Rui Fonte
Encyclopedia
Rui Pedro da Rocha Fonte (born 23 April 1990) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
in Spain
, as a winger or forward.
, and started his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, joining the club's youth system at only 7. In 2006, he signed a three-year contract with Arsenal
, with a clause stating he was to return to his previous club if the English
side did not extend the contract beyond the original period.
A regular member of Arsenal's reserve team
, Fonte made his debut for the first team in a friendly
against Barnet
in the 2008 pre-season. He made his competitive debut for the Gunners as a substitute for Carlos Vela
in a League Cup
match against Wigan Athletic
on 11 November 2008, a 3–0 home win.
On 30 January 2009, Fonte signed for Football League Championship
side Crystal Palace
on a one-month loan, with his older brother José
playing a big role in persuading club and player of each other's merits. He made his club debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Blackpool
on the following day, and his loan was subsequently extended until the end of the season. Crystal Palace were docked a point and fined £
20,000 for fielding Fonte in their final game, despite his loan having expired.
On 19 May 2009, it was announced that Arsenal
had not decided to extend Fonte's three-year contract, and the player returned to Sporting. He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Vitória de Setúbal
, making his top division debut on 17 August, playing one minute in a 0–0 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães, and appearing sparingly during the campaign as the Sadinos
barely escaped relegation.
Fonte played 2010–11
on loan to RCD Espanyol
, in Spain
. He spent the vast majority of his spell with the reserves
, his first La Liga
appearances consisting of one minute in a 1–0 home win against Sporting de Gijón
, on 5 December 2010, and ten in a 0–1 home loss against Real Madrid
, two months later.
against Spain
on 18 November 2008, scoring the first goal in a 4–1 victory.
, is also a footballer. A defender
, he played most of his professional career in England, and the two shared teams at Sporting (youth) and Crystal Palace.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, as a winger or forward.
Club career
Fonte was born in PenafielPenafiel, Portugal
The city of Penafiel had, as of 2001, a population of 9,343. It is located in Penafiel Municipality, that has 71,801 inhabitants....
, and started his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, joining the club's youth system at only 7. In 2006, he signed a three-year contract with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, with a clause stating he was to return to his previous club if the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side did not extend the contract beyond the original period.
A regular member of Arsenal's reserve team
Arsenal F.C. Reserves
Arsenal Reserves are the reserve team of Arsenal Football Club.They have been members of the FA Premier Reserve League Southern Division since its foundation in 1999. They play their home games at Underhill Stadium, which is also the home of Barnet FC. The team mainly consists of Under-21 players...
, Fonte made his debut for the first team in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
in the 2008 pre-season. He made his competitive debut for the Gunners as a substitute for Carlos Vela
Carlos Vela
Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido is a Mexican association football player, currently playing as a striker for La Liga club Real Sociedad on loan from Arsenal. He also plays for the Mexico national football team. He started his career at Mexican club C.D...
in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 11 November 2008, a 3–0 home win.
On 30 January 2009, Fonte signed for Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on a one-month loan, with his older brother José
José Fonte
José Miguel da Rocha Fonte is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Southampton in the Football League Championship, as a central defender....
playing a big role in persuading club and player of each other's merits. He made his club debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on the following day, and his loan was subsequently extended until the end of the season. Crystal Palace were docked a point and fined £
Pound sign
The pound sign is the symbol for the pound sterling—the currency of the United Kingdom . The same symbol is used for similarly named currencies in some other countries and territories, such as the Irish pound, Gibraltar pound, Australian pound and the Italian lira...
20,000 for fielding Fonte in their final game, despite his loan having expired.
On 19 May 2009, it was announced that Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
had not decided to extend Fonte's three-year contract, and the player returned to Sporting. He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
, making his top division debut on 17 August, playing one minute in a 0–0 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães, and appearing sparingly during the campaign as the Sadinos
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
barely escaped relegation.
Fonte played 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
on loan to RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He spent the vast majority of his spell with the reserves
RCD Espanyol B
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona B, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1981, it is the reserve team of RCD Espanyol and plays in Tercera División, holding home matches at Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Adrià, with a...
, his first La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
appearances consisting of one minute in a 1–0 home win against Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
, on 5 December 2010, and ten in a 0–1 home loss against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, two months later.
International career
Fonte made his debut for the Portuguese under-21sPortugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
against Spain
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
on 18 November 2008, scoring the first goal in a 4–1 victory.
Club statistics
- (correct as of 28 September 2009)
Club Season League Cup Europe UEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....Play-Offs Total Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...2008–09 2008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Total 2008–2009 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...2008–09 2008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 Total 2009 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 Setúbal Vitória F.C.Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...2009–10 7 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 Total 2009–present 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 Career totals 17 0 0 1 0 0 18 0 0
Personal
Fonte's older brother, JoséJosé Fonte
José Miguel da Rocha Fonte is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Southampton in the Football League Championship, as a central defender....
, is also a footballer. A defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, he played most of his professional career in England, and the two shared teams at Sporting (youth) and Crystal Palace.