João Lucas (footballer, born 1979) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Nuno Silva Cardoso Lucas | ||
| Date of birth | 25 October 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Caldas da Rainha, Portugal | ||
| Date of death | 26 May 2015 (aged 35) | ||
| Place of death | Porto, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1989–1995 | Alcobaça | ||
| 1995–1998 | Académica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2004 | Académica | 101 | (5) |
| 1998–1999 | → Sporting Pombal (loan) | ||
| 2000 | → Anadia (loan) | ||
| 2004–2007 | Boavista | 86 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Red Star | 13 | (1) |
| Total | 200 | (7) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003 | Portugal B | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
João Nuno Silva Cardoso Lucas (born October 25, 1979 – died May 26, 2015) was a talented Portuguese footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder, which means he helped protect his team's goal.
He played for several professional teams in Portugal. These included Académica and Boavista. Over five seasons in Portugal's top league, the Primeira Liga, he played 129 matches. In 2007, he moved to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Sadly, he had to stop playing football soon after, at just 28 years old, because of heart problems.
Playing for Clubs
João Lucas was born in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. He started his football journey at Académica de Coimbra. He made his first professional appearance during the 1999–2000 season. This was in the second division of Portuguese football.
He was also loaned out twice to smaller, amateur clubs. After these loan spells, he returned to Académica. He then became a very important player for their main team.
Playing for Boavista
In the 2004–05 season, João Lucas joined Boavista FC. He played consistently well for three seasons in the Primeira Liga with them. On February 3, 2006, he scored his only official goal for Boavista. This happened in a league game they won 3–0 at home.
Early Retirement
In the summer of 2007, João Lucas moved to Serbia to play for the famous club Red Star Belgrade. However, on March 17, 2008, he made a very difficult announcement. He decided to stop playing football.
Doctors told him he had heart problems. They explained that continuing to play would put his life at risk. At 28 years old, he had to end his career early. He said in a press conference, "This is the most difficult moment of my life." He also thanked everyone at Red Star for their support.
Later Life and Passing
João Lucas passed away on May 26, 2015. He was 35 years old. He died at his home in Porto, Portugal. His passing was due to a sudden heart issue.
See also
In Spanish: João Lucas para niños
