João da Rocha Ribeiro (born 13 August 1987) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left winger.
Club career Born in Porto, Ribeiro was brought up in FC Porto's youth system. He made his senior debut when he was still a junior, but went on to take part in only six times over two seasons with the reserves in the third division.Três épocas de contrato à espera de João Ribeiro (Three-season contract awaits João Ribeiro); Record, 29 June 2010 (in Portuguese)
Released by Porto, Ribeiro signed a four-year contract with Associação Naval 1º de Maio in summer 2006.Fiore heads transfer stampede; UEFA, 1 September 2006 He made his Primeira Liga debut on 3 December in a 2–0 away loss against C.D. Aves (25 minutes played),AVES-NAVAL, 2–0 (Artur Futre 65', Filipe Anunciação 80'); Record, 3 December 2006 (in Portuguese) and appeared in a further 12 games to help the Figueira da Foz club to retain its status.Naval: subir mais um degrau na quarta época consecutiva (análise) (Naval: climbing another ladder in the fourth consecutive season (analysis)); Mais Futebol, 21 August 2008 (in Portuguese)
Ribeiro became first-choice in the following campaign, featuring in 27 matches and scoring onceNAVAL-P. FERREIRA, 2–1 (Elivelton 65', João Ribeiro 80'; Renato Queirós 87'); Record, 2 December 2007 (in Portuguese) as Naval finished in 11th position. He missed the vast majority of 2008–09 due to injury.João Ribeiro: «Quero relançar a carreira» (João Ribeiro: "I want to relaunch my career"); Record, 1 September 2009 (in Portuguese)
After one year on loan to fellow top-flight side Académica de Coimbra, from Cypriot Second Division's Frenaros FC 2000,Académica: «Quero mostrar aquilo que sou», diz João Ribeiro (Académica: "I want to show what I am", says João Ribeiro); Mais Futebol, 1 September 2009 (in Portuguese) Ribeiro joined Vitória S.C. of the same league.João Ribeiro e Edgar Silva estreiam-se (João Ribeiro and Edgar Silva get started); Record, 1 July 2010 (in Portuguese) He scored his first competitive goal for the Guimarães-based team on 15 January 2011, in a 1–0 home win over S.C. Olhanense.V. Guimarães-Olhanense, 1–0 (crónica) (V. Guimarães-Olhanense, 1–0 (match report)); Mais Futebol, 15 January 2011 (in Portuguese)
For the 2011–12 season, Ribeiro was loaned to Orduspor from the Turkish Süper Lig.João Ribeiro cedido ao Orduspor (João Ribeiro loaned to Orduspor); Record, 23 July 2011 (in Portuguese) Returned to Vitória, he contributed four appearances and one goal in the 2012–13 edition of the Taça de Portugal as the club won the competition for the first time in history, being an unused substitute in the 2–1 final defeat of S.L. Benfica.Sorte sorriu aos minhotos (Luck smiled Minho's way); Correio da Manhã, 19 November 2012 (in Portuguese)Benfica 1–2 V. Guimarães, final da Taça de Portugal (Benfica 1–2 V. Guimarães, Portuguese Cup final); Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, 26 May 2013 (in Portuguese)
Ribeiro agreed to a two-year deal at top-tier Olhanense on 11 August 2013.Olhanense: João Ribeiro (V. Guimarães) é reforço (Olhanense: João Ribeiro (V. Guimarães) is addition); Mais Futebol, 11 August 2013 (in Portuguese)
International career Ribeiro earned 29 caps for Portugal at youth level. On 3 March 2010, he scored once for its under-23 team in a 7–2 win over a semi-professional Wales counterpart in the 2009–2011 International Challenge Trophy.Sub-23: Portugal-País de Gales, 7–2 (crónica) (Under-23: Portugal-Wales, 7–2 (report)); Mais Futebol, 3 March 2010 (in Portuguese)
Honours Vitória Guimarães Taça de Portugal: 2012–13
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