Rúben Vezo

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Nunes and the second or paternal family name is Vezo.

Rúben Vezo

Vezo playing for Valencia in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Rúben Miguel Nunes Vezo[1]
Date of birth	(1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 30)[1]
Place of birth	Setúbal, Portugal[1]
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Eyüpspor (on loan from Olympiacos)
Number	14
Youth career
2003–2005	Pelezinhos
2005–2013	Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013	Vitória Setúbal	12	(0)
2014–2019	Valencia	54	(1)
2016–2017	→ Granada (loan)	18	(0)
2019	→ Levante (loan)	15	(2)
2019–2024	Levante	139	(2)
2024–	Olympiacos	5	(0)
2024–	→ Eyüpspor (loan)	6	(0)
International career
2013	Portugal U19	1	(0)
2014	Portugal U20	5	(1)
2014–2015	Portugal U21	5	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:02, 13 December 2024 (UTC).

Rúben Miguel Nunes Vezo (born 25 April 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender or a right-back for Süper Lig club Eyüpspor, on loan from Olympiacos.

After starting his career at Vitória de Setúbal in the Primeira Liga, he spent several years in Spain's La Liga with Valencia, Granada and Levante, making 180 appearances in the competition.

Club career

Vitória Setúbal

Born in Setúbal to a Cape Verdean father and a Portuguese mother,^[2] Vezo joined local Vitória Futebol Clube's youth system at the age of 11. He was promoted to the first team for the 2013–14 season,^[3] and on 18 August made his Primeira Liga debut, starting in a 1–3 home loss against FC Porto.^[4]

During his short spell, Vezo featured the full 90 minutes in all the league matches he appeared in, save for the last five minutes of a 4–1 win at Vitória S.C. where he was sent off,^[5] and 34 against F.C. Arouca (1–0 home victory) for the same reason.^[6]

Valencia

On 4 November 2013, Vezo signed a four-year contract with Valencia CF for a reported fee of €1.5 million, with the move being made effective in the January transfer window.^[7] He made his La Liga debut on 8 February 2014, playing the last nine minutes in a 5–0 home defeat of Real Betis.^[8] Fifteen days later, profiting from suspension to compatriot Ricardo Costa, he played the full 90 minutes against Granada CF also at the Mestalla Stadium, and scored his first goal as a professional after netting from a free kick taken by Dani Parejo to help the hosts come from behind in the 90th minute and win it 2–1;^[9] in the process, he became the Spanish club's youngest ever foreigner to achieve that feat.^[10]

In 2015–16, Vezo took part in his first European campaigns in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. He was dismissed on 24 November in a 2–0 group loss away to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the former for a foul on Oleg Shatov;^[11] following the drop into the latter he netted the final goal of a 10–0 aggregate win over SK Rapid Wien in the last 32 for Gary Neville's team.^[12]

Vezo joined Granada of the same league on 31 August 2016, in a season-long loan.^[13] He played 19 times as the Andalusians were relegated,^[14] and he was sent off on his second appearance in a 2–2 draw at Betis on 16 September.^[15]

In 2018–19, Vezo played only four league games in his last half-season at the Mestalla Stadium, but contributed five matches in the Copa del Rey as the competition was won.^[16]

Levante

On 29 January 2019, Vezo moved across the city to Levante UD also in a temporary deal.^[17] Four days later, he made his debut in a goalless draw at home to Getafe CF;^[18][19] his first goal came in a 2–2 draw as RCD Espanyol visited the Estadi Ciutat de València on 21 April,^[20] and two weeks later another strike in a 4–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano all but secured survival at the opponents' expense.^[21] On 1 July, he agreed to a permanent five-year contract,^[22] for a club record €6 million with the first €5 million paid up front.^[23]

Vezo had to play in goal for the last minutes of the home fixture with Real Madrid on 22 August 2021, after Aitor Fernández was sent off and manager Paco López had already brought all five replacements in. He conceded no goals, in a 3–3 home draw.^[24]

Olympiacos

On 1 February 2024, Vezo was transferred to Olympiacos F.C. of Super League Greece,^[25] joining a host of compatriots including manager Carlos Carvalhal.^[26]

International career

Vezo earned his first cap for the Portugal under-21 side on 5 March 2014 – one month shy of his 20th birthday – playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 home win against Macedonia for the 2015 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.^[27] He scored his first goal at that level in the same competition, on 14 October, helping defeat the Netherlands 5–4 in the play-offs, in Paços de Ferreira (7–4