Abel Pereira

Abel José Carvalho Pereira (born 15 April 1990) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Cypriot club Doxa Katokopias F.C. as a right back.

Club career

Born in Alijó, Vila Real District, Pereira started playing with Atlético Clube Alijoense in his hometown, at age 9. In 2006, he signed for S.L. Benfica's under–17 team, where he completed his development.

After getting a professional contract, Pereira made his senior debut on loan at C.D. Mafra from the third division. Due to the lack of playing time, he moved to fellow league club C.D. Tondela for the remainder of the season, in the same predicament.

Pereira first reached the professional leagues when Benfica loaned him to Segunda Liga side C.D. Fátima for the 2010–11 campaign. However, after six months without making an appearance, he returned to the third level with Gondomar SC.

In June 2011, Pereira was part of massive influx of Portuguese footballers to Doxa Katokopias F.C. in the Cypriot Second Division. He helped them promote to the First Division in his first year, and was regularly used in the following seasons.

On 24 June 2014, Pereira returned to Portugal after signing a one-year deal with Varzim S.C. and reuniting with former Gondomar coach Vítor Paneira. After 18 months, which included promotion from division three, he re-signed with Doxa.

International career

Pereira amassed 15 caps for Portugal, across four youth levels. He helped the under–16 team reach the final of the Val-de-Marne Tournament in October 2005, and won the 2008 Lisbon International Tournament with the under–18s.

In the following year, Pereira represented the under–19 side in the elite qualifying round of the 2009 UEFA European Championship, in which the nation did not progress.

Club statistics

As of 1 April 2016