Cadú (footballer, born 1981)


Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa, known as Cadú, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for F.C. Maia Lidador as a central defender.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 121 games and seven goals over five seasons, with Paços de Ferreira, Boavista and Gil Vicente. He spent the vast majority of his career in Romania with CFR Cluj, appearing in nearly 250 official matches and winning eight major trophies.

Club career

Portugal

Born in Paços de Ferreira, Cadú began playing professionally with Gondomar SC, in the Portuguese third division, his solid performances earning him a transfer straight to the Primeira Liga as he signed with another side in the north, F.C. Paços de Ferreira, in the 2002 summer. In his second season he started in 27 of the 28 matches he appeared in, but his team was relegated after ranking second from bottom.
After Paços' relegation, Cadú joined Boavista FC, also being an automatic first-choice – 30 games, two goals– in his first year, with the Porto-based club ranking in sixth position.

CFR Cluj

After two seasons Cadú signed with CFR Cluj from Romania, penning a three-year deal for €750.000. He scored once in 25 matches in his debut season, helping his new club to the third place in Liga I.
Cadú became CFR's captain in late 2007, whilst helping the team to three consecutive Romanian Cup titles. Additionally, at the end of the 2009–10 season, as they won their second league title in three years, he was voted Central Defender of the Year, alongside FC Unirea Urziceni's George Galamaz.
On 19 October 2010, Cadú scored twice in the UEFA Champions League group stage match against FC Bayern Munich, once in his own net, in an eventual 2–3 away loss. In late January 2012, he was awarded Romanian citizenship.

Honours

CFR Cluj