Michael_Pereira

Michaël Pereira

Michaël Pereira

French footballer

Not to be confused with Mickaël Pereira.
For the Kenyan Olympic hockey player, see Michael Pereira (field hockey).

Michaël Pereira (born 8 December 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays as a winger for Super League Greece 2 club Athens Kallithea.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Club career

Early years

Pereira was born in Livry-Gargan, Seine-Saint-Denis of Cape Verdean descent.[2][1] He finished his development at Le Blanc-Mesnil Sport in the commune of Le Blanc-Mesnil, competing with them in the Division d'Honneur, the sixth division of French football.[3] In 2008, he joined UJA Alfortville in the Championnat de France amateur and, midway through the league campaign, met his agent, who exclaimed: "With the connections I have, you can have a bright future.";[3] the player subsequently hired him, and went on to have a successful season with the latter club, appearing in 29 official games and scoring 12 goals.

Mallorca

Afterwards, Pereira went on trials with teams in France and Spain, most notably AJ Auxerre, US Boulogne, Deportivo de La Coruña and RCD Mallorca.[3] While trialing with the Galicians during the 2008–09 season, he was invited by the president to attend a match between the hosts and FC Barcelona; however, after contemplating the decision, he decided to join Mallorca citing better opportunities.[3]

Pereira spent his first season with the Balearic Islands side in the Segunda División B, helping the reserves to a final seventh place after promotion.[4] Late into the campaign he was invited to practice with the first team, being included in the squad to play against CA Osasuna – hours before the match, he was offered a professional contract by club officials and was told "to be pro is what you dreamed your whole life, right? If you sign, you're playing tonight, otherwise not."[3] However, despite the contract being professional, it still contained the same conditions of an amateur one; he subsequently turned down the offer and was an unused substitute in that fixture.[3] The discussions continued the following day, but he remained steadfast on his decision and went two months without featuring in a competitive match.

In August 2010, following an ownership change the previous month, Pereira signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a four-year deal.[5] On the 29th he made his first-team and La Liga debut, replacing Víctor Casadesús in 2010–11's opener, a 0–0 home draw against Real Madrid.[6] During his first year he was first-choice right winger, also finishing as one of the side's top scorers at five goals.[7]

On 3 September 2013, Pereira was loaned to fellow top-flight Granada CF in a season-long move.[8] Mainly a backup, he helped the Andalusians narrowly avoid relegation.[7]

Pereira renewed his link with Mallorca on 21 August 2014, running until 2016.[9]

Malatyaspor

On 15 July 2016, Pereira left for Turkey and signed with Yeni Malatyaspor.[10] He scored six goals in 30 matches in his first season, as the club reached the Süper Lig for the first time in its history.

CFR Cluj

On 28 June 2019, Pereira joined CFR Cluj in the Romanian Liga I.[11] He always won the national championship during his spell, totalling 49 appearances, three goals and five assists.[12]

Later career

Pereira settled rarely the following seasons, representing in quick succession, Kocaelispor (Turkish TFF First League), Wisła Kraków (Poland, I liga),[13] Apollon Smyrnis F.C. and Athens Kallithea FC (Super League Greece 2).[14]

Career statistics

As of 11 June 2023[15][16]
More information Club, Season ...

Honours

CFR Cluj

References

  1. [1]
    "Michael Pereira". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Criolos no estrangeiro: Michael Pereira dá vitória ao Mallorca" [Creoles abroad: Michael Pereira gives win to Mallorca] (in Portuguese). Criolo Sports. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. [3]
    Simon, Thomas (26 November 2010). "Pereira: "Je viens de trop loin"" [Pereira: "I've come too far"] (in French). France Football. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  4. [4]
    "El Mallorca B tercero entre los filiales" [Mallorca B third amongst reserves] (in Spanish). Fútbol Balear. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  5. [5]
    "Pereira agrees new deal". RCD Mallorca UK. 16 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  6. [6]
    "Visca el nou Mallorca!" [Long live new Mallorca!] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. [7]
    Maura, Tomeu (22 June 2016). "Todos quieren a Pereira" [Everybody wants Pereira]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  8. [8]
    "El Granada logra las cesiones de Matías Campos y Pereira" [Granada get loans of Matías Campos and Pereira]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 September 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Pereira amplía su contrato con el RCD Mallorca" [Pereira extends his contract with RCD Mallorca] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  10. [10]
    Navarro, Antonio (15 July 2016). "Pereira ficha por el Malatyaspor turco" [Pereira signs for Turkey's Malatyaspor]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  11. [11]
    "Bun venit, Michael Pereira!" [Welcome, Michael Pereira!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Un atacant străin de la CFR Cluj s-a destăinuit în presa din Franţa: "Nu m-am gândit că voi pune piciorul în România. Am venit cu prejudecăţi"" [Foreign forward of CFR Cluj opened his heart to French press: "I thought I would never set feet in Romania. I came with prejudice"] (in Romanian). Orange Sport. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. [13]
    "Michaël Pereira piłkarzem Wisły Kraków" [Michaël Pereira is a Wisły Kraków player] (in Polish). Wisla Portal. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Michaël Pereira joins Athens Kallithea FC". Athens Kallithea F.C. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  15. [15]
    "M. Pereira". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  16. [16]
    "Michael Pereira". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  17. [17]
    Includes other competitive competitions, including the Trophée des champions, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
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