Steven Vitória

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Sousa and the second or paternal family name is Vitória.
Steven Vitória
Personal information
Full name Steven de Sousa Vitória
Date of birth (1987-01-11) 11 January 1987
Place of birth Toronto, Canada
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Lechia Gdańsk
Number 5
Youth career
2004–2005 Woodbridge Strikers
2005–2006 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Porto 0 (0)
2006–2007 → Tourizense (loan) 11 (2)
2007–2009 → Olhanense (loan) 35 (1)
2009–2010 → Covilhã (loan) 24 (2)
2010–2013 Estoril 79 (19)
2013–2014 Benfica B 7 (3)
2013–2016 Benfica 1 (0)
2015 → Philadelphia Union (loan) 18 (1)
2016– Lechia Gdańsk 1 (0)
National team‡
2006 Portugal U19 5 (0)
2006–2007 Portugal U20 6 (0)
2016– Canada 5 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2016

Steven de Sousa Vitória (born 11 January 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Polish club Lechia Gdańsk and the Canada national team as a central defender.

He is known for his heading, marking and scoring abilities, especially on penalty kicks and free kicks.[1]

Early life

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Portuguese immigrants from the Azores,[2][3] Vitória played youth football with the Woodbridge Strikers, mainly as a striker. He was approached to appear for Canada's youth national teams on multiple occasions after leaving the country,[2] but declined each time.[4]

Club career

Porto

Vitória was signed by FC Porto at the age of 18, already reconverted as a central defender. In the following years he began a series of loans, starting out at G.D. Tourizense in the third division then joining S.C. Olhanense for two years,[5] and helping the Algarve side promote to the Primeira Liga in his second season by appearing in 18 games, 15 as a starter.[6][7]

In the 2009–10 campaign Vitória continued on loan, this time with S.C. Covilhã in the Segunda Liga.[8] He played his first official match for his new club on 2 August 2009, in a 1–0 away win against A.D. Carregado for the Taça da Liga.[9]

Estoril

Vitória cut all ties with Porto in July 2010,[10] signing with G.D. Estoril Praia in the second division. In his debut season in the top flight, 2012–13, he played 27 games and scored 11 goals to finish ninth among the league's top goalscorers[11]– eight of them from penalties – to help his team finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.[12][13]

Benfica

Free agent Vitória joined S.L. Benfica on 16 June 2013, signing a four-year contract.[14][15] He called the day of his signing "the most important and happiest day of my life".[16] His only league appearance took place in the last day of the season as the club had already been crowned champions, and he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 loss at former side Porto.[17][18]

Vitória was an unused substitute in the Eagles' loss in the Europa League final loss to Sevilla FC.[19] After becoming unsatisfied with his status,[20] he was targeted by Real Betis[21][22] and C.S. Marítimo.[23]

On 9 February 2015, Vitória was loaned to Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union for one season.[24][25] He scored his first goal for the team in his hometown of Toronto, in a 1–3 Major League Soccer away defeat to Toronto FC,[26] being released in December after the club declined against exercising its contract option on the player.[27]

Lechia Gdańsk

Vitória joined Lechia Gdańsk on 17 August 2016, signing a three-year contract.[28] He made his debut on 21 September, playing the entire round-of-16 penalty shootout loss to Puszcza Niepołomice for the Polish Cup (1–1 after 120 minutes).[29]

International career

Vitória represented Portugal at the 2006 Lusophony Games in Macau, the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poland[30] and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in his birth nation. In the latter tournament, he featured in the 1–2 group stage loss to Gambia.[31]

In September 2012, without having been capped at senior level, 25-year-old Vitória considered switching allegiance to Canada.[3] In January 2016, he accepted a call-up by the country for a friendly against the United States on 5 February,[32] and played the full 90 minutes in the 0–1 defeat in Carson, California.[33]

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 October 6, 2016 Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco  Mauritania 2–0 4–0 Friendly

