Nélson Augusto Tomar Marcos (born 10 June 1983), known simply as Nélson, is a former footballer who played as a right-back.

Nélson
Nélson training with Betis in 2011
Personal information
Full name Nélson Augusto Tomar Marcos[1]
Date of birth (1983-06-10) 10 June 1983 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Sal, Cape Verde[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 12 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Batuque
2000–2002 Vilanovense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Vilanovense 32 (0)
2003–2004 Salgueiros 27 (2)
2004–2005 Boavista 23 (1)
2005–2008 Benfica 72 (0)
2008–2013 Betis 81 (1)
2010–2011Osasuna (loan) 29 (1)
2013–2014 Palermo 8 (1)
2013–2014Almería (loan) 14 (0)
2014–2015 Belenenses 27 (0)
2015–2017 Alcorcón 55 (0)
2017–2018 AEK Larnaca 27 (0)
Total 395 (6)
International career
2006 Portugal U21 3 (0)
2009–2012 Portugal 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After making a name for himself at Benfica, appearing in 101 official games over three seasons, he went on to spend the vast majority of his career in Spain, representing Betis, Osasuna, Almería and Alcorcón. He also competed professionally in Italy and Cyprus.

Born in Cape Verde, Nélson won four caps for the Portugal national team in three years.[2]

Club career

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Early years

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Born in Sal, Cape Verde, Nélson started his professional career with Vilanovense FC. He began making a name in the Primeira Liga with Boavista FC, having joined from soon-to-be-extinct S.C. Salgueiros also in Porto.[3]

In May 2005, Nélson was involved in a car crash along with former Boavista player José Bosingwa, who represented FC Porto at the time. The latter, behind the wheel of his jeep at the time of the accident, was travelling too quickly and due to wet conditions he crashed the car into an embankment which was followed by the car bursting into flames; one passenger required his foot to be amputated, whilst the other three were unharmed.[4]

Benfica

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Nélson signed a five-year contract with S.L. Benfica in summer 2005, for 1.5 million.[5] He made the right-back spot his own upon his arrival, making 25 appearances during his first season; in the 2006–07 campaign, he was also a starter.

In the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League, after having faced Manchester United in the same competition and stage the season before, Nélson scored with a long-range shot into Edwin van der Sar's top-right hand corner at Old Trafford on 6 December 2006; eventually, the game was lost 3–1 and his team had to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup after finishing third.[6]

Betis

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Nélson with Betis in 2009.

In late August 2008, Nélson joined Real Betis in Spain for €6 million, on a five-year deal.[7] He quickly became a starter, as the Andalusia club was eventually relegated.

On 30 August 2010, Nélson was loaned to CA Osasuna, with the Navarrese having an option to make the move permanent at the season's end.[8] Battling with Damià for first-choice status throughout the vast majority of the campaign,[9] he netted on 20 December in a 4–0 away victory over Hércules CF,[10] his first goal in over four years.

On 11 May 2011, in the last minute of the first half of a La Liga home fixture against Sevilla FC (3–2 home win), Nélson collided with opponent Lautaro Acosta, fracturing his left ankle in the outcome.[11] His injury was not as serious as initially expected though.[12]

Nélson spent the first part of 2011–12, with Betis again in the top division, recovering from his condition. On 4 December 2011, in one of his first bench appearances, he was caught on camera talking to his previous side Osasuna's assistant manager Alfredo, leading to rumours that he was filtering his team's lineup to the opposition, which was denied by both parties.[13][14]

On 11 February 2012, in his first match for the Verdiblancos upon his return, Nélson scored from long distance in the 90th minute of a 2–1 home defeat of Athletic Bilbao.[15]

Palermo

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On 28 January 2013, days after being released by Betis, Nélson moved to Italy's US Città di Palermo, agreeing to a contract until June 2015[16] and rejoining his former Benfica teammate Fabrizio Miccoli. He scored in his Serie A debut the following week, but his late backheel goal could not help prevent a 1–2 home loss to Atalanta BC.[17]

Nélson returned to Spain and its top flight on 2 August 2013, signing with UD Almería in a season-long loan deal.[18] He subsequently returned to Palermo, but was immediately deemed surplus to requirements and was not even called up for pre-season camp; his link was terminated by mutual consent in August 2014.[19]

Later career

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In September 2014, the free agent Nélson joined C.F. Os Belenenses.[20] He made his competitive debut on 13 September, featuring as a right midfielder and playing 78 minutes of the 1–1 away draw against Sporting CP.[21]

Nélson returned to Spain on 29 July 2015, signing a one-year deal with AD Alcorcón.[22] He retired aged 35, his last club having been Cypriot First Division's AEK Larnaca FC.[23]

International career

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Nélson was granted Portuguese citizenship in December 2005, and played in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[24] He received his first call-up to the senior team in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Kazakhstan on 15 November 2006, but did not leave the bench.

