David Simão

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Martins and the second or paternal family name is Simão.

David Martins Simão (born 15 May 1990) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club F.C. Arouca.

David Simão

Personal information
Full name	David Martins Simão[1]
Date of birth	(1990-05-15) 15 May 1990 (age 34)[1]
Place of birth	Versailles, France[1]
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Arouca
Number	5
Youth career
1998–2000	Abóboda
2000–2009	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2013	Benfica	0	(0)
2009–2010	→ Fátima (loan)	25	(5)
2010–2011	→ Paços Ferreira (loan)	25	(0)
2012	→ Académica (loan)	11	(1)
2012–2013	→ Marítimo (loan)	26	(4)
2013–2016	Arouca	79	(11)
2016–2017	CSKA Sofia	24	(3)
2017–2019	Boavista	40	(2)
2019	Antwerp	12	(0)
2019–2021	AEK Athens	4	(0)
2020	→ Hapoel Be'er Sheva (loan)	10	(0)
2021	→ Moreirense (loan)	16	(0)
2022–	Arouca	83	(1)
International career
2006	Portugal U16	8	(1)
2006–2007	Portugal U17	11	(1)
2007–2008	Portugal U18	7	(2)
2008–2009	Portugal U19	8	(1)
2010	Portugal U20	5	(3)
2010–2012	Portugal U21	11	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:49, 21 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Versailles, France, Simão played most of his youth career at S.L. Benfica, having arrived at the age of 10 from Grupo Instrução Musical Desportiva Abóboda.^[2][3] On 19 January 2008, he was called to the first team for a Taça de Portugal tie against C.D. Feirense, courtesy of manager José Antonio Camacho,^[4] and was even picked to both UEFA Cup round-of-16 matches against Getafe CF,^[5] not being used however in any of the three fixtures.

Simão made his professional debut with C.D. Fátima, on loan, his first appearance being against C.D. Santa Clara in the 2009–10 season opener in the Segunda Liga, a 1–0 away loss.^[6] On 26 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the side, in a 1–1 away draw to Gil Vicente FC.^[7]

On 17 June 2010, Simão moved to F.C. Paços de Ferreira, still on loan.^[8] He made his Primeira Liga debut on 14 August in a 1–0 home win over Sporting CP,^[9] and only missed five league games (19 starts, 2,051 minutes of action) during the campaign as the team finished in seventh position.

Simão returned to Benfica for 2011–12 but, deemed surplus to requirements by manager Jorge Jesus, he moved to fellow top-tier Académica de Coimbra again on loan, on 17 January 2012.^[10] He scored his first goal for his new club on 26 March, netting from 40 yards in a 2–1 defeat at S.C. Braga.^[11]

On 31 July 2012, Simão was loaned to C.S. Marítimo in a season-long move.^[12] He terminated his contract with Benfica late into June of the following year, and signed a three-year deal with F.C. Arouca also in the top flight.^[13]

Aged 26, Simão moved abroad for the first time in his career, joining First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) club PFC CSKA Sofia for three years.^[14] On 28 May 2017, he netted twice in The Eternal Derby to help overcome PFC Levski Sofia 3–0,^[15] but left on 31 August of that year^[16] to immediately sign with Boavista FC.^[17]

Simão moved teams and countries again in January 2019, agreeing to a contract at Royal Antwerp F.C. of the Belgian Pro League.^[18] On 22 June, he switched to the Super League Greece with AEK Athens FC, signing until 2022 for an undisclosed fee.^[19]

In February 2020, Simão was loaned to Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC. He and compatriots Miguel Vítor and Josué Pesqueira won the Israeli State Cup on 13 July with a 2–0 final victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva FC.^[20]

Simão returned to Arouca on 10 January 2022, on a deal running until June 2023.^[21]

Personal life

Simão's older brother, Bruno, was also a footballer, in the defender position.^[22]

Career statistics

As of match played on 27 May 2023^[23]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica	2011–12	Primeira Liga	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Fátima (loan)	2009–10	Liga de Honra	25	5	2	0	2	0	–		29	5
Paços Ferreira (loan)	2010–11	Primeira Liga	25	0	1	0	6	1	–		32	1
Académica (loan)	2011–12		11	1	0	0	0	0	–		11	1
Marítimo (loan)	2012–13		26	4	3	0	2	0	6	0	37	4
Arouca	2013–14		29	4	3	1	0	0	–		32	5
	2014–15		32	3	1	0	3	0	–		36	3
	2015–16		18	4	3	0	2	0	–		23	4
	Total		79	11	7	1	5	0	0	0	91	12
CSKA Sofia	2016–17	Bulgarian First League	22	3	0	0	–		–		22	3
	2017–18		2	0	0	0	–		–		2	0
	Total		24	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	3
Boavista	2017–18	Primeira Liga	27	1	0	0	0	0	–		27	1
	2018–19		13	1	2	0	1	0	–		16	1
	Total		40	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	43	2
Antwerp	2018–19	Belgian Pro League	12	0	0	0	0	0	–		12	0
AEK Athens	2019–20	Super League Greece	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	7	0
	2020–21		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	7	0
Hapoel Be'er Sheva (loan)	2019–20	Israeli Premier League	10	0	3	0	0	0	—		13	0
Moreirense (loan)	2020–21	Primeira Liga	16	0	0	0	0	0	—		16	0
Arouca	2021–22		15	1	0	0	0	0	—		15	1
	2022–23		31	0	3	0	5	0	—		39	0
	Total		46	1	3	0	5	0	0	0	54	1
Career total			318	27	23	1	21	1	9	0	371	29

