José Fonte
Portuguese footballer (born 1983) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Miguel da Rocha Fonte ComM (born 22 December 1983) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Primeira Liga club Casa Pia.
_2.jpg) Fonte with Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | José Miguel da Rocha Fonte[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 December 1983[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Penafiel, Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Casa Pia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Penafiel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2002 | Sporting CP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | → Sacavenense (loan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Sporting CP B | 59 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Felgueiras | 28 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Vitória Setúbal | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Benfica | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | → Paços Ferreira (loan) | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | → Estrela Amadora (loan) | 25 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 22 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Crystal Palace | 60 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2017 | Southampton | 260 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | West Ham United | 24 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Dalian Yifang | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Lille | 166 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Braga | 19 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Casa Pia | 22 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Portugal U21 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Portugal B | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2022 | Portugal | 50 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:29, 12 April 2025 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He started his professional career with Sporting CP B, moving to England with Crystal Palace in 2007. He signed for Southampton in 2010, where he made 288 appearances in all competitions[5] until he joined West Ham United in January 2017. He then represented Dalian Yifang in China and Lille in France, winning the Ligue 1 title with the latter in the 2020–21 season.
A Portuguese international from age 30, Fonte was part of the Portugal squads at two European Championships and the 2018 World Cup, winning Euro 2016.
Club career
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Perspective
Portugal
Born in Penafiel, Fonte finished his football education (after already having played there from ages 10 to 13) at Sporting CP.[6] He only appeared with Sporting CP B as a senior, in the third division.[7] He joined Salgueiros in 2004, but the club was in severe financial difficulties and was liquidated shortly after; as a result, he terminated his contract and transferred to Felgueiras of Segunda Liga.[8]
In the 2005 off-season, Fonte made his Primeira Liga debut with Vitória de Setúbal, where his performances attracted the eye of Benfica, who signed him in January 2006[6] and immediately loaned him to Paços de Ferreira in the same league.[9] He finished the season with 26 appearances and one goal, in a 2–2 away draw against Penafiel in which he also scored twice in his own net;[10] both Paços and Setúbal managed to retain their status.[11]
Fonte spent the 2006–07 season on loan to Estrela da Amadora, still in the top division,[12][8] only missing five games as the Lisbon-based club finished in ninth position.[13]
Crystal Palace
In July 2007, Fonte moved on loan to Crystal Palace in England,[14] being introduced in the team's starting line-up after a run of injuries. The move was made permanent at the end of the campaign, as Palace finished fifth and qualified to the promotion play-offs.[15]
Fonte continued to feature regularly with the Londoners in the Championship, even appearing as a makeshift striker when required.[16][17]
Southampton
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Fonte signed for Southampton on 9 January 2010 for a fee believed to be around the region of £1.2 million, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.[18] He made his debut one week later alongside two other recent signings, Jon Otsemobor and Danny Seaborne, in a 1–1 draw away to Millwall.[19] His first goal came on 28 August, in a 4–0 away win over Bristol Rovers.[20]
After scoring seven league goals and helping the Saints win promotion to the second tier, Fonte was named in the League One Team of the Year for 2010–11.[21] He was also voted Southampton's Player of Year, achieving 64% of the vote, with Adam Lallana coming second with 18% and Dan Harding finishing third with 7%.[22]
On 29 December 2011, Fonte penned a new deal keeping him at the club until June 2015; Southampton were top of the table at that point, with the player having appeared in every league game.[23] He eventually contributed 42 matches and one goal, which came against Coventry City in the final fixture of the season[24] as the team earned a second consecutive promotion.[25]
Fonte made his debut in the Premier League on 19 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 away loss to Manchester City.[26] He netted his first goals in the competition in a 2–2 home draw with Fulham on 7 October, the second arriving in the last minute.[27]
On 24 August 2013, Fonte scored a header in the 89th minute of the home game against Sunderland, rescuing a point for his side.[28] The following 23 January, he was attacked by teammate Dani Osvaldo during a training session;[29] subsequently, the latter was loaned out to Juventus in the winter transfer window.[30]
On 8 August 2014, Fonte signed a new three-year contract running until June 2017, and was also named team captain.[31] He made his 250th league appearance for Southampton on 16 October 2016, in a 3–1 home victory over Burnley.[32]
West Ham United
On 20 January 2017, Fonte joined English top-flight West Ham United for a reported fee of £8 million (plus potential add-ons) on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[33][34] He made his league debut on 1 February, in a 4–0 home defeat by Manchester City in which he conceded a penalty by bringing down Raheem Sterling.[35]
On 4 November 2017, after a league match against his former employers Crystal Palace, it was confirmed Fonte had suffered a foot injury that would sideline him for the rest of the year.[36]
Dalian Yifang
Fonte completed a transfer to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang on 23 February 2018, joining for a reported fee of £5 million.[37][38] On 15 July, he terminated his contract.[39]
Lille
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Fonte signed a two-year contract with Lille on 20 July 2018.[40] He made his Ligue 1 debut on 18 August as the season began with a goalless draw at Monaco,[41] and scored his first goal on 22 September to open a 2–1 win at home to Nantes while assisting the other goal by Jonathan Ikoné.[42] On 16 December, he was sent off after 16 minutes of a 3–2 victory at Nîmes for swearing at an assistant referee, as was manager Christophe Galtier for arguing his case;[43] he missed just two games as the Dogues finished runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain, scoring three times including the conclusion of a 5–1 victory over that opposition at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on 14 April.[44]
