Steven Vitória

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Steven Vitória
Personal information
Full name Steven de Sousa Vitória
Date of birth (1987-01-11) 11 January 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
Benfica
Youth career
2004–2005 Woodbridge Strikers
2005–2006 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Porto 0 (0)
2006–2007 Tourizense (loan) 11 (2)
2007–2009 Olhanense (loan) 35 (1)
2009–2010 Covilhã (loan) 24 (2)
2010–2013 Estoril 79 (19)
2013– Benfica B 7 (3)
2013– Benfica 1 (0)
2015 Philadelphia Union (loan) 18 (1)
International career
2006 Portugal U19 5 (0)
2006–2007 Portugal U20 6 (0)
2016– Canada 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 30 November 2015 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02:51, 6 February 2016 (UTC)

Steven de Sousa Vitória (born 11 January 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Portuguese club Benfica and the Canada national team as a central defender.

He is known for his heading, marking and scoring abilities, especially on penalty kicks and free kicks.[1]

Early life

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Portuguese immigrants from the Azores,[2][3] Vitória played youth football with the Woodbridge Strikers, mainly as a striker. He was approached to appear for Canada's youth national teams on multiple occasions after leaving the country,[2] but declined each time.[4]

Club career

Porto

Vitória was signed by FC Porto at the age of 18, already reconverted as a central defender. In the following years he began a series of loans, starting out at G.D. Tourizense in the third division then joining S.C. Olhanense for two years,[5] and helping the Algarve side promote to the Primeira Liga in his second season by appearing in 18 games, 15 as a starter.[6][7]

In the 2009–10 campaign Vitória continued on loan, this time with S.C. Covilhã in the Segunda Liga.[8] He played his first official match for his new club on 2 August 2009, in a 1–0 away win against A.D. Carregado for the Taça da Liga.[9]

Estoril

Vitória cut all ties with Porto in July 2010,[10] signing with G.D. Estoril Praia in the second division. In his debut season in the top flight, 2012–13, he played 27 games and scored 11 goals to finish ninth among the league's top goalscorers[11]– eight of them from penalties – to help his team finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.[12][13]

Benfica

Free agent Vitória joined S.L. Benfica on 16 June 2013, signing a four-year contract.[14][15] He called the day of his signing "the most important and happiest day of my life".[16] His only league appearance took place in the last day of the season as the club had already been crowned champions, and he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 loss at former side Porto.[17][18]

Vitória was an unused substitute in the Eagles' loss in the Europa League final loss to Sevilla FC.[19] After becoming unsatisfied with his status,[20] he was targeted by Real Betis[21][22] and C.S. Marítimo.[23]

On 9 February 2015, Vitória was loaned to Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union for one season.[24][25] He scored his first goal for the team in his hometown of Toronto, in a 1–3 Major League Soccer away defeat to Toronto FC,[26] being released in December after the club declined against exercising its contract option on the player.[27]

International career

Vitória represented Portugal at the 2006 Lusophony Games in Macau, the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poland[28] and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in his birth nation. In the latter tournament, he featured in the 1–2 group stage loss to Gambia.[29]

In September 2012, without having been capped at senior level, 28-year-old Vitória considered switching allegiance to Canada.[3] In January 2016, he accepted a call-up by the country for a friendly against the United States on 5 February,[30] and played the full 90 minutes in the 0–1 defeat in Carson, California.[31]

Honours

Olhanense
Estoril
Benfica

References

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  12. Estoril vs. FCP. Steven Vitória, Moutinho empate (Estoril vs. FCP. Steven Vitória, Moutinho draw); IOnline, 31 December 2012 (Portuguese)
  13. Steven Vitória em duelo de goleadores com Jackson Martínez (Steven Vitória in scoring duel with Jackson Martínez); A Bola, 7 March 2013 (Portuguese)
  14. Steven Vitória assina contrato com o Benfica por quatro temporadas (Steven Vitória signs contract with Benfica for four seasons); Benfica Ao Vivo, 16 June 2013 (Portuguese)
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  29. Steven VitóriaFIFA competition record
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External links