# João Alves (footballer, born 1980)

João Artur Rosa Alves (born 18 August 1980) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

## Club career

Born in Chaves, Alves started his professional career at hometown club G.D. Chaves, making his debut in the Primeira Liga on 11 November 1998 in a 1–2 home loss against U.D. Leiria after coming in as a substitute in the 63rd minute. He appeared in a further nine league matches during that season, with the northerners eventually being relegated after ranking 17th.
In 2004–05, after five additional campaigns with Chaves in the second division, Alves joined S.C. Braga, his first league appearance occurring on 14 November 2004 in a 0–0 draw at Leiria. After some solid performances that helped the Minho side finish fourth, he moved to Sporting CP.
After having appeared just twice for Sporting in 2006–07, Alves signed a three-year contract with Vitória S.C. in July 2007, with Sporting keeping half of the player's rights. In his first year, he only missed one league game as his team came straight from the second level into a final third place.
Alves made an average of 23 league appearances in the following three seasons, and on 20 June 2011 he replaced veteran Flávio Meireles as club captain.

## International career

On 17 August 2005, Alves made his debut for the Portugal national team, making an assist for Hélder Postiga in a 2–0 friendly win over Egypt.

## Career statistics
### Club

| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Chaves | 1998–99 | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Chaves | 1999–2000 | Segunda Liga | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Chaves | 2000–01 | Segunda Liga | 27 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 6 |
| Chaves | 2001–02 | Segunda Liga | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 5 |
| Chaves | 2002–03 | Segunda Liga | 33 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 4 |
| Chaves | 2003–04 | Segunda Liga | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 2 |
| Chaves | Total | Total | 152 | 17 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 158 | 18 |
| Braga | 2004–05 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| Braga | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Braga | Total | Total | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 4 |
| Sporting | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Sporting | 2006–07 | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sporting | Total | Total | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2007–08 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 1 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2008–09 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 2 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2009–10 | Primeira Liga | 22 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2010–11 | Primeira Liga | 22 | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2011–12 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | Total | Total | 118 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 155 | 5 |
| Omonia | 2012–13 | Cypriot First Division | 14 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| Académico Viseu | 2013–14 | Segunda Liga | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 4 |
| Freamunde | 2014–15 | Segunda Liga | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 361 | 30 | 48 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 420 | 35 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup

## Honours
### Club

Sporting
* Taça de Portugal: 2006–07
Omonia
* Cypriot Super Cup: 2012

### International

Portugal
* UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 1999