Bruno Miguel Esteves do Vale (born 8 April 1983) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his career in Cyprus with Apollon Limassol after being brought up at Porto, appearing in 316 competitive matches for the former club.
Career Vale was born in Mafamude, Vila Nova de Gaia. A product of FC Porto's youth system, he was surprisingly picked for a Portugal match against Kazakhstan in August 2003, where he played 22 minutes as a substitute in a 1–0 friendly win; at the time, he was only third choice at his club. The following year, he represented the nation at the Summer Olympic Games, backing S.L. Benfica's José Moreira.
Subsequently, Vale played the 2005–06 season on loan to C.F. Estrela da Amadora in the Primeira Liga, also being selected to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, he injured his foot in a game against Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, and was forced to pull out of the squad.
In 2006–07, Vale was loaned again, to top-division side U.D. Leiria. He went almost unnoticed there, moving the following campaign to the Segunda Liga with Varzim SC.
Vale was yet again loaned in July 2008, spending 2008–09 at Vitória de Setúbal in the top flight. The same happened in the following summer, and he again was backup or third choice in the 2009–10 season, now at Lisbon-based C.F. Os Belenenses– an injury to Nélson Pereira eventually propelled him to the starting eleven, as the club suffered top-tier relegation as second-bottom.
In the 2010 off-season, Vale was finally released by Porto, resuming his career with U.D. Oliveirense of the second division. On 26 June 2012, the 29-year-old moved abroad for the first time, signing a two-year contract with Apollon Limassol FC in the Cypriot First Division.
Vale returned to Portugal and Oliveirense after seven years in June 2019, with the 36-year-old agreeing to a one-year deal. On 4 June 2020, he announced his retirement.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPorto 2002–03Primeira Liga000000002003–04Primeira Liga100000102004–05Primeira Liga00000000Total10000010Estrela Amadora (loan)2005–06Primeira Liga30000—300União Leiria (loan)2006–07Primeira Liga2000—20Varzim (loan)2007–08Segunda Liga7010—80Vitória Setúbal (loan)2008–09Primeira Liga703020120Belenenses (loan)2009–10Primeira Liga16020—180Oliveirense 2010–11Segunda Liga29050—3402011–12Segunda Liga28020—300Total57070—640Apollon Limassol2012–13Cypriot First Division28070—3502013–14Cypriot First Division36070604902014–15Cypriot First Division32020704102015–16Cypriot First Division35070604802016–17Cypriot First Division33060204102017–18Cypriot First Division350701105502018–19Cypriot First Division30040130470Total22904004503160Career total34905304704510
Honours Porto Primeira Liga: 2003–04
Apollon Limassol Cypriot Cup: 2012–13, 2015–16, 2016–17 Cypriot Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Portugal Under-16 UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 2000
Individual Toulon Tournament Best Goalkeeper: 2003
References
External links