Mika (footballer, born 1991)

Mika

Mika with Benfica in 2012.
Personal information
Full name Michael Simões Domingues
Date of birth (1991-03-08) 8 March 1991
Place of birth Yverdon, Switzerland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Sunderland
Number 12
Youth career
2002–2006 Sporting Pombal
2006–2010 União Leiria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 União Leiria 4 (0)
2011–2014 Benfica 0 (0)
2012–2014 Benfica B 31 (0)
2014 Atlético 16 (0)
2014–2016 Boavista 58 (0)
2016– Sunderland 0 (0)
National team
2011 Portugal U20 17 (0)
2011–2012 Portugal U21 6 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 September 2016.


Michael Simões Domingues (born 8 March 1991), known as Mika, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for English club Sunderland as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland to Portuguese parents, Mika joined U.D. Leiria's youth ranks in 2006, aged 15. He was promoted to the main squad for the 2009–10 season, as third-choice. On 26 February 2010, in a home match against Vitória de Guimarães, he made his Primeira Liga debut, replacing Carlão after Hélder Godinho received a red card for committing a foul inside the box – he was not able to prevent Andrezinho from scoring the game's only goal, in the subsequent penalty kick; the following campaign he was still a backup, but two of his three appearances were against Sporting Clube de Portugal (0–0 away draw) and S.L. Benfica (3–3, also away).

On 7 July 2011, whilst on international duty with the Portuguese under-20s, Mika signed a five-year contract with Benfica for €500,000.[1] He played no official games during 2011–12, playing understudy to experienced Artur and Eduardo, going on to spend the following two seasons with the B-team in the second division.

On 27 January 2014, Mika cut ties with the Lisbon club.[2] He signed for two years with second level side Atlético Clube de Portugal the same day,[3] being first-choice during his short tenure but not being able to help prevent relegation.

Mika returned to the top flight in the 2014 summer, penning a three-year deal with Boavista FC.[4] During the 2016 summer, he gained interest from Premier League clubs Leicester City[5] and Sunderland: initial reports stated he agreed a move to the latter on transfer deadline day, but the deal was not finalized as the transfer window had already closed. The reason for the delayed transfer was a technical fault at the Portuguese end, but after an appeal to FIFA he was granted permission to join and signed a two-year contract.[6]

International career

Mika was Portugal's starter at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia: he helped the national team reach the final without conceding a single goal, before losing to Brazil 2–3 in the decisive match. In the quarter-finals against Argentina he saved three penalties in the shootout and, in the following game, against France, he broke the record for number of minutes without conceding a goal in U-20 World Cup history, in a 2–0 win,[7] and was eventually voted as best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Subsequently, Mika was chosen by under-21 manager Rui Jorge for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign. He played in half of the games, with Portugal just missing out on the play-off round.

Club statistics

As of 1 September 2016[8]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2009–10União LeiriaPrimeira Liga1000000010
2010–113010000040
Total 4010000050
2011–12BenficaPrimeira Liga0000000000
2012–13Benfica BSegunda Liga300—300
2013–1410—10
Total 310000000310
2013–14AtléticoSegunda Liga 160000000160
Total 160000000160
2014–15BoavistaPrimeira Liga290101000310
2015–16260301000300
2016–173000000030
Total 580402000640
2016–17 Sunderland Premier League0000000000
Career Total 10905020001160

Honours

Club

Benfica

Country

Portugal

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Benfica: guarda-redes Mika garantido por 500 mil euros (Benfica: goalkeeper Mika confirmed for 500.000 euros); Diário de Notícias, 7 July 2011 (Portuguese)
  2. ↑ Mika rescindiu contrato (Mika has terminated contract); A Bola, 27 January 2014 (Portuguese)
  3. ↑ Mika reforça alcantarenses (Mika bolsters alcantarenses); A Bola, 27 January 2014 (Portuguese)
  4. ↑ Mika reforça baliza do Boavista (Mika bolsters Boavista goal); Zerozero, 24 June 2014 (Portuguese)
  5. ↑ Leicester City plot £1million move for Portuguese goalkeeper Mika; Talk Sport, 23 May 2016
  6. ↑ "Sunderland sign Mika". Sunderland A.F.C. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  7. ↑ Portugal see off France to reach final; FIFA.com, 17 July 2011
  8. ↑ "Mika". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
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