On 9 August 2019, Fonte agreed to an extension until 2021.[45] The 37-year-old captained the team[46] to the national championship in the 2020–21 campaign, their first since 2010–11, making 36 appearances and scoring three times in the process.[47]
After adding one more year to his contract,[48] Fonte played in the Trophée des Champions on 1 August 2021, a 1–0 defeat of PSG in Tel Aviv.[49] He renewed again for 2022–23,[50] after which he was released.[51]
Later career
On 19 July 2023, Fonte signed a one-year contract with Braga.[52] One year later, the 40-year-old remained in the Portuguese top flight on a one-year deal at Casa Pia.[53]
International career
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Fonte was selected for the Portugal B squad for the Vale do Tejo tournament in 2006. On 24 January, he played against Slovenia as the match ended with a penalty shoot-out loss after a 1–1 draw.[54]
On 3 October 2014, two months shy of his 31st birthday, Fonte received his first call-up to the senior team, for a friendly with France and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Denmark.[55][56] He made his debut in another friendly, playing the second half of a 1–0 win over Argentina at Old Trafford on 18 November.[57]
Fonte was included in Fernando Santos' squad for the Euro 2016 finals.[58] His first game in the tournament took place on 25 June, as he started alongside Southampton teammate Cédric Soares in the round-of-16 tie against Croatia, which Portugal won 1–0 after extra time.[59] He went on to retain his position until the final, helping to beat hosts France 1–0.[60]
Fonte was also called up for both the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (four appearances as starter)[61][62] the victorious 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals (both matches, one start)[63][64] and the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, where he did not leave the bench.[65] On 9 October 2021, he scored his only goal for the national team, in a 3–0 friendly win over Qatar.[66]
On 24 March 2022, aged 38, Fonte earned his 50th cap in a World Cup qualifying play-offs against Turkey, where he gave away a second-half penalty for a kick at Enes Ünal; however, his Lille teammate Burak Yılmaz missed the shot and the game ended 3–1 for Portugal.[67][68] He was named in a preliminary 55-man squad for the finals in Qatar,[69] but did not make the final cut.[70]
Personal life
Fonte's younger brother, Rui, was also a footballer. A forward, the two were teammates at Sporting (youth level), Crystal Palace and Lille.[71] Their father Artur played 12 seasons in the Portuguese top division.[72]
Career statistics
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Perspective
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting CP B | 2002–03[76] | Segunda Divisão B | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| 2003–04[76] | Segunda Divisão B | 37 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 59 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 59 | 0 | ||||||
| Felgueiras | 2004–05[76] | Segunda Liga | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 1 | |||
| Vitória Setúbal | 2005–06[76] | Primeira Liga | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| Benfica | 2005–06[76] | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[76] | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08[76] | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Paços Ferreira (loan) | 2005–06[76] | Primeira Liga | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| Estrela Amadora (loan) | 2006–07[76] | Primeira Liga | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 1 | |||
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 2007–08[77] | Championship | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2008–09[78] | Championship | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10[79] | Championship | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| Total | 82 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 92 | 6 | |||
| Southampton | 2009–10[79] | League One | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[80] | League One | 43 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 48 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12[81] | Championship | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 1 | |||
| 2012–13[82] | Premier League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | |||
| 2013–14[83] | Premier League | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 3 | |||
| 2014–15[84] | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16[85] | Premier League | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 43 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17[86] | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| Total | 260 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 288 | 15 | ||
| West Ham United | 2016–17[86] | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18[87] | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||||
| Dalian Yifang | 2018[87] | Chinese Super League | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Lille | 2018–19[88] | Ligue 1 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20[89] | Ligue 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4[f] | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[90] | Ligue 1 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | — | 43 | 3 | |||
| 2021–22[91] | Ligue 1 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8[f] | 0 | 1[g] | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[92] | Ligue 1 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 166 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 196 | 9 | ||
| Braga | 2023–24[93] | Primeira Liga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8[f] | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |
| Casa Pia | 2024–25[94] | Primeira Liga | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 698 | 32 | 30 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 808 | 33 | ||
- Includes Taça de Portugal, FA Cup, Chinese FA Cup, Coupe de France
- Includes Football League Cup, Coupe de la Ligue, Taça da Liga
- Appearances in UEFA Cup/Europa League
- Appearances in Championship play-offs
- Appearances in Football League Trophy
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearance in Trophée des Champions
International
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fonte goal.[95]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 October 2021 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal |  Qatar | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Southampton
Lille
Braga
Portugal
- UEFA European Championship: 2016[60]
- UEFA Nations League: 2018–19[99]
- FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2017[100]
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 League One[21]
- Southampton Player of the Season: 2010–11, 2014–15[101]
- Lille Player of the Season: 2020–21[102]
Orders
Commander of the Order of Merit[103]
References
External links
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