Nélson finally made his full debut on 31 March 2009, appearing in a 2–0 friendly win with South Africa in Lausanne, Switzerland.[25]

Career statistics

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Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vilanovense 2000–01[26] Segunda Divisão 5 0 0 0 5 0
2001–02[26] Segunda Divisão 27 0 1 0 28 0
Total 32 0 1 0 33 0
Salgueiros 2003–04[26] Segunda Liga 27 2 3 0 30 2
Boavista 2004–05[26] Primeira Liga 23 1 2 0 25 1
Benfica 2005–06[26] Primeira Liga 25 0 2 0 7[a] 0 34 0
2006–07[26] Primeira Liga 28 0 3 0 6[a] 1 37 1
2007–08[26] Primeira Liga 19 0 5 0 6[b] 0 30 0
Total 72 0 10 0 19 1 101 1
Betis 2008–09[27] La Liga 35 0 1 0 36 0
2009–10[27] Segunda División 22 0 1 0 23 0
2011–12[27] La Liga 14 1 1 0 15 1
2012–13[27] La Liga 10 0 0 0 10 0
Total 81 1 3 0 84 1
Osasuna (loan) 2010–11[27] La Liga 29 1 2 0 31 2
Palermo 2012–13[28] Serie A 8 1 0 0 8 1
Almería (loan) 2013–14[27] La Liga 14 0 1 0 15 0
Belenenses 2014–15[26] Primeira Liga 27 0 6 0 33 0
Alcorcón 2015–16[27] Segunda División 36 0 0 0 36 0
2016–17[27] Segunda División 19 0 7 0 26 0
Total 55 0 7 0 62 0
AEK Larnaca 2017–18[28] Cypriot First Division 27 0 5 0 0 0 32 0
Career total 395 6 40 0 19 1 454 7
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup

Honours

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AEK Larnaca

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Nélson" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ^ Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (15 February 2023). "Nélson dedica-se à customização: "O meu escape depois do futebol"" [Nélson takes up customization: "My escape after football"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  3. ^ Pereira, Sérgio (5 April 2004). "Boavista contrata Nelson (ex-Salgueiros)" [Boavista sign Nélson (ex-Salgueiros)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Bosingwa e mais quatro futebolistas envolvem-se em aparatoso acidente" [Bosingwa and four other footballers involved in spectacular accident]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 May 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Miguel makes switch to Mestalla". UEFA. 19 August 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. ^ Hart, Simon (6 December 2006). "United heading into last 16". UEFA. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Nélson ya es jugador del Betis" [Nélson is already a Betis player] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Betis y Osasuna acuerdan la cesión al club navarro de Nelson" [Betis and Osasuna agree Nélson loan to Navarrese club] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  9. ^ Valenciano Andía, José Carlos (18 March 2012). "Damià se afianza en el lateral izquierdo" [Damià getting stronger at left-back] (in Spanish). El Sadar. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Giant performance shocks Hercules". ESPN Soccernet. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  11. ^ Osasuna hit back for stunning win; ESPN Soccernet, 11 May 2011
  12. ^ El susto de Nelson se queda en luxación del astrágalo (Nelson scare just a talus bone dislocation); Marca, 12 May 2011 (in Spanish)
  13. ^ Nelson se mete en un lío (Nelson in hot waters); Diario de Navarra, 7 December 2011 (in Spanish)
  14. ^ Alfredo niega que Nelson les filtrara información del Betis antes del partido (Alfredo denies Nelson filtered information on Betis before match) Archived 7 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Noticias de Navarra, 7 December 2011 (in Spanish)
  15. ^ Nelson sinks Bilbao; ESPN Soccernet, 11 February 2012
  16. ^ "Preso anche Nelson, domani la presentazione Boselli" [Nelson in too, press conference with Boselli scheduled tomorrow] (in Italian). U.S. Palermo. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Palermo 1–2 Atalanta". ESPN FC. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  18. ^ Nelson se convierte en el séptimo fichaje del Almería para la próxima temporada (Nélson becomes Almería's seventh signing for the following season) Archived 5 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine; UD Almería, 2 August 2013 (in Spanish)
  19. ^ "Viviano passa alla Sampdoria, rescisso il contratto di Nelson" [Viviano joins Sampdoria, Nelson contract terminated] (in Italian). U.S. Palermo. 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  20. ^ "Nélson: "Ainda tenho grandes planos na minha carreira"" [Nélson: "I still have big plans for my career"] (in Portuguese). Record. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Nélson: "Ainda procuro a melhor forma física"" [Nélson: "I am still looking for my best physical condition"] (in Portuguese). Record. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Nélson Augusto Tomar Ramos [sic], nuevo jugador de la AD Alcorcón" [Nélson Augusto Tomar Marcos, new player of AD Alcorcón] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  23. ^ "Ex-Benfica Nélson vai jogar no Chipre" [Ex-Benfica Nélson will play in Cyprus] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  24. ^ Nélson pride at Portugal call; UEFA, 23 February 2006
  25. ^ Portugal rediscover winning feeling; UEFA, 31 March 2009
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h Nélson at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h Nélson at BDFutbol  
  28. ^ a b Nélson Marcos at Soccerway
  29. ^ "Chipre: AEK Larnaca conquista a Taça" [Cyprus: AEK Larnaca claim Cup] (in Portuguese). Record. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
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