Ricardo Sousa

Ricardo André de Pinho Sousa (born 11 January 1979) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and is the manager of S.C. Beira-Mar.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 154 matches and 47 goals over seven seasons, representing in the competition Porto, Beira-Mar, Santa Clara, Belenenses and Boavista. He also competed professionally in Germany, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Slovenia.

Sousa was born in São João da Madeira. Growing up as a footballer in FC Porto, he would play only three games for its first team – a 0–0 Primeira Liga draw against C.D. Santa Clara and two UEFA Champions League appearances, twice as a substitute – and went on to represent S.C. Beira-Mar, where he made his top division debut in the second part of the 1998–99 season, Santa Clara and C.F. Os Belenenses in consecutive loans; on 16 June 1999, he scored arguably the most important goal of his career as the Aveiro club defeated S.C. Campomaiorense 1–0 to win the 1998–99 Taça de Portugal.

Sousa was finally released by Porto in July 2002, returning to Beira-Mar and representing Boavista F.C. in the following campaign. He netted 14 goals for a side that only achieved 32, one of the worst records in that year's top level.

Subsequently, Sousa left Boavista, signing for three years with German club Hannover 96, during which time he spent the second half of the 2004–05 season on loan to Dutch club De Graafschap and the whole of the 2006–07 Primeira Liga season with Boavista, also on loan.

In summer 2007, Sousa joined Cypriot club AC Omonia. The following January, however, he returned to Germany and joined 2. Bundesliga club Kickers Offenbach, starting in all 16 appearances he made and providing five assists, in an eventual relegation.

Sousa split the 2008–09 season in Segunda Liga, starting with Beira-Mar and signing for U.D. Leiria in January 2009. After contributing with only four matches and 97 minutes to the latter's return to the top flight, he moved abroad again, now with NK Drava Ptuj in Slovenia.

Sousa represented Portugal at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring once against South Korea and playing in all four matches.

Sousa is the son of another footballer – and midfielder – António Sousa, who played club football in the 80's for Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal, also being a mainstay with the national team during that decade.

After retiring, he went on to have a lengthy spell in management, coaching Ricardo at Beira-Mar in three different stints (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03). They were also related to fellow footballer José Sousa.