Rúben Filipe Oliveira Saldanha (born 26 January 1988) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for S.C. Espinho as an attacking midfielder.

Rúben Saldanha
Personal information
Full name Rúben Filipe Oliveira Saldanha[1]
Date of birth (1988-01-26) 26 January 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Arcozelo, Portugal[1]
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Espinho
Number 10
Youth career
1995–1998 Arcozelo
1998–2002 Porto
2002–2007 Leixões
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Padroense
2008–2009 Esmoriz 28 (1)
2009–2011 Varzim 33 (1)
2011–2012 Rapperswil-Jona 30 (9)
2012–2013 Schaffhausen 21 (3)
2013–2014 Leixões 32 (1)
2014–2015 Tondela 29 (0)
2016–2018 Santa Clara 85 (5)
2018–2019 Académica 11 (0)
2019 Loures 8 (0)
2020 Torreense 3 (0)
2020–2021 Canelas 12 (1)
2021– Espinho 17 (1)
International career
2008 Portugal U20 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:45, 13 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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Born in Arcozelo (Vila Nova de Gaia), Porto District, Saldanha represented three clubs as a youth, including FC Porto from ages 10 to 14. He played amateur football in his first two years as a senior, moving to the Segunda Liga with Varzim S.C. in 2009 and remaining two full seasons there.[2]

After two years in Switzerland, with lower league sides FC Rapperswil-Jona and FC Schaffhausen,[3] Saldanha returned to Leixões and the Portuguese second division after signing a one-year contract.[4] His first three competitive matches were in the Taça da Liga, and he managed to score two goals including a last-minute effort against Atlético Clube de Portugal that allowed his team to advance to the next round after the 3–2 home win.[5]

Saldanha remained in the second tier the following years, representing C.D. Tondela, C.D. Santa Clara and Académica de Coimbra.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Rúben Saldanha" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ^ Resendes, Manuel (7 August 2010). "Varzim: Seis reforços chamados para jogo da Taça da Liga" [Varzim: Six signings called for League Cup match] (in Portuguese). Futebol 365. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  3. ^ Fäh, Fredi (4 August 2012). "Viele Wechsel beim FC Rapperswil-Jona" [Many moves at FC Rapperswil-Jona]. Die Südostschweiz (in German). Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Ruben Saldanha é reforço" [Ruben Saldanha is an addition]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 May 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Leixões 3–2 Atlético (Taça da Liga – 1ª Fase, 2013/14)" [Leixões 3–2 Atlético (League Cup – 1st Stage, 2013/14)] (in Portuguese). Sou Atlético!. 4 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Rúben Saldanha é reforço da Académica" [Rúben Saldanha is an addition for Académica]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 27 August 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
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