Quick Facts
Biography
José Carlos Coentrão Marafona (born 8 May 1987) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Alanyaspor as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Born in Vila do Conde, Marafona joined neighbouring Varzim SC's youth system in 2001, aged 14. After amassing only five Segunda Liga appearances combined in his first two seasons as a senior, he eventually became first-choice.
Marafona signed with C.S. Marítimo in the summer of 2010, being then loaned to C.D. Aves and representing the club during two second level campaigns. He appeared in only one competitive match with the former side, precisely against Aves for the domestic League Cup (2–1 home win).
In late August 2013, Marafona joined Moreirense FC, contributing with 25 appearances in his first season as his team returned to the Primeira Liga after one year out. He made his debut in the Portuguese top flight on 17 August 2014, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 away win against C.D. Nacional.
Marafona signed for two years with F.C. Paços de Ferreira also in the top flight, in July 2015. In late January of the following year, however, he joined fellow league club S.C. Braga as his previous contract contained a clause that he was to be released if a bigger team showed interest in acquiring his services. He appeared in 14 competitive games with the latter until the end of the season, including the final of the Taça de Portugal where he saved two penalty shootout attempts against FC Porto (Héctor Herrera and Maxi Pereira) in an eventual 4–2 win (2–2 after 120 minutes).
Marafona missed the entire 2017–18 campaign, due to a knee injury. On 28 May 2019, he joined Turkish Süper Lig club Alanyaspor on a two-year contract.
International career
On 31 March 2015, at nearly 28 years of age, Marafona was called up to the Portugal national team for the first time, remaining an unused substitute as Anthony Lopes featured in goal in the 0–2 friendly defeat against Cape Verde in Estoril. His first cap arrived nearly two years later, in a 2–3 loss to Sweden in Funchal also in an exhibition game.
Honours
Moreirense
- Segunda Liga: 2013–14
Braga
- Taça de Portugal: 2015–16