Honours

Académica

• Taça de Portugal: 2011–12^[24]

Hapoel Be'er Sheva

• Israel State Cup: 2019–20^[20]

Individual

• SJPF Young Player of the Month: December 2012, January 2013^[25]

References

1. "David Simão" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
2. "Jovens da formação confirmados na pré-época" [Youth system players confirmed in pre-season]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 June 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
3. Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (1 August 2020). ""O Jesus dava muitas duras ao Matíc, ao Jardel, ao Nelson Oliveira por fechar os olhos e encher o pé. Ao Aimar dizia: 'Já sabes tudo'"" ["Jesus gave Matíc, Jardel and Nelson Oliveira several earfuls, the latter for closing his eyes and shooting it into next week. To Aimar he said: 'You know everything'"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2021.
4. Machado, Catarina (18 January 2008). "Benfica: Léo falha Taça por lesão; Katsouranis volta após castigo" [Benfica: Léo misses Cup due to injury; Katsouranis returns after penalty] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
5. Capela, Ricardo (6 March 2008). "Benfica em campo "por Camacho"" [Benfica take the field "for Camacho"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
6. "Santa Clara 1 – Fátima 0 MINUTO A MINUTO" [Santa Clara 1 – Fátima 0 MINUTE BY MINUTE]. Açoriano Oriental (in Portuguese). 16 August 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
7. "Gil Vicente-Fátima, 1–1: Oportunidade perdida" [Gil Vicente-Fátima, 1–1: Missed chance]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
8. Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (18 June 2010). "Benfica empresta promessa ao Paços de Ferreira" [Benfica loan prospect to Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
9. Araújo Pina, Pedro (14 August 2010). "Paços de Ferreira 1–0 Sporting (final)" [Paços de Ferreira 1–0 Sporting (end)] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
10. Frederico, Francisco (17 January 2012). "Benfica empresta David Simão à Académica" [Benfica loan David Simão to Académica] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
11. "Braga seize title race initiative" (in Portuguese). PortuGOAL. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
12. Mendes, Miguel (31 July 2012). "Benfica empresta David Simão ao Maritimo" [Benfica loan David Simão to Maritimo]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
13. Frederico, Francisco (26 June 2013). "Arouca: David Simão é reforço por três épocas" [David Simão is an addition for three seasons] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
14. Lima, Fábio (5 July 2016). "Bulgária: David Simão assina pelo CSKA Sófia" [Bulgaria: David Simão signs for CSKA Sofia]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2021.
15. "Bulgária: David Simão bisa e CSKA vence Levski" [Bulgária: David Simão scores brace and CSKA beat Levski]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 May 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
16. "Давид Симао вече не е част от ЦСКА" [David Simão is no longer part of CSKA] (in Bulgarian). CSKA Sofia. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
17. "David Simão assina pelo Boavista" [David Simão signs for Boavista] (in Portuguese). Boavista F.C. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
18. "Antwerp zonder onmisbare pion tegen Standard" [Antwerp without an indispensable pawn against Standard] (in Dutch). Voetbal Nieuws. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
19. "David Simao joins AEK FC until 2022". AEK Athens F.C. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
20. "VÍDEO: Josué, Miguel Vítor e David Simão vencem Taça de Israel" [VIDEO: Josué, Miguel Vítor and David Simão win the Israeli Cup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
21. Marques dos Santos, Pedro (11 January 2022). "David Simão regressa a casa" [David Simão returns home]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
22. Lopes, José Carlos; Celso, Marcos (13 May 2012). "Bruno Simão está há seis anos no estrangeiro e não pensa em regressar" [Bruno Simão has been abroad for six years and he does not think of coming back] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
23. "David Simão". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
24. "Académica shock Sporting to lift Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
25. "David Simão recebeu prémio de melhor jogador jovem" [David Simão receives award for best young player]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.

External links

• David Simão at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• David Simão national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)