Bruno Alves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bruno Alves

Alves with Portugal in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Bruno Eduardo Regufe Alves
Date of birth	(1981-11-27) 27 November 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
Height	1.87 m
Playing position	Centre-back
Club information
Current club	AEK Athens (sporting director)
Youth career
1992–1999	Varzim
1999–2000	Porto
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2005	Porto B	58	(8)
2002–2010	Porto	119	(14)
2002–2003	→ Farense (loan)	46	(3)
2003–2004	→ Guimarães (loan)	26	(1)
2004–2005	→ AEK Athens (loan)	27	(0)
2010–2013	Zenit Saint Petersburg	71	(1)
2013–2016	Fenerbahçe	75	(3)
2016–2017	Cagliari	36	(1)
2017–2018	Rangers	20	(1)
2018–2021	Parma	85	(5)
2021	Famalicão	0	(0)
2021–2022	Apollon Smyrnis	19	(0)
Total		582	(37)
National team
2001–2002	Portugal U20	10	(1)
2002–2004	Portugal U21	19	(2)
2004	Portugal U23	3	(0)
2004	Portugal B	1	(0)
2007–2018	Portugal	96	(11)
Honours Men's football Representing  Portugal FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2017 UEFA European Championship Gold 2016 Bronze 2012 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Third 2004
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Bruno Eduardo Regufe Alves (born on 27 November 1981) is a Portuguese former footballer. He played as a central defender. Today, he works as a sporting director for the Greek club AEK Athens.

Bruno Alves spent most of his career playing for Porto in Portugal. There, he won nine important titles. He also won championships in Russia with Zenit Saint Petersburg and in Turkey with Fenerbahçe.

He was a key player for the Portugal national team from 2007 to 2018. He played in three World Cups, three European Championships, and one Confederations Cup. A big highlight was winning Euro 2016 with his country. He played 96 games for Portugal.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Portugal

Bruno Alves was born in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. He grew up in a fishing town called Caxinas. He started playing football at a local club, Varzim SC. When he was 17, he joined the youth team of FC Porto.

After playing on loan for other teams, including AEK Athens FC in Greece, Bruno Alves returned to Porto for the 2005–06 season. He worked hard to earn a spot in the main team. He played seven league games that season, helping Porto win the Primeira Liga (Portugal's top league). In one game, he was sent off, meaning he had to leave the field.

In 2006, a new coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, arrived. This was a turning point for Bruno Alves. He became a regular starter and formed a strong defense with his teammate Pepe. He played very well in the 2006–07 season, helping Porto win another national championship.

In 2009, Bruno Alves scored an important goal against C.D. Nacional. This goal helped his team win their fourth league title in a row.

Moving to Russia: Zenit Saint Petersburg

Alves playing for Zenit in 2012

On 3 August 2010, when he was 28, Bruno Alves moved to Russia. He joined FC Zenit Saint Petersburg for about €22 million. He played alongside other Portuguese players there. His coach, Luciano Spalletti, said Bruno was a very important player because of his experience and strong character.

Bruno Alves scored his first goal for Zenit on 30 September 2010. It was against his old team, AEK Athens, in a UEFA Europa League game.

Playing in Turkey: Fenerbahçe

Alves playing for Fenerbahçe in 2014

On 5 June 2013, Bruno Alves moved to Turkey. He signed a three-year deal with Fenerbahçe SK. He helped his new team win the Süper Lig (Turkey's top league) in his first season. He also helped them win the Turkish Super Cup in 2014.

During his time in Turkey, he received red cards in a couple of matches. This meant he had to leave the field early.

Adventures in Italy and Scotland

On 5 June 2016, Bruno Alves signed a two-year contract with Cagliari Calcio in Italy. They had just returned to the top Italian league, Serie A. He played his first game for them on 15 August 2016. He scored his first goal for Cagliari on 11 September, which was a free-kick.

On 31 May 2017, Bruno Alves moved to Scotland to play for Rangers. He signed a two-year deal. He scored his first goal for Rangers on 9 August in a big win against Dunfermline Athletic. He left Rangers in July 2018.

Back to Italy: Parma

In the summer of 2018, Bruno Alves returned to Italy. He joined Parma Calcio 1913, a team that had just been promoted to Serie A. He signed new deals in 2019 and 2020, staying with the club until June 2021.

After Parma was moved down to a lower league in 2021, Bruno Alves announced he was leaving the club.

Later Career and Retirement

On 1 July 2021, Bruno Alves signed with F.C. Famalicão in Portugal. However, he left the club just two weeks later.

On 4 September 2021, he signed a one-year deal with Apollon Smyrnis FC in Greece. He was almost 40 years old at this point. He announced his retirement from playing football in June 2022. Soon after, he became the sporting director for AEK Athens.

International Career for Portugal

Alves playing for Portugal in 2011

Bruno Alves played for the Portugal Olympic team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He made his first full international appearance for the senior team in June 2007. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008.

He became a regular starter during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying games. He scored a winning goal in injury time against Albania in 2009. This helped Portugal reach the play-offs. He also scored the only goal in the first play-off game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, helping Portugal qualify for the World Cup. He played in all of Portugal's games at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Bruno Alves played in every game at the Euro 2012 tournament, playing alongside his former Porto teammate Pepe. In the semi-finals against Spain, he missed his penalty kick in a shootout, and Portugal lost.

He was chosen for the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Just before the tournament, he scored his tenth international goal in a friendly game against Mexico. He played in all of Portugal's group stage matches at the World Cup in Brazil.

Bruno Alves was also selected for Euro 2016. In a warm-up game against England, he was sent off. He made his tournament debut in the semi-finals against Wales, playing the full game as Portugal won 2–0. Portugal went on to win the tournament, making him a European champion!

In 2017, he was part of the squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The next year, he was chosen for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Bruno Alves' Family

Bruno Alves comes from a family of footballers. His older brother, Geraldo, was also a central defender. Their father, Washington Geraldo Dias Alves, was Brazilian and played football in Portugal for ten years.

Bruno's youngest brother, Júlio, also played football as a midfielder. Their uncle, Geraldo Assoviador, was also a footballer.

International Statistics

Alves (right) and Argentina's Lionel Messi in 2011

Here's a summary of Bruno Alves's games and goals for the Portugal national team:

Awards and Honours

Alves with his bronze medal from the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Bruno Alves won many titles throughout his career:

With Porto

• Primeira Liga (Portuguese League): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup): 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup): 2006, 2009

With Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2010, 2011–12
• Russian Super Cup: 2011

With Fenerbahçe

• Süper Lig (Turkish League): 2013–14
• Turkish Super Cup: 2014

With Portugal U21

• Toulon Tournament: 2001

With Portugal B

• Torneio Vale do Tejo: 2004

With Portugal National Team

• UEFA European Championship: 2016 (Champions!)
• FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2017

Individual Awards

• Primeira Liga Player of the Year: 2009

Special Recognition

• Commander of the Order of Merit (a special award from Portugal)

|

See also

In Spanish: Bruno Alves para niños