Rúben Semedo
Semedo with Olympiacos in 2019
Personal information
Full name Rúben Afonso Borges Semedo[1]
Date of birth (1994-04-04) 4 April 1994[1]
Place of birth Amadora, Portugal
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Duhail
Number 35
Youth career
2006–2007 Sacavenense
2007–2010 Futebol Benfica
2010–2013 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Sporting CP B 23 (1)
2014–2017 Sporting CP 38 (0)
2014–2015 → Reus (loan) 16 (0)
2015–2016 → Vitória Setúbal (loan) 15 (0)
2017–2019 Villarreal 4 (0)
2018–2019 → Huesca (loan) 11 (0)
2019 → Rio Ave (loan) 14 (2)
2019–2022 Olympiacos 57 (2)
2022 → Porto B (loan) 3 (0)
2022 → Porto (loan) 1 (0)
2022– Al-Duhail 21 (0)
International career
2014 Portugal U20 4 (1)
2016–2017 Portugal U21 10 (3)
2020 Portugal 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:39, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

Rúben Afonso Borges Semedo (born 4 April 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender or a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail.

Developed at Sporting CP, he went to on to serve two loans then make 48 competitive appearances for its first team.[2] In 2017 he signed with Villarreal and, after two years and as many loans, joined Olympiacos where he won several titles, including two Super League Greece championships.

Semedo made his full debut for Portugal in 2020. His career has been marred by legal problems off the field.[3][4]

Club career

Sporting CP

Born in Amadora in the Lisbon metropolitan area of Cape Verdean descent, Semedo joined Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 16.[2] On 11 August 2013, he made his debut with the first team, scoring in a friendly with Fiorentina.[5]

Semedo spent the 2013–14 season with the B team in the Segunda Liga, his first appearance in the competition occurring on 25 August 2013 as he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Trofense.[6] On 26 August 2014, he, alongside teammate Vítor, was loaned to Spanish side Reus.[7]

For the 2015–16 campaign, Semedo was promoted to Sporting's main squad. He made his competitive debut – winning his first trophy in the process – on 9 August, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 victory over Benfica in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.[8] Five days later, however, he was loaned to fellow top-flight club Vitória de Setúbal.[9]

Semedo was sent off twice during his brief spell in Setúbal, including once in a game against Rio Ave for the Taça de Portugal.[10] In the 2016 January transfer window, he was recalled by the Lions due to a defensive injury crisis.[11][12]

On 18 February 2016, Semedo played his first game in European competition, being sent off after two bookable offences in a 1–0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League.[13] On 9 March he signed a new contract until 2022, with a release clause being set at €45 million.[14]

Villarreal

Semedo was transferred to Villarreal on 7 June 2017, for €14 million.[15] He made his La Liga debut on 25 August, playing the entire 3–0 away defeat against Real Sociedad.[16] After Javier Calleja took over as head coach on 25 September he fell out of favour, and having seen himself become a rotation player his stint was also plagued by injuries, which ultimately required surgery in December.[17]

On 19 July 2018, Semedo was loaned to newly promoted club Huesca for the upcoming season.[18] The decision to sign him attracted some criticism, but sporting director Emilio Vega stated that the player would be in good shape once the season began because he played some matches while in prison.[17] Moreover, Vega stated that they would not be monitoring his off-field behaviour. "I was very keen to play again and Huesca have given me an opportunity to do so in the first division. I didn't hesitate to accept their offer", Semedo said at his introductory press conference.[17]

Still owned by Villarreal, and after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Francisco,[19] Semedo returned to Portugal on 29 January 2019, signing with Rio Ave until June.[20]

Olympiacos

On 25 June 2019, Semedo joined Olympiacos for €4.5 million signing a four-year contract; Villarreal retained a 20% resale rate on the player and he was to earn around €700,000 per year, being the club's second-most expensive defender after Belgian Björn Engels was bought from Club Brugge for €7 million in 2017[21][22] and sharing teams with compatriots Pedro Martins (manager), Daniel Podence and José Sá.[23] He scored his first goal for the team on 30 July, with a close-range effort following a corner from Giorgos Masouras after Aleš Hruška saved Yassine Meriah's shot, in a 4–0 home win over Viktoria Plzeň in the UEFA Champions League's second qualifying round.[24] He repeated the feat in the next stage of the same competition, as the hosts beat İstanbul Başakşehir 2–0 and won 3–0 on aggregate.[25]