Honours

Olhanense
Estoril
Benfica

References

  1. ↑ "Transfer window: Central defender Steven Vitória signs four-year deal with Benfica". The Futebol Factory. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Portuguese star happy to play at home". The Star. 29 June 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Steven Vitoria reconsiders Canada option". Sportsnet. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mitchell announces U-20 squad for Porto International Tournament". Canada Soccer. 5 April 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Paulo Ribeiro e Steven Vitória cedidos ao Olhanense" [Paulo Ribeiro and Steven Vitória loaned to Olhanense] (in Portuguese). Record. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Portimonense-Olhanense, 2–3: Vitória ao cair do pano" [Portimonense-Olhanense, 2–3: Vitória ("win" in Portuguese) in the last breath] (in Portuguese). Record. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Boavista-Olhanense, 1–4: Goleada de olho na subida" [Boavista-Olhanense, 1–4: Routing to eye promotion] (in Portuguese). Record. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Josué e Steven por empréstimo" [Josué and Steven on loan] (in Portuguese). Record. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Serranos aproveitam inexperiência ribatejana" [Serranos take advantage of ribatejana inexperience] (in Portuguese). Record. 2 August 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Steven Vitória já rescindiu contrato" [Steven Vitória has already terminated contract] (in Portuguese). Record. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Portuguese SuperLiga: Table". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  12. ↑ Estoril vs. FCP. Steven Vitória, Moutinho empate (Estoril vs. FCP. Steven Vitória, Moutinho draw); IOnline, 31 December 2012 (Portuguese)
  13. ↑ Steven Vitória em duelo de goleadores com Jackson Martínez (Steven Vitória in scoring duel with Jackson Martínez); A Bola, 7 March 2013 (Portuguese)
  14. ↑ Steven Vitória assina contrato com o Benfica por quatro temporadas (Steven Vitória signs contract with Benfica for four seasons); Benfica Ao Vivo, 16 June 2013 (Portuguese)
  15. ↑ "Canadian defender Vitoria signs with Benfica". Sportsnet. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Thrilled Vitória goes to Benfica". UEFA.com. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  17. 1 2 "FC Porto bate Benfica sob avaliação de Lopetegui" [FC Porto beats Benfica as Lopetegui looks on] (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Steven Vitória: "Jesus não me protegeu nem ajudou"" [Steven Vitória: "Jesus did not help me nor did he protect me"] (in Portuguese). Record. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA.com. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Steven Vitória insatisfeito com falta de oportunidades" [Steven Vitória unhappy with lack of opportunities] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Bétis tenta Steven Vitória" [Betis has a go at Steven Vitória] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "Steven Vitoria se vuelve a poner a tiro" [Sights set on Steven Vitoria again] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Steven Vitória é desejo de ano novo" [Steven Vitória is New Year's craving] (in Portuguese). Record. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Philadelphia Union acquire Steven Vitoria via loan from Benfica". Philadelphia Union. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Futebol: Steven Vitória emprestado ao Philadelphia Union" [Football: Steven Vitória on loan to Philadelphia Union] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "Toronto FC defeat Philadelphia to close in on playoff berth". CBC. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  27. ↑ "Philadelphia Union announce roster moves, pick up options on seven players". Major League Soccer. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  28. ↑ "Steven Vitoria nowym piłkarzem Lechii Gdańsk" [Steven Vitoria new player of Lechia Gdańsk] (in Polish). Lechia Gdańsk. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Lechia poza Pucharem Polski. Gdańszczanie wyeliminowani przez Puszczę Niepołomice" [Legia gets boot in Polish Cup. Team from Gdańsk ousted by Puszcza Niepołomice] (in Polish). Lechia Gdańsk. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Sub-19: Carlos Dinis escolhe 24 jogadores" [Under-19: Carlos Dinis chooses 24 players] (in Portuguese). Record. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  31. ↑ Steven Vitória – FIFA competition record
  32. ↑ "Canada selects 23 players for USA friendly in February". Canada Soccer. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "Canada vs USA – 2016-02-05". Canada Soccer. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
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