Hélder Lopes (footballer)


Hélder Filipe Oliveira Lopes is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Greek club AEK Athens F.C. as a left back.

Club career

Parma / Portugal

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Lopes spent his youth career at SC Coimbrões, Padroense F.C. and CD Candal, graduating with the latter in 2008. In that summer he moved abroad, joining Parma but failing to make a single appearance for the club.
Returning to his homeland in January 2009, Lopes made his senior debut with SC Mirandela by starting in a 1–1 Segunda Divisão home draw against SC Maria da Fonte. He subsequently represented CF Oliveira do Douro, S.C. Espinho and C.D. Tondela, all in the lower leagues; with the latter team, he achieved promotion to the Segunda Liga.
On 5 July 2012, Lopes signed a two-year deal with Primeira Liga side S.C. Beira-Mar. He made his professional debut on 30 September, coming on as a second-half substitute for Rúben Ribeiro in a 1–1 home draw against Vitória de Setúbal.
On 28 June 2013, Lopes was transferred to F.C. Paços de Ferreira also in the top level. He scored his first goal as a professional on 3 January 2015, in a 1–2 home loss against Rio Ave FC.

Las Palmas

On 31 May 2016, Lopes agreed to a two-year contract with La Liga club UD Las Palmas. His competitive debut took place on 1 October, as he started and played 69 minutes in a 2–2 draw at CA Osasuna.

AEK Athens

On 21 June 2017, free agent Lopes signed a two-year deal at AEK Athens FC. He made his competitive debut on 2 August, in a 0–1 away defeat against PFC CSKA Moscow for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
Lopes scored his first goal for the club on 6 January 2018, netting in a 4–1 victory over against Panetolikos F.C. after an assist from Masoud Shojaei. He appeared in 31 matches across all competitions in his first season, helping the club won its first domestic championship since 1994.
On 29 September 2018, in an away fixture against OFI Crete FC, Lopes suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. On 8 January 2019, he agreed to a contract extension until the summer of 2022.

Personal life

Lopes' twin brother, Tiago, was also a footballer and a defender.

Career statistics

Club

Honours

Club

AEK Athens