Cadú (footballer, born 1981)

For other footballers also known as Cadu, see Cadu (disambiguation).

Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa (born 21 December 1981), known as Cadú, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Cadú

Cadú with CFR Cluj in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa[1]
Date of birth	(1981-12-21) 21 December 1981 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth	Paços de Ferreira, Portugal[1]
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1990–2000	Paços Ferreira
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Aliados Lordelo	18	(4)
2001–2002	Gondomar	34	(8)
2002–2004	Paços Ferreira	46	(3)
2004–2006	Boavista	58	(3)
2006–2014	CFR Cluj	202	(27)
2014–2015	AEL Limassol	12	(2)
2015–2016	Gil Vicente	44	(7)
2016–2017	Leixões	14	(2)
2017–2019	Merelinense	40	(2)
2019–2021	Maia Lidador	37	(7)
Total		505	(65)
International career
2003–2004	Portugal U21	4	(0)
2004	Portugal B	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 121 games and seven goals over five seasons, with Paços de Ferreira, Boavista (two apiece) and Gil Vicente. He spent the vast majority of his career in Romania with CFR Cluj, appearing in 255 competitive matches and winning eight major trophies.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Paços de Ferreira, Cadú began playing professionally with Gondomar S.C. in the Portuguese third division,^[2] his solid performances earning him a transfer straight to the Primeira Liga as he signed with another side in the north, F.C. Paços de Ferreira, in summer 2002. In his second season he started in 27 of the 28 matches he appeared in, but his team was relegated after ranking second-bottom.^[3][4][5]

After Paços' relegation, Cadú joined Boavista FC,^[6] also being first choice – 30 games, two goals^[7][8]– in his first year, with the Porto-based club finishing in sixth position.^[9]

CFR Cluj

Cadú signed with CFR Cluj from Romania on 12 July 2006, agreeing to a three-year contract for €750.000.^[10] He scored once in 25 matches in his debut season, for a final third place in Liga I.

Cadú became CFR's captain in late 2007,^[11] whilst helping the team to three consecutive Romanian Cup titles.^[12] Additionally, at the end of the 2009–10 campaign, as they won their second league title in three years, he was voted Central Defender of the Year alongside FC Unirea Urziceni's George Galamaz.^[13]

On 19 October 2010, Cadú scored twice in the UEFA Champions League group stage match against FC Bayern Munich, once in his own net, in an eventual 3–2 away loss.^[14] In late January 2012, he was awarded Romanian citizenship.^[15]

Honours

CFR Cluj

• Liga I: 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12^[16]
• Cupa României: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10^[16]
• Supercupa României: 2009, 2010^[16]

References

1. "Ricardo Cadú" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
2. "Hernâni Silva: "A nossa dignidade não admite dúvidas"" [Hernâni Silva: "Our dignity is beyond doubt"]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 May 2002. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
3. "Cadú mantém titularidade" [Cadú remains a starter]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 December 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
4. "Paços frente ao FC Porto: Fuga de Cadú dá vitória" [Paços against FC Porto: Cadú escape gives win]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 May 2003. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
5. "Cadú: "Vamos lá "roubar" pontos!"" [Cadú: "Let's go "steal" some points!"]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 April 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
6. "Cadú por quatro anos compõe o tabuleiro" [Cadú for four years the final piece in chessboard]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 August 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
7. "Marítimo 2–1 Boavista" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
8. "FC Porto frente ao Boavista: Dragão moribundo no adeus anunciado" [FC Porto against Boavista: Dying dragon in announced goodbye]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 April 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
9. Silva, Elisabete (4 May 2005). "Mais um adeus de Pacheco" [Another Pacheco farewell]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 September 2021.
10. "Cluj anuncia Cadú" [Cluj announce Cadú]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 July 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
11. "Cadu noul capitan al echipei din Gruia" [Cadu new captain in Gruia's squad] (in Romanian). Presa Online. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
12. "Cupa Romaniei ramane la Cluj-Napoca!" [Cluj-Napoca renew Cup title!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
13. Baicu, Radu (24 June 2010). "Best players in Romania". Scouting Romania. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
14. Holyman, Ian (19 October 2010). "Bayern beat CFR Cluj to extend group lead". UEFA. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
15. "Cadú a primit cetatenie romana" [Cadú receives Romanian citizenship]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
16. "Futebolista português Cadú diz sentir-se em casa no Cluj" [Portuguese footballer Cadú says he feels at home at Cluj] (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2020.

External links

• Cadú at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Cadú national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
• Cadú at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
• Cadú at Soccerway
• Cadú at WorldFootball.net