Player Profile: Ruben Micael
 Full name: Rúben Micael Freitas Ressureição
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 19 August 1986
Birthplace: Câmara de Lobos, Madeira
Little was expected of the slight 21-year-old when he signed for Nacional from local minnows Uniao da Madeira at the start of the 2008/09 season. Yet after a superb year, playing a key role in the club’s most successful ever season, Ruben Micael deservedly picked up the Revelation of the Year Award as voted by the 16 top-flight coaches in Portugal.
Comfortable in possession, excellent close control, razor-sharp passing and an eye for goal combine to make Micael extremely difficult for opponents to neutralise.
It was something of a surprise that Nacional managed to keep hold of him in the close season, although Micael himself said he would like to stay in Madeira to take part in the Europa League campaign. It proved an inspired decision, as the free-scoring playmaker improved his burgeoning reputation with a series of outstanding displays.
Seven goals in eight games in the Europa League would be an impressive tally for a striker playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, let alone a midfielder at the heart of a modest team who were new to this level of competition.
Speculation intensified linking Micael with a move to Sporting among several other pretenders as he became one of the hottest up-and-coming Portuguese football talents, but it was 4-time champions FC Porto who signed the player on a long-term deal in January 2010.
International career
Ruben Micael has established himself as a mainstay of the Portugal U21 side. Although still to win a cap at senior level, given Portugal’s scarcity of central midfielders with the kind of creative qualities to keep Deco on his toes, should the cultured Micael maintain his form until the end of the season he could well sneak into Carlos Queiroz’s squad for South Africa.
by Tom Kundert (22/01/2010)
| Club |
Appearances* |
Goals |
| Uniao da Madeira |
94 |
5 |
| Nacional da Madeira |
42 |
6 |
| FC Porto |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
| PORTUGAL |
0 |
0 |
* League appearances only
|
