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Players: Abel Freddy Adu H. Almeida Bruno Alves Anderson J. Andrade N. Assis Vitor Baia Boa Morte Bosingwa M. Caneira Cardozo R. Carvalho Ze Castro Jorge Costa Rui Costa Conceicao Costinha F. Couto M. da Costa Dady Deco Di Maria Y. Djalo Duda M. Fernandes P. Ferreira Luis Figo Luis Filipe Nuno Gomes L. Gonzalez Helton Izmailov Karagounis Katsouranis Liedson L. Lopez Luisao David Luiz Makukula Maniche Mantorras F. Meira R. Meireles P. Mendes Miguel Miguelito Moreira J. Moutinho Nani Nelson Pauleta C. Peixoto Pepe Petit Pereirinha Joao Pinto H. Postiga Polga Quaresma Quim Ricardo R. Rocha C. Rodriguez Ronaldo Romagnoli P. Sousa Simao Tarik Tiago J. Tomas Tonel Miguel Veloso Hugo Viana Vukcevic Abel Xavier Select player

Player profile: Jorge Andrade

Full name: Jorge Manuel Almeida Gomes de Andrade

Position: Defender

Date of Birth: 9 April 1978

Birthplace: Lisbon, Portugal

While not completely sidestepping an education in the Portuguese top-flight in the manner of a Costinha or Pauleta, Jorge Andrade is another current international who has built his reputation largely via his exploits abroad.

The Lisbon-born 28-year-old’s debut for his hometown club Estrela da Amadora was during their most successful season ever as they finished 7th in the first division. Andrade caught the eye immediately, and in 2000 was on the move, north to Porto.

Porto years

Andrade’s stock as a centre-back of strength, poise, pace and capable distribution rose significantly during his time with the Dragons. He made his debut for the national side in November 2001, and he was Porto’s most-used player in the 2001/02 Champions League, playing 12 times as the team reached the second group phase.

After a pit-stop in South Korea for Portugal’s unsuccessful 2002 World Cup campaign, Andrade was snapped up by then-big-spending Deportivo La Coruna in a move that cost the Galicians in excess of €12m.

Super Depor were enjoying a golden era, and Andrade was an integral part of this. His first two seasons at the Riazor saw two third-place finishes in La Liga, as Depor proved themselves substantial rivals to the traditional might of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But it was the Champions League, in which Andrade had performed with such distinction for Porto, which provided the platform for Depor - and Andrade - to announce themselves to all of Europe. In 2002/03 they narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot, and the following season was probably the pivotal point in the club’s history. A Champions League run ended up with a semi-final against Porto, which proved a key tie for both club and player alike.

Playful kick proves costly

They came away from the first leg of the semi-final in Portugal with the job half-done. But the goalless draw was marred as Andrade was sent off against his former club for aiming a playful kick at his good friend Deco on the ground. A subsequent appeal against “a referee’s misunderstanding” failed, and Andrade was forced to watch from the stand as Depor lost the home leg 1-0.

Despite this disappointment, Andrade was by now renowned a complete defender, with enough quality and elegance that he could also play in midfield without looking out of place. Andrade appeared in all six matches of Portugal’s run to the Euro 2004 final, and he was short-listed for UEFA best defender, an award he was pipped to by team-mate Ricardo Carvalho.

Depor have fallen back since, but Andrade is still widely coveted, and would probably have left already were it not for the serious knee injury suffered against Barcelona in March 2006, which kept him out of the World Cup.

He returned in November, and with his contract due to expire in 2009 it’s a good bet he’ll leave in the summer. Valencia are strong suitors, but Chelsea are also thought to be interested and for his part Andrade reckons he could play with Carvalho “with my eyes shut.” Watch this space.

by Andy Brassell (25/02/2007)

2006/07 end-of-season update

After getting back to full fitness, Andrade demonstrated in the second half of the 2006/07 campaign the form that has seen him established as one of the continent’s finest defenders.

Italian giants Juventus recognised his quality and struck a deal with Depor for the powerful defender’s services in July, finally giving the 29-year-old the big move he so thoroughly deserves.

Jorge Andrade 2006/07 season review

CLUB APPEARANCES* GOALS Estrela da Amadora 53 3 FC Porto 52 3 Deportivo La Coruna** 105 2       PORTUGAL*** 48 3

* League only
** Up to July 2006
*** Up to February 2007