Ricardo Nunes (footballer, born 1982)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ricardo

| image =

| fullname = Ricardo Jorge Novo Nunes{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/ricardo-nunes/academica/1586-128-1282-18484|title=Ricardo Nunes|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|accessdate=4 December 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal

| height = {{height|m=1.90}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1992–2001 | youthclubs1 = Varzim

| years1 = 2001–2003 | clubs1 = Fradelos | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2003–2007 | clubs2 = Varzim | caps2 = 46 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2007–2014 | clubs3 = Académica | caps3 = 77 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = → União Leiria (loan) | caps4 = 15 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2014–2015 | clubs5 = Porto B | caps5 = 8 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2014–2017 | clubs6 = Porto | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2015–2016 | clubs7 = → Vitória Setúbal (loan) | caps7 = 24 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2016–2017 | clubs8 = → Chaves (loan) | caps8 = 24 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2017–2020 | clubs9 = Chaves | caps9 = 44 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2020–2024 | clubs10 = Varzim | caps10 = 112 | goals10 = 1

| totalcaps = 350 | totalgoals = 2

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Ricardo Jorge Novo Nunes (born 6 July 1982), known simply as Ricardo, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the chairman of Varzim.

Club career

Born in Póvoa de Varzim, Ricardo joined his local club Varzim SC's youth system at the age of 10. He made his senior debut with amateurs Grupo Desportivo Fradelos before returning in 2003, going on to compete four seasons in the Segunda Liga, the last two as first choice.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/fc-porto/detalhe/eterno-pre-convocado-da-salto-para-o-topo-882592|title=Eterno pré-convocado dá salto para o topo|trans-title=Eternal pre-selection takes leap to the top|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=11 May 2014|accessdate=18 March 2019}} In March 2006, during a match against Moreirense FC, he scored from goal to goal to give his team the win.{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/de-baliza-a-baliza-guarda-redes-marca-golo-da-vitoria-do-varzim|title=De baliza a baliza: guarda-redes marca golo da vitória do Varzim|trans-title=From goal to goal: goalkeeper scores Varzim winning goal|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Sérgio|last=Pereira|language=Portuguese|date=25 March 2006|accessdate=23 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/perfil-ricardo-liga-academica-fc-porto-golo-palatsi/539761620cf2fc05bd5586aa.html|title=Ricardo: do golo a Palatsi à história frente ao FC Porto|trans-title=Ricardo: from goal to Palatsi to history against FC Porto|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Francisco|last=Frederico|language=Portuguese|date=11 June 2014|accessdate=22 July 2014}}

Ricardo moved to the Primeira Liga for 2007–08, with Académica de Coimbra.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/varzim/detalhe/briosa-agarra-pedrinho-e-ricardo|title=Briosa agarra Pedrinho e Ricardo|trans-title=Briosa takes Pedrinho and Ricardo|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=31 May 2007|accessdate=27 August 2019}} He played his first game in the competition on 24 November 2007 in a 1–3 home loss against S.L. Benfica, in what was his only appearance of the campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2007/11/24/desporto/noticia/benfica-venceu-academica-e-ficou-mais-perto-do-fc-porto-1311788/amp|title=Benfica venceu Académica e ficou mais perto do FC Porto|trans-title=Benfica beat Académica and edged closer to FC Porto|newspaper=Público|language=Portuguese|date=24 November 2007|accessdate=12 December 2017}} During his first years, he served as backup to Pedro Roma and Frenchman Romuald Peiser respectively, but, on 19 May 2012, started in the final of the Taça de Portugal against Sporting CP, helping to a 1–0 win for the Students' first in the competition in 73 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-portuguese-cup-news/33587-cup-final-sporting-v-academica|title=Académica shock Sporting to lift Portuguese Cup|publisher=PortuGOAL|date=19 May 2012|accessdate=30 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102122918/http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-portuguese-cup-news/33587-cup-final-sporting-v-academica|archivedate=2 November 2013}}

In 2012–13, Ricardo became the starter under manager Pedro Emanuel.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/noticias/wolfswinkel-totalista-entre-guarda-redes-3229399.html|title=Wolfswinkel totalista entre guarda-redes|trans-title=All the minutes for Wolfswinkel amongst goalkeepers|newspaper=O Jogo|language=Portuguese|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=4 December 2020}} He played 37 matches in all competitions, retaining his post under new boss Sérgio Conceição.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/academica/detalhe/sergio-conceicao-ricardo-esta-entre-os-tres-melhores-guarda-redes-portugueses-850728?ref=Detalhe_Relacionadas&act=0&est=Aberto|title=Sérgio Conceição: "Ricardo está entre os três melhores guarda-redes portugueses"|trans-title=Sérgio Conceição: "Ricardo ranks in the top three Portuguese goalkeepers"|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=25 October 2013|accessdate=14 February 2022}}

