Quick Facts
AriesBiography
Fábio Rafael Rodrigues Cardoso (born 19 April 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Santa Clara.
Club career
Benfica B
Born in Águeda, Aveiro District, Cardoso played as a youth for hometown club R.D. Águeda before joining S.L. Benfica in 2008. On 11 August 2012, he made his debut with Benfica B in a 2012–13 Segunda Liga match against Braga B where he played 84 minutes as a centre back, partnering with Lionel Carole. He scored the only goal in a victory at Sporting B (0–1) on 5 January 2015. Six days later, he scored twice in a 3–2 win against Porto B.
On 15 January 2015, Benfica announced Cardoso's loan to fellow Primeira Liga club Paços de Ferreira until the end of the season. The deal was subsequently repeated for the following campaign. In 42 total matches for the northern club, he scored once, the only goal of a win at Vitória S.C. on 13 March 2016.
Vitória de Setúbal
On 7 July 2016, Cardoso signed a four-year contract with Primeira Liga side Vitória de Setúbal. He made 27 total appearances in his only season, and scored in a 2–1 win over C.D. Santa Clara on 26 October to qualify the team to the group stage of the Taça da Liga.
Rangers
In June 2017, Cardoso signed for Rangers on a three-year contract for a reported fee of around £1.3 million. He made his debut for Rangers against Progrès Niederkorn in the Europa League on 29 June 2017. Cardoso was picked less frequently after the departure of manager Pedro Caixinha, and was released from his contract with Rangers on 30 July 2018.
Santa Clara
Cardoso joined Santa Clara on a four-year deal the day after leaving Rangers. On his second league appearance on 19 August 2018, he scored the equaliser as the Azorean side came from 3–0 down at half time to draw at home to S.C. Braga. The following 11 January, when his former team Benfica visited the Estádio de São Miguel, he made an error that allowed Haris Seferović to score and was then sent off just before half time for a foul on Pizzi.
International career
Cardoso represented Portugal at the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Cardoso also represented Portugal at Under-20 level during the 2014 Toulon Tournament.
Career statistics
- As of match played 1 July 2018
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2012–13 | Segunda Liga | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | 27 | 0 | — | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||||
| 2014–15 | 12 | 3 | — | — | — | 12 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 55 | 3 | — | — | — | 55 | 3 | |||||
| Paços de Ferreira (loan) | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | |||
| Total | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| Vitória de Setúbal | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 27 | 1 | |
| Rangers | 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Career total | 128 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 142 | 5 | ||