# Frederico Venâncio

Frederico André Ferrão Venâncio (born 4 February 1993) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Primeira Liga club Santa Clara.

## Club career
### Vitória Setúbal

Born in Gâmbia – Pontes – Alto da Guerra, Setúbal, Venâncio joined local Vitória FC's youth academy at the age of 9, then returned for his last year as a junior from S.L. Benfica. He made his Primeira Liga debut for the former club on 13 January 2013, coming on as a late substitute in a 5–0 home win against Moreirense FC. He scored his first league goal on 7 April of the same year, but in a 2–1 away loss to Rio Ave FC.
On 16 August 2017, Venâncio signed with English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a season-long loan. He made his league debut on 23 December, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–2 home defeat against Middlesbrough.
Venâncio scored his only goal for Wednesday on 6 May 2018, helping the hosts to defeat Norwich City 5–1.

### Vitória Guimarães

Venâncio signed a four-year contract with Vitória S.C. on 7 July 2018. A reserve player under Luís Castro in his first year, he became first choice after Ivo Vieira took over.
On 4 October 2020, Venâncio was loaned to Spanish Segunda División club CD Lugo for one year. He scored in 2–2 draws against Málaga CF (away) and Real Zaragoza (home), barely avoiding relegation after finishing 18th.

### Eibar

On 6 July 2021, Venâncio joined SD Eibar of the same country and league on a three-year deal. He reached the La Liga play-offs with his team in 2022 and 2024, being eliminated in the semi-finals on both occasions.

### Later career

Venâncio returned to the Portuguese top tier in summer 2024, agreeing to a two-year contract at newly promoted C.D. Santa Clara as a free agent.

## International career

Venâncio earned the first of his two caps for the Portugal under-21 team on 25 March 2013, featuring the last minutes of the 2–1 friendly defeat of the Republic of Ireland in Dundalk. He was part of the squad at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, being an unused squad member for the runners-up.

## Personal life

Venâncio's father, Pedro, was also a footballer and a central defender. He too was brought up at Vitória.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2012–13 | Primeira Liga | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2013–14 | Primeira Liga | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 2 |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 1 |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 0 |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 4 |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Vitória Setúbal | Total | Total | 115 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 135 | 8 |
| Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2017–18 | Championship | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 1 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Vitória Guimarães | Total | Total | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| Lugo (loan) | 2020–21 | Segunda División | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| Eibar | 2021–22 | Segunda División | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Eibar | 2022–23 | Segunda División | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 1 |
| Eibar | 2023–24 | Segunda División | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Eibar | Total | Total | 75 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 80 | 1 |
| Santa Clara | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 293 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 336 | 12 |
* ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, FA Cup, Copa del Rey
* ↑ Includes Taça da Liga
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in Segunda División play-offs