In late May 2014, free agent Ricardo signed a three-year contract with FC Porto in the same league.{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/transferencias/fc-porto-ricardo-e-opare-assinaram-contrato|title=FC Porto: Ricardo e Opare assinaram contrato|trans-title=FC Porto: Ricardo and Opare signed a contract|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|date=20 May 2014|accessdate=11 March 2015}} He was only third choice in his first season, and subsequently served top-tier loans at Vitória F.C. and G.D. Chaves.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/chaves/detalhe/ricardo-nunes-e-rafael-lopes-sao-reforcos.html|title=Ricardo Nunes e Rafael Lopes são reforços|trans-title=Ricardo Nunes and Rafael Lopes are additions|newspaper=Record|first=André|last=Ferreira|language=Portuguese|date=20 June 2016|accessdate=1 July 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624130610/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/chaves/detalhe/ricardo-nunes-e-rafael-lopes-sao-reforcos.html|archivedate=24 June 2016}}

Ricardo joined Chaves on a permanent three-year deal on 18 May 2017, after becoming a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/transferencias/liga/desp-chaves-ricardo-assina-por-tres-temporadas|title=Oficial: Ricardo assina por três temporadas pelo Des. Chaves|trans-title=Official: Ricardo signs for three seasons for Des. Chaves|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=Portuguese|date=18 May 2017|accessdate=27 August 2019}} In August 2019, he announced he was putting his career on hold due to cancer.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/chaves/noticias/interior/cancro-obriga-guarda-redes-do-chaves-a-interromper-carreira-11222378.html|title=Doença obriga guarda-redes do Chaves a interromper carreira|trans-title=Illness forces Chaves goalkeeper to interrupt career|newspaper=O Jogo|first=António|last=Barroso|language=Portuguese|date=20 August 2019|accessdate=27 August 2019}} After surgery in September, he returned to work in December.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/desporto/ricardo-nunes-de-regresso-aos-treinos-depois-de-lutar-contra-um-cancro_v1194181|title=Ricardo Nunes de regresso aos treinos depois de lutar contra um cancro|trans-title=Ricardo Nunes back in training after fighting against cancer|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|language=Portuguese|date=25 December 2019|accessdate=31 August 2020}}

On 3 June 2020, Ricardo returned to Varzim after 13 years away.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/2a-liga/noticias/varzim-ativo-no-mercado-anuncia-a-contratacao-de-tres-reforcos-12270378.html|title=Varzim ativo no mercado anuncia a contratação de três reforços|trans-title=Varzim active in the transfer market and announce the signing of three additions|newspaper=O Jogo|language=Portuguese|date=3 June 2020|accessdate=31 August 2020}} The following 20 March, he scored from a long clearance in a 2–0 home victory over C.D. Mafra.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/mar/22/varzim-goalkeeper-scores-with-pitch-length-kick-in-portugese-match-video|title=Varzim goalkeeper scores with pitch-length kick in Portuguese match – video|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 March 2021|accessdate=23 March 2021}}

Ricardo retired in April 2024, aged 41.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/varzim/detalhe/guarda-redes-ricardo-nunes-termina-carreira-e-vai-candidatar-se-a-presidente-do-varzim|title=Guarda-redes Ricardo Nunes termina carreira e vai candidatar-se a presidente do Varzim|trans-title=Goalkeeper Ricardo Nunes ends career and will run for president of Varzim|newspaper=Record|first1=Miguel|last1=Amaro|first2=João|last2=Baptista Seixas|language=Portuguese|date=7 April 2024|accessdate=25 May 2024}} On 25 May, he was elected president of his last club.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/varzim/detalhe/ricardo-nunes-eleito-presidente-do-varzim|title=Ricardo Nunes eleito presidente do Varzim|trans-title=Ricardo Nunes elected president of Varzim|newspaper=Record|language=Portuguese|date=25 May 2024|accessdate=25 May 2024}}

Honours

Académica

Taça de Portugal: 2011–12
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira runner-up: 2012{{cite web|url=https://www.tsf.pt/desporto/porto/interior/fc-porto-bate-academica-1-0-e-conquista-supertaca-2716354.html|title=FC Porto bate Académica (1–0) e conquista Supertaça|trans-title=FC Porto beat Académica (1–0) and conquer Supercup|publisher=TSF|language=Portuguese|date=11 August 2012|accessdate=27 August 2019}}