Tarantini (Portuguese footballer)

Ricardo José Vaz Alves Monteiro (born 7 October 1983), known as Tarantini, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Tarantini
Personal information
Full name Ricardo José Vaz Alves Monteiro[1]
Date of birth (1983-10-07) 7 October 1983 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Gestaçô, Portugal[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
1993–2001 Amarante
2001–2002 Covilhã
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2006 Covilhã 103 (15)
2006–2007 Gondomar 18 (4)
2007–2008 Portimonense 30 (5)
2008–2021 Rio Ave 345 (24)
Total 496 (48)
Managerial career
2021–2023 Famalicão (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his career with Rio Ave, making 444 competitive appearances including 345 in the Primeira Liga. Earlier, he played 112 games and scored 21 goals in the LigaPro for three other clubs.

Club career edit

Born in the village of in Gestaçô in Baião, Porto District, Tarantini earned his nickname from his physical resemblance to Argentine footballer Alberto Tarantini.[2] He started playing football with Amarante FC, remaining in the club's youth system for eight years, then made his debut as a senior with S.C. Covilhã in 2002. He alternated between the second and third divisions until 2008, also representing Gondomar S.C. and Portimonense SC.[3]

In summer 2008, Tarantini signed for Rio Ave F.C. of the Primeira Liga,[4] making his debut in the competition on 24 August in a 1–1 home draw against S.L. Benfica (82 minutes played)[5] and finishing his debut season with 20 matches and five starts to help his team to the 12th position.

Tarantini scored his first goal in the top tier of Portuguese football on 10 April 2011, the last in a 6–1 away rout of F.C. Paços de Ferreira.[6] The 2012–13 campaign was the most prolific of his career with six league goals – seven overall – including two in a 2–2 draw at home to reigning champions FC Porto on 29 September.[7]

In 2013–14, Tarantini played 37 total games as the team from Vila do Conde reached the finals of the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga, losing both to S.L. Benfica. In the fourth round of the former on 10 November 2013, he opened the scoring in a 4–2 home win over Sertanense F.C. at the Estádio dos Arcos.[8] The following 10 August, in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira against the same adversary as the previous finals, he played the full 120 minutes of a goalless draw and took Rio Ave's first attempt in the penalty shootout, saved by Artur Moraes whose team ended victorious.[9]

Tarantini remained a regular in the 2019–20 season, as Rio Ave finished a joint-best fifth and with a record points tally of 55.[10] On 22 February, he made his 400th appearance in a 2–1 victory at C.D. Tondela.[11] In May 2021, after the team's relegation, he went up to the fans in tears and asked for forgiveness; he was met with applause and requests to stay with the club,[12] but was ultimately released by the board of directors in July.[13]

In October 2021, shortly after having announced his retirement, the 38-year-old Tarantini joined Ivo Vieira's coaching staff at F.C. Famalicão.[14]

Personal life edit

Tarantini held a degree and a master's degree in sports science from the University of Beira Interior, which he obtained still as a professional footballer.[15] In November 2017, he released a book A Minha Causa (My Cause) with advice for his fellow professionals on life after retiring from the game.[16]

Career statistics edit

[17][18]

Club Season League Taça de Portugal Taça da Liga Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Covilhã 2001–02 Segunda Divisão 2 1 0 0 2 1
2002–03 Segunda Liga 5 1 1 0 6 1
2003–04 Segunda Liga 28 6 2 0 30 6
2004–05 Segunda Divisão 36 3 1 1 37 4
2005–06 Liga de Honra 32 4 2 1 34 5
Total 103 15 6 2 109 17
Gondomar 2006–07 Liga de Honra 18 4 2 0 20 4
Portimonense 2007–08 Liga de Honra 30 5 2 2 5 0 37 7
Rio Ave 2008–09 Primeira Liga 20 0 1 1 5 2 26 3
2009–10 Primeira Liga 22 0 6 1 5 0 33 1
2010–11 Primeira Liga 28 2 4 1 2 0 34 3
2011–12 Primeira Liga 22 0 1 0 2 0 25 0
2012–13 Primeira Liga 29 6 2 0 4 1 35 7
2013–14 Primeira Liga 26 2 7 2 4 0 37 4
2014–15 Primeira Liga 29 2 5 0 0 0 9[a] 0 1[b] 0 44 2
2015–16 Primeira Liga 25 2 5 2 3 1 33 5
2016–17 Primeira Liga 32 5 1 0 2 0 2[c] 0 37 5
2017–18 Primeira Liga 31 1 4 1 3 0 38 2
2018–19 Primeira Liga 24 1 2 0 2 0 2[c] 0 30 1
2019–20 Primeira Liga 31 3 4 1 4 1 39 5
2020–21 Primeira Liga 26 0 3 0 0 0 3[c] 1 1[d] 0 33 1
Total 345 24 45 9 36 5 16 1 2 0 444 39
Career Total 496 48 55 13 41 5 16 1 2 0 610 67
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifiers
  4. ^ Appearance in Primeira Liga Relegation play-offs

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Tarantini" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  2. ^ Paulo, Isabel (17 October 2017). "Tarantini: "O jogador de futebol é culturalmente limitado"" [Tarantini: "The football player is culturally limited"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. ^ Alves, Armando (27 June 2007). "Tarantini é reforço e mais quatro certos" [Tarantini an addition and four others confirmed]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Tarantini: "Na Liga é mais fácil"" [Tarantini: "It is easier in the League"]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Rio Ave não deixa águia voar mais alto que o empate" [Rio Ave do not let eagle soar higher than draw] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 24 August 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Paços de Ferreira 1 x 6 Rio Ave FC" (in Portuguese). Rio Ave F.C. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  7. ^ Ruela, João (29 September 2012). "Tarantini tira a liderança isolada ao FC Porto" [Tarantini strips Porto of their outright lead]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Rio Ave-Sertanense, 4–2: Sertanense só reagiu quando estava fora" [Rio Ave-Sertanense, 4–2: Sertanense only reacted when they were out]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Artur dá Supertaça ao Benfica" [Artur gives Supercup to Benfica]. Sol (in Portuguese). 10 August 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Rio Ave na Liga Europa. "Fizemos história", diz Tarantini" [Rio Ave in the Europa League. "We made history", says Tarantini] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Tarantini completa 400 jogos com camisola do Rio Ave" [Tarantini completes 400 games with Rio Ave shirt]. Mais Seminário (in Portuguese). 24 February 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  12. ^ "VÍDEO: Tarantini foi ter com os adeptos e em lágrimas pediu-lhes desculpa" [VIDEO: Tarantini approached the fans and asked them for forgiveness in tears] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. ^ "OFICIAL: Rio Ave dispensa Tarantini" [OFFICIAL: Rio Ave release Tarantini] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  14. ^ Pinto, Paulo (11 October 2021). "Tarantini assume cargo de adjunto" [Tarantini takes over as assistant]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Rio Ave: Tarantini já é mestre" [Rio Ave: Tarantini is already a master] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Tarantini lança livro 'A Minha Causa', sobre gestão do final de carrreira desportiva" [Tarantini launches book 'My Cause', on managing the end of a sporting career]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  17. ^ Tarantini at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  18. ^ "Tarantini". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 March 2018.

External links edit