Fernando Varela (Cape Verdean footballer)

For other uses, see Fernando Varela (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Dos Santos and the second or paternal family name is Varela.

Fernando Lopes dos Santos Varela (born 26 November 1987) is a professional footballer who plays mainly as a centre-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Alverca. Born in Portugal, he represented Cape Verde internationally.

Fernando Varela

Varela with PAOK in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Fernando Lopes dos Santos Varela
Date of birth	(1987-11-26) 26 November 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth	Cascais, Portugal[1]
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Alverca
Number	5
Youth career
1996–2004	AFD Torre
2004–2006	Estoril
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2009	Estoril	28	(1)
2006–2007	→ Rio Maior (loan)	21	(3)
2009–2011	Trofense	50	(2)
2011–2012	Feirense	30	(2)
2012–2013	Vaslui	37	(1)
2013–2016	Steaua București	82	(10)
2016–2022	PAOK	144	(6)
2022–2024	Casa Pia	51	(1)
2024–	Alverca	27	(2)
International career
2008–2019	Cape Verde	51	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:35, 9 April 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Portugal

Varela with Steaua București in 2015

Born in Cascais, Varela started playing professionally with G.D. Estoril Praia in the Segunda Liga, being loaned to lowly U.D. Rio Maior for one year during his spell. In January 2009 he moved to C.D. Trofense, as the northern club was playing for the first time in the Primeira Liga. He managed to appear regularly during the season, but they were relegated.

In the summer of 2011, after two additional second-tier seasons with Trofense, Varela signed for C.D. Feirense, returned to the top flight after a 22-year absence. In the following campaign he played all league games as a starter, notably scoring twice against S.L. Benfica on 28 January 2012 (one in his own net) in a 1–2 loss where he also committed a penalty,^[2] and his team would again drop down a division.

Romania

Varela signed a three-year contract with Romanian side FC Vaslui on 29 May 2012.^[3] On 3 September of the following year he joined FC Steaua București also from Liga I, after agreeing to a three-year deal for a €1.25 million transfer fee.^[4]

At the end of 2014–15, Málaga CF showed interest in acquiring Varela, but Steaua rejected the Spaniards' €6 million offer.^[5] He appeared in 47 matches across all competitions, in an eventual double conquest.

PAOK

Varela playing with PAOK in 2016

On 23 July 2016, Varela, who had less than six months left on his contract, moved to the Super League Greece with PAOK FC for three years and a €1.4 million fee.^[6] He scored his first goal in the 2017–18 season on 12 February 2018, heading home in a 3–0 win against Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. at the Toumba Stadium.^[7]

On 21 May 2019, Varela declined the club's contract renewal offer.^[8]

International career

Varela with Cape Verde in December 2013

Portuguese-born, Varela opted to represent Cape Verde internationally, his debut coming in 2008. On 24 May 2010, he appeared in a friendly in Covilhã with Portugal – which were preparing for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa – playing the entire match as the minnows (ranked 117th) managed a 0–0 draw.^[9]

The Blue Sharks were disqualified from the 2014 World Cup when it was revealed that Varela had played in a qualifying match against Tunisia, despite not completing a four-match suspension for a red card he had received against Equatorial Guinea on 24 March 2013.^[10] That game was later rendered invalid by FIFA as a result of Equatorial Guinea fielding ineligible Emilio Nsue, but Varela's disciplinary record stood.^[11]

Personal life

Varela's son, Gustavo, is also a professional footballer.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of 17 May 2024^[13]

Club performance			League		National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rio Maior (loan)	2006–07	Segunda Divisão	21	3	2	0	–		–		–		23	3
Estoril	2005–06	Segunda Liga	0	0	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
	2007–08		17	0	1	0	1	0	–		–		19	0
	2008–09		11	1	2	0	4	1	–		–		17	2
	Total		49	4	6	0	5	1	–		–		60	5
Trofense	2008–09	Primeira Liga	11	1	0	0	–		–		–		11	1
	2009–10		12	0	0	0	1	0	–		–		13	0
	2010–11		27	1	1	0	0	0	–		–		28	1
	Total		50	2	1	0	1	0	–		–		52	2
Feirense	2011–12	Primeira Liga	30	2	1	0	2	1	–		–		33	3
Vaslui	2012–13	Liga I	32	1	0	0	–		4	1	–		36	2
	2013–14		5	0	0	0	–		–		–		5	0
	Total		67	3	0	0	–		4	1	–		74	5
Steaua București	2013–14	Liga I	23	4	6	1	–		2	0	–		31	5
	2014–15		30	3	3	0	2	0	11	0	1	0	47	3
	2015–16		29	3	4	0	1	0	5	1	1	0	40	4
	Total		82	10	13	1	3	0	18	1	2	0	118	12
PAOK	2016–17	Super League Greece	24	1	7	0	–		8	0	–		39	1
	2017–18		26	1	6	0	–		4	0	–		36	1
	2018–19		27	2	4	0	–		12	1	–		43	3
	2019–20		28	1	5	1	–		4	0	–		37	2
	2020–21		23	1	3	0	–		10	1	–		36	2
	2021–22		16	0	0	0	–		6	0	–		22	0
	Total		144	6	25	1	–		44	2	–		213	9
Casa Pia	2022–23	Primeira Liga	27	1	1	0	3	1	-		-		31	2
	2023–24		24	0	2	0	3	0	-		-		29	0
Career total			443	26	49	2	17	3	66	4	2	0	577	35

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition[13]
1.	4 September 2010	Várzea, Praia, Cape Verde	Mali	1–0	Win	2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.	29 February 2012	Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, Antananarivo, Madagascar	Madagascar	4–0	Win	2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3.	27 January 2013	Nelson Mandela, Port Elizabeth, South Africa	Angola	2–1	Win	2013 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Steaua București

• Liga I: 2013–14, 2014–15^[13]
• Cupa României: 2014–15^[13]
• Cupa Ligii: 2014–15, 2015–16^[13]

PAOK

• Super League Greece: 2018–19^[13]
• Greek Football Cup: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21^[14]

Individual

• Foreign Player of the Year in Romania (Gazeta Sporturilor): 2015
• Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2017–18,^[15] 2018–19^[16]