Ricardo Alexandre Almeida Santos (born 18 June 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers.
 Santos in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricardo Alexandre Almeida Santos[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 June 1995[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Almada, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2012 | Dagenham & Redbridge | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 0 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Billericay Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2013 | Dover Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Thurrock | 19 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Peterborough United | 63 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | Barnet | 84 | (6) |
| 2020– | Bolton Wanderers | 160 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:03, 2 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editSantos was a youth team player at Dagenham & Redbridge, making one appearance in the matchday squad,[4] before he was released and signed by Thurrock manager Mark Stimson, following a spell at Dover Athletic where he made no appearances.[4] He impressed for the Isthmian League club, making 24 appearances,[5] and was signed by Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson on a three-and-a-half-year contract in February 2014.[6] Peterborough paid £8000 for him.[7] He made his League One debut on 3 May in a 0–0 draw with Port Vale at London Road.[8] Santos scored his first goal for the club when he scored a late winner against Doncaster Rovers on 19 March 2016.[9]
On 1 January 2017, Santos joined Barnet for a fee of £100,000.[10] He made his debut on the following day in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. He left the club at the end of the 2019–20 season having spent two and a half seasons with the Bees, making 94 appearances, scoring six goals.[11]
Bolton Wanderers
editSantos signed for Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 3 August 2020.[12] His debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 2–1 home defeat against Bradford in the first round of the EFL Cup.[13] On 1 March 2021, Santos signed a new contract with Bolton until 2023.[14] He was named as EFL League Two Player of the Month for February 2021.[15] On 21 May 2021, following the team's direct promotion to the EFL League One, he was announced to have been voted as Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season.[16] Plus, he was named in the league's Team of the Year, together with his team-mate Eoin Doyle.[17]
On 22 October 2021, following the sudden departure of Antoni Sarcevic to Stockport County, Santos was appointed by manager Ian Evatt as Bolton's new captain.[18] He was named in the Team of the Year for the second consecutive year, this time in League One, for the 2021–22 season.[19] On 26 May 2022, Santos signed a new three-year deal with Bolton Wanderers which would keep him at the club until 2025.[20]
On 11 February 2023, Santos scored his first goals for Bolton with a brace in a 5–0 win at his former team Peterborough United, Bolton's 5000th league game.[21] On 2 April, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy final which Bolton won 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle.[22] He was named in both the EFL[23] and PFA[24] Teams of the Season for the 2022–23 season, the third season in a row he had been named in Teams of the Year. On 21 September 2024, Santos was replaced as captain by George Thomason.[25]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 29 October 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2012–13[26] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billericay Town (loan) | 2012–13[27] | Conference South | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Thurrock | 2013–14[28] | IL Division One North | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| Peterborough United | 2013–14[29] | League One | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[30] | League One | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[31] | League One | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2016–17[32] | League One | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 63 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 75 | 1 | ||
| Barnet | 2016–17[32] | League Two | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | League Two | 42 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 47 | 3 | |
| 2018–19 | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | National League | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 27 | 1 | ||
| Total | 84 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 94 | 6 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2020–21[33] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 2021–22[34] | League One | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[35] | League One | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2023–24[36] | League One | 34 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | 45 | 2 | |
| 2024–25[37] | League One | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 160 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 193 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 330 | 12 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 389 | 14 | ||
- ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
- ^ a b c d e Appearances in EFL Trophy
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League playoffs
- ^ Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
- ^ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearance in League One play-offs
Honours
editBolton Wanderers
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2020–21[38][33]
- EFL Trophy: 2022–23[22]
Individual
References
edit- ^ "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. May 2013. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Ricardo Santos". 11v11. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Ricardo Santos". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ a b Munford, Colin (5 February 2014). "Former Daggers defender joins Peterborough United". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Club not live". pitchero.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Peterborough sign Portuguese defender Ricardo Santos". BBC Sport. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ The Bolton News: Why Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony wants Bolton's Ricardo Santos to say 'sorry': "We got Rico from Thurrock and paid eight grand for him"
- ^ "Peterborough 0-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Doncaster 1–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Barnet complete Santos signing". barnetfc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Club update". barnetfc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Evatt Recruits Portuguese Defender". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Report: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Bradford City". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ BWFC.co.uk: "Almeida Santos signs new deal"
- ^ a b "Manager and Defender win Sky Bet monthly awards". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ a b Bolton Wanderers: "Ricardo Almeida Santos Named As Bolton Wanderers' 2020/21 Player Of The Year"
- ^ "🏆 Wanderers duo named in PFA League Two Team of the Year". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Santos Gets Captain's Job". bwfc.co.uk. 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b The PFA: "PFA League One Team of the Year"
- ^ "Done Deal As Captain Commits". bwfc.co.uk. 26 May 2022.
- ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt's joy at Ricardo Santos first goals"
- ^ a b Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ a b "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers appoint George Thomason as new captain
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2012/2013 for Billericay Town". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2013/2014 for Thurrock". Thurrock F.C. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ Soccerbase: League Two 2020/21 Table
- ^ The PFA: "PFA League Two Team of the Year"
- ^ "PFA League One Team of the Year". PFA. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
External links
edit
- Ricardo Santos at Soccerway