Rui Pires

Rui Miguel Guerra Pires (born 22 March 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors.

Rui Pires
Pires in 2019
Personal information
Full name Rui Miguel Guerra Pires
Date of birth (1998-03-22) 22 March 1998
Place of birth Mirandela, Portugal
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lion City Sailors
Number 46
Youth career
–2008 Mirandela
2009–2015 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Porto B 69 (0)
2019–2022 Troyes 32 (0)
2021–2022 → Paços de Ferreira (loan) 21 (0)
2022– 2023 Paços de Ferreira 31 (0)
2023– Lion City Sailors 0 (0)
International career‡
2015–2016 Portugal U18 7 (0)
2016–2017 Portugal U19 5 (0)
2017–2018 Portugal U20 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2018

Club career

Porto B

Rui began his journey in the acclaimed youth system of FC Porto, where he progressed through the ranks, featuring prominently in its Under-15, U17, and U19 sides. He was subsequently promoted to Porto’s B side.

On 7 August 2016, Pires made his professional debut with FC Porto B in a 2016–17 LigaPro match against Aves.[1]

Troyes AC

On 9 July 2019, Pires moved on a free transfer to Ligue 2 side Troyes AC. In December 2019, he suffered anterior cruciate ligament injury ending his season prematurely. He ended up making 13 appearances.[2]

He won the French second-tier Ligue 2 with Troyes in 2020/21.

Paços de Ferreira

On 26 July 2021, he returned to Portugal and joined Paços de Ferreira on loan.[3] His loan was made permanent after a successful loan.

During his time with Paços Ferreira, Rui showed his capabilities on the European stage, making two appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifiers.

Lion City Sailors

On 29 June 2023, it was reported by the Portuguese press that Pires had move to Singapore to play for Lion City Sailors. [4]

He was officially announced as the new signing for the team on 14 July 2023 signing a two-year contract. [5] On 26 July 2023, Pires make his debut for the club in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspurs at the Singapore National Stadium. On 20 September 2023, Pires play his first official game for the club in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage fixture against Thailand club, Bangkok United.

Career statistics
As of match played 21 May 23[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B 2016–17 LigaPro 140000000140
2017–18 LigaPro 280000000280
2018–19 LigaPro 270000000270
Total 690000000690
Troyes 2019–20 Ligue 2 130101000150
2020–21 Ligue 2 190100000200
Total 320201000350
Paços de Ferreira 2021–22 Primeira Liga 210302020280
2022–23 Primeira Liga 310101000330
Total 520403020610
Lion City Sailors 2023 Singapore Premier League 0000001000
Total 0000001010
Career Total 15306040301660

    Honours

    Individual

    References
    1. "Aves 2-1 Porto B". ForaDeJogo. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
    2. "Rui Pires (Ex-FC Porto) operado ao joelho direito".
    3. "RUI PIRES CHEGA AO FC PAÇOS DE FERREIRA" (in Portuguese). Paços de Ferreira. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
    4. "Piers leaves Paco for LCS".
    5. "Rui Pires signs to power Sailors' second foray into AFC Champions League".
    6. "Rui Pires". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
    7. "Technical Report". UEFA.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
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