Zé Castro
Encyclopedia
José Eduardo Rosa Vale e Castro (born 13 January 1983 in Coimbra
), aka Zé Castro, is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña
in Spain
, as a central defender.
In the 2006 off-season, after unfinished advances by Portugal's Big Three
, Castro signed with Spain
's Atlético de Madrid; in his first year, he benefitted (mainly) from injuries to teammates, going on to appear in 22 top level
matches, with two goals (namely an 83rd minute-strike against CA Osasuna
for the game's only goal, at home, on 20 January 2007), but featured rarely in the following.
In the summer of 2008, Castro joined fellow league side Deportivo de La Coruña
, on a season-long loan, with the Galicians having a buyout clause of €
2 million for 50% of the player's rights (the remaining 50% being owned by a company).Again due to injury (habitual starter Pablo Amo
was sidelined for months with an Achilles tendon
problem), the Portuguese was able to start most of the season, and the option was activated for a permanent move.
Zé Castro appeared in only ten games in the 2009–10 season
, and featured even less in the following year
, prompting him to request a move in mid-November 2010. In March 2011, he was to be picked as a last-minute substitute for a league match against Real Sociedad
after Aythami Artiles went down with a bout of gastroenteritis
, but did not present himself at the Estadio Riazor, and could not be traced through his cellphone
.
, and appeared at the 2006 European Championship
on home soil. There, he appeared in three complete matches, as Portugal exited in the group stage, and scored an own goal
in the 0–2 defeat against Serbia.
On 10 June 2009, Castro finally made his full
debut, in a 0–0 friendly match in Estonia
. On May 10 of the following year, in spite of a poor season at Deportivo, he was included in a provisional squad of 24 players announced by Carlos Queiroz
, in view of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
; however, after Pepe recovered in time to participate in the competition, he was cut.
Deportivo
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
), aka Zé Castro, is a Portuguese
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 Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
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 central defender.
Club career
Castro entered hometown Académica de Coimbra's youth ranks as a child, and made his first division debuts on 3 October 2004, playing 20 minutes in a 2–1 home triumph against Gil Vicente FC. Despite his young age, he eventually became an undisputed starter and team captain.In the 2006 off-season, after unfinished advances by Portugal's Big Three
Big Three (Portugal)
The Big Three is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Portugal. The football teams of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Futebol Clube do Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders for the title. They share all but two of the Portuguese...
, Castro signed with 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...
's Atlético de Madrid; in his first year, he benefitted (mainly) from injuries to teammates, going on to appear in 22 top level
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...
matches, with two goals (namely an 83rd minute-strike against CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
for the game's only goal, at home, on 20 January 2007), but featured rarely in the following.
In the summer of 2008, Castro joined fellow league side Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, on a season-long loan, with the Galicians having a buyout clause of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2 million for 50% of the player's rights (the remaining 50% being owned by a company).Again due to injury (habitual starter Pablo Amo
Pablo Amo
Pablo Amo Aguado is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus, as a central defender.-Football career:...
was sidelined for months with an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
problem), the Portuguese was able to start most of the season, and the option was activated for a permanent move.
Zé Castro appeared in only ten games in the 2009–10 season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, and featured even less in the following year
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...
, prompting him to request a move in mid-November 2010. In March 2011, he was to be picked as a last-minute substitute for a league match against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
after Aythami Artiles went down with a bout of gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water...
, but did not present himself at the Estadio Riazor, and could not be traced through his cellphone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
.
International career
Shortly after his debuts with Académica, Castro became a defensive stalwart for the Portuguese U21sPortugal 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...
, and appeared at the 2006 European Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
on home soil. There, he appeared in three complete matches, as Portugal exited in the group stage, and scored an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
in the 0–2 defeat against Serbia.
On 10 June 2009, Castro finally made his full
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
debut, in a 0–0 friendly match in Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
. On May 10 of the following year, in spite of a poor season at Deportivo, he was included in a provisional squad of 24 players announced by Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Manuel Brito Leal Queiroz ComIH is a Portuguese football manager. He is currently the manager of the Iran national football team. A former manager of Real Madrid, and Portugal national football team, he has also twice been Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at English club Manchester...
, in view of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
; however, after Pepe recovered in time to participate in the competition, he was cut.
Honours
Atlético Madrid- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2007
Deportivo
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2008