Semedo won the Super League Greece and Cup double in his first season in Piraeus. He was a late substitute in the latter's final on 12 September 2020, a single-goal victory against AEK Athens.[26] The following summer, he was lined up to join several compatriots at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he was denied a work permit by the UK Home Office due to his criminal record.[27]

On 1 December 2021, in his first match for nearly four months due to off-the-field issues, Semedo scored in a 3–2 defeat at Levadiakos in the last 16 of the cup.[28] The following month, he was hospitalised after being beaten at his doorstep by hooded men.[29]

On 31 January 2022, Semedo moved to Porto on a five-month loan worth €350,000, with the deal including an unspecified buying option.[30][31] In order to regain his fitness, he started playing with the reserve team.[32]

Al-Duhail

Semejo joined Al-Duhail of the Qatar Stars League on 1 August 2022, on a three-year contract with an annual salary of €5 million; Olympiacos retained 50% of the player's rights.[33][34] Managed by Hernán Crespo, he won a treble of the league, cup and league cup in his first season in Doha.[35][36]

International career

On 24 March 2016, Semedo marked his debut for the Portugal under-21 team with a goal, scoring the opener in a 4–0 home defeat of Liechtenstein in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers played in Ponta Delgada.[37] In October 2019, while still awaiting trial for alleged crimes in Spain, he received his first call-up for the senior team ahead of UEFA Euro 2020 qualification matches against Luxembourg and Ukraine.[38]

Semedo won his first full cap on 7 October 2020, playing the entire 0–0 friendly draw with Spain.[39]

In January 2018, it was announced that Semedo would stand trial for an altercation in a bar in Valencia the previous November, when the player allegedly brandished a pistol and made threats while he was nursing an injury.[40][41] He was arrested again for a separate incident on 20 February, this time for allegedly tying up and torturing a man in his home alongside two others, then going to the victim's house to burgle it.[42][43] For the latter incident, he was charged with attempted murder and placed in preventive detention.[44]

Semedo was released from prison on 13 July 2018, after paying bail of €30,000.[45] Facing a maximum 151⁄2-year sentence, he confessed two years later to kidnap, robbery, wounding and illegal firearm possession; he was fined €46,000 and banned from entering Spain for the next eight years.[46][47]

On 30 August 2021, Semedo was arrested in Athens following a gang rape allegation filed by a 17-year-old teenager after a night out in Oropos.[48] Police arrested a second man, also accused of leading the girl to Semedo's house where the actions allegedly took place.[49][50] The player was freed from custody days later after paying a €10,000 bond.[51]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 August 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting CP B 2013–14[52] Segunda Liga 231————231
Sporting CP 2013–14[52] Primeira Liga 001000——10
2015–16[52] Primeira Liga 14000001[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0160
2016–17[52] Primeira Liga 24010006[lower-alpha 5]0—310
Total 38020007010480
Reus (loan) 2014–15[53] Segunda División B 160————160
Vitória Setúbal (loan) 2015–16[52] Primeira Liga 1503010——190
Villarreal 2017–18[53] La Liga 4000—1[lower-alpha 3]0—50
Huesca (loan) 2018–19[53] La Liga 11010———120
Rio Ave (loan) 2018–19[52] Primeira Liga 142————142
Olympiacos 2019–20[53] Super League Greece 27140—14[lower-alpha 6]4—455
2020–21[53] Super League Greece 30150—9[lower-alpha 7]0—441
2021–22[53] Super League Greece 0011—4[lower-alpha 5]0—51
Total 572101—274—947
Porto B (loan) 2021–22[53] Liga Portugal 2 3 0 - - - - 3 0
Porto (loan) 2021–22[53] Primeira Liga 1000—10—20
Al-Duhail 2022–23[53] Qatar Stars League 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 1865161103641024010
  1. ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Greek Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  5. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  6. ↑ Twelve appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[54]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202030
Total30

