João Pica

João Miguel Passos Manuel Pica (born 8 April 1986) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Académico de Viseu F.C. as a central defender.

Pica was born in Moura, Alentejo. Until the age of 23, he alternated between the third and fourth levels of Portuguese football, representing Vitória de Setúbal B, O Elvas C.A.D. and G.D. Ribeirão.

In the summer of 2009, Pica signed for Segunda Liga club Varzim S.C. and, on 8 August, made his professional debut in a 1–0 home win against C.D. Fátima for the season's Taça da Liga. In January 2011, he moved to fellow league side Moreirense FC.

In June 2012, after spending one season with C.D. Tondela in division three on loan, Pica agreed to a permanent deal after helping to promotion to the second tier. In the 2014–15 campaign, he contributed with 19 games and one goal as his team reached the Primeira Liga for the first time in their history and, subsequently, renewed his expiring contract for a further year.

On 20 December 2015, Pica played his first match in the top flight, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 1–3 home loss against Vitória de Setúbal. Initially fourth or fifth-choice stopper, he was an everpresent figure in the season's final stretch, scoring three goals in seven games as Tondela avoided relegation in the last matchday.