João Meira

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Serpa and the second or paternal family name is Meira.
João Meira
Personal information
Full name João Diogo Serpa Meira
Date of birth (1987-04-30) 30 April 1987
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Number 66
Youth career
1995–2003 Cova da Piedade
2003–2006 Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Cova da Piedade
2008–2009 Mafra 24 (0)
2009–2012 Atlético 66 (2)
2012–2015 Belenenses 79 (2)
2016– Chicago Fire 28 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 November 2016.


João Diogo Serpa Meira (born 30 April 1987) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for American club Chicago Fire Soccer Club as a central defender.

Football career

Born in Setúbal, Meira spent until the age of 24 competing in the third and fourth divisions. In the 2010–11 season, he started in all of his 33 league appearances as Atlético Clube de Portugal returned to the second level following a lengthy absence.

Meira made his professional debut on 31 July 2011, in a 0–1 home loss against S.C. Freamunde for the campaign's League Cup.[1] On 2 February 2012, he was suspended for eight months a failing a drug test on 29 May of the previous year, in a match against Padroense FC.[2]

For 2012–13, Meira joined C.F. Os Belenenses also in division two, signing a three-year contract.[3] He contributed with 34 games and two goals[4] as the Lisbon side returned to the Primeira Liga after three years.[5]

From 2013 to 2015, Meira started in 43 of his 45 league appearances, and his team also qualified for the UEFA Europa League in the latter season. On 23 January 2016, aged 28, he moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Chicago Fire Soccer Club of Major League Soccer.[6] He made his debut on 6 March, as the campaign opened with a 3–4 home loss to New York City FC.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Atlético CP 0–1 Freamunde". Zerozero. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "João Meira suspenso oito meses" [João Meira suspended eight months]. Record. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "João Meira assina por três épocas" [João Meira signs for three seasons]. Record. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira vale triunfo" [Belenenses-Naval, 1–0: João Meira gives win]. Record. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Belenenses um clube de Lisboa" [Belenenses a Lisbon club] (in Portuguese). Record. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Fire add two players to 2016 roster". Chicago Fire. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Chicago Fire rally falls short in season-opening 4–3 loss vs. NYCFC". Chicago Fire. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
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