Honours

Sporting CP

Olympiacos

Porto

Al-Duhail

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rúben Semedo" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Rúben Semedo. O menino da Boba que nunca esqueceu as origens" [Rúben Semedo. The kid from Boba who never forgot where he came from]. Sol (in Portuguese). 5 March 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Richard (30 August 2018). "Kidnapping, attempted murder and Ruben Semedo's second chance at Huesca". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Olympiacos defender Ruben Semedo arrested after rape allegation". Joe. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  5. ↑ Pereira, Sérgio (13 September 2013). "Ruben Semedo, o craque descoberto em 45 minutos" [Ruben Semedo, the ace discovered in 45 minutes] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sporting B-Trofense, 1–0: Betinho garante triunfo" [Sporting B-Trofense, 1–0: Betinho provides win]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Vítor Silva i Rubén Semedo darreres incorporacions" [Vítor Silva and Rubén Semedo the last additions] (in Catalan). Reus Deportiu. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  8. 1 2 Barros, Carlos José (9 August 2015). "Benfica 0−1 Sporting" (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Rúben Semedo: "O meu primeiro objetivo é ser titular"" [Rúben Semedo: "My first goal is to start"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "Polícia acalmou adeptos após expulsão de Rúben Semedo" [Polícia settled fans down after Rúben Semedo ejection]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 16 December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  11. ↑ Costa, Nuno Alexandre (19 January 2016). "Jorge Jesus atento aos jogadores emprestados" [Jorge Jesus keeping an eye on loaned players] (in Portuguese). Relvado. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  12. ↑ Almeida Gonçalves, Vítor (20 January 2016). "Rúben Semedo de regresso a Alvalade" [Rúben Semedo returns to Alvalade]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Advantage Leverkusen after Sporting scalp". UEFA. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "Comunicado sobre a renovação de Rúben Semedo" [Release on Rúben Semedo renewal] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "BRIEF-Sporting transfers Ruben Semedo to Villarreal for 14 mln euros". Reuters. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  16. ↑ Pérez, Javier (25 August 2017). "Andrés Fernández se lesiona de gravedad en el homenaje con goleada de la Real a Xabi Prieto" [Andrés Fernández seriously injured in Real's homage with goals to Xabi Prieto]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 McTear, Euan (1 August 2018). "Can Rúben Semedo resurrect his career at Huesca?". Tifo Football. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Semedo jugará en la SD Huesca" [Semedo will play at SD Huesca] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Francisco Rodríguez: "Semedo no entra en mis planes y el club busca una solución"" [Francisco Rodríguez: "Semedo is not part of my plans and the club is looking for a way out"]. Diario del AltoAragón (in Spanish). 5 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "Rúben Semedo no Rio Ave" [Rúben Semedo to Rio Ave]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  21. ↑ Samolis, Dimitris (25 June 2019). "Ολυμπιακός: Οι λεπτομέρειες του deal για Σεμέδο" [Olympiacos: Details of the deal with Semedo] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  22. ↑ Nicolaides, Shaun (25 June 2019). "Semedo travelling to Athens ahead of Olympiacos move". Agona Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  23. ↑ "Três portugueses titulares no empate do Olympiacos de Pedro Martins" [Three Portuguese start in draw of Pedro Martins' Olympiacos]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 23 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  24. ↑ Samolis, Dimitris (30 July 2019). "Ολυμπιακός – Πλζεν 4–0: Διέλυσε τους Τσέχους με μπαλάρα" [Olympiacos – Plzeň 4–0: Czechs sent packing with a stunner] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  25. ↑ Andrade, David (13 August 2019). "Rúben Semedo marca no apuramento do Olympiacos" [Rúben Semedo scores as Olympiacos go through]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  26. 1 2 Laranjeira, Francisco (13 September 2020). "Pedro Martins oferece 18.ª dobradinha" [Pedro Martins offers 18th double]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  27. ↑ Sebe, Francisco (19 August 2021). "Registo criminal trava ida de Rúben Semedo para o Wolverhampton" [Criminal record halts Rúben Semedo's move to Wolverhampton]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  28. ↑ Gillen, Sean (1 December 2021). "Porto target Semedo scores on return to action following lengthy absence; Rony Lopes opens Olympiacos account [video]". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  29. ↑ "Rúben Semedo atacado por homens encapuzados à porta de casa" [Rúben Semedo attacked by hooded men at his doorstep]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  30. ↑ Sebe, Francisco (29 January 2022). "Rúben Semedo chega ao FC Porto sem cláusula de compra obrigatória" [Rúben Semedo arrives at FC Porto with no mandatory buying clause]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "Rúben Semedo reforça FC Porto" [Rúben Semedo bolsters FC Porto] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Rúben Semedo seguro na estreia pela equipa B do F. C. Porto" [Rúben Semedo sure of himself in debut for F. C. Porto's B-team]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "Al Duhail contracts with Semedo…". Al-Duhail SC. