimarães Digital|language=pt|date=1 June 2011|access-date=14 March 2025}} He only missed four league games in his first season, as the Moreira de Cónegos side returned to the top division after seven years.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/2a-liga/moreirense-acompanha-estoril-na-subida_d553322|title=Moreirense acompanha Estoril na subida|trans-title=Moreirense accompany Estoril in promotion|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|language=pt|date=13 May 2012|access-date=14 March 2025}}

International career

Fernandes won one cap for Portugal B, playing the first half of a 0–1 defeat to Romania in the Vale do Tejo Tournament held in Santarém, on 25 January 2001.{{cite web|url=https://tvi24.iol.pt/selecao/geral/portugal-b-romenia-b-0-1-ficha|title=Portugal B-Roménia B, 0–1 (ficha)|trans-title=Portugal B-Romania B, 0–1 (match sheet)|publisher=TVI 24|language=pt|date=25 January 2001|access-date=24 September 2019}}