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  34. ↑ Monteiro, Bruno Filipe (1 August 2022). "Rúben Semedo no Al-Duhail com salário milionário: confira os números" [Rúben Semedo to Al-Duhail with monster wages: check the numbers]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "Rúben Semedo e filho de Madjer sagram-se campeões no Qatar" [Rúben Semedo and Madjer's son crowned champions in Qatar] (in Portuguese). Televisão Independente. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  36. ↑ Saha Roy, Shilarze (15 May 2023). "Hernan Crespo: Here's why this Argentine legend made news in Qatar". FIFA. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  37. ↑ Castro, Gaspar (24 March 2016). "Golear cedo e cedo descansar no regresso aos Açores" [Early rout and early resting in return to the Azores] (in Portuguese). SAPO. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  38. ↑ Garcia, Adriana (3 October 2019). "Portugal call up Ruben Semedo as he awaits trial for attempted murder". ESPN. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  39. ↑ Reidy, Paul (7 October 2020). "Lisbon stalemate as Campaña and Traore debut for 'La Roja'". Diario AS. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  40. ↑ "Ruben Semedo a contas com a justiça por alegado incidente com pistola" [Arm of justice catches Ruben Semedo for alleged incident with pistol]. Público (in Portuguese). 26 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  41. ↑ "La Policía investiga a Semedo por amenazas con una pistola en un club de alterne" [Police investigate Semedo for threats with a pistol in bar]. Marca (in Spanish). 26 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  42. ↑ "Rúben Semedo detido. Outra vez" [Rúben Semedo arrested. Again] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "Villarreal defender Ruben Semedo charged with attempted murder following shock arrest". Sports Illustrated. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  44. ↑ "Ruben Semedo: Villarreal defender charged with attempted murder in Spain". BBC Sport. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  45. ↑ Rodríguez, M. Á. (13 July 2018). "Ruben Semedo to leave prison after paying bail of 30,000 euros". Marca. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  46. ↑ "Rubén Semedo se libra de la cárcel pero tiene prohibida la entrada a España durante los próximos ocho años" [Rubén Semedo avoids prison but is banned from entering Spain in the next eight years]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 17 July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  47. ↑ Cabanes, Ignacio (17 July 2020). "Semedo elude la prisión y es condenado a ocho años de expulsión del país" [Semedo avoids prison and is sentenced to eight years of expulsion from the country]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  48. ↑ "Olympiakos defender Ruben Semedo arrested over rape allegation". Kathimerini. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  49. ↑ "UPD – Olympiakos FC player Semedo charged with gang rape of teenage girl". Proto Thema (in Greek). 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  50. ↑ "Συνελήφθη ο 40χρονος που κατηγορείται ότι συμμετείχε στον ομαδικό βιασμό 17χρονης με τον Σεμέδο" [40-year-old arrested for alleged participation in gang rape of 17-year-old with Semedo] (in Greek). Gazzetta. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  51. ↑ "Rúben Semedo à saída do tribunal: "Estou inocente" (vídeo)" [Rúben Semedo upon leaving court: "I'm innocent" (video)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  52. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rúben Semedo at ForaDeJogo (archived)
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Rúben Semedo". Soccerway. DAZN Group. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  54. ↑ "Rúben Semedo". European Football. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  55. ↑ "Olympiacos win their 45th Greek Super League title". Greek City Times. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  56. ↑ "Olympiacos, de Pedro Martins, revalida título de campeão na Grécia" [Olympiacos, of Pedro Martins, renew champions title in Greece]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  57. ↑ Ribeiro, Patrick (7 May 2022). "Zaidu winner takes Porto to the title away to bitter rivals Benfica". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  58. ↑ Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (14 May 2022). "FC Porto-Estoril, 2–0 (crónica)" [FC Porto-Estoril, 2–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  59. ↑ Papamakarios, Petros (15 February 2021). "Super League Interwetten: Η καλύτερη ενδεκάδα της σεζόν 2019–20" [Super League Interwetten: 2019–20 season All-Star XI] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  60. ↑ "Pedro Martins eleito treinador do ano na Grécia" [Pedro Martins voted coach of the year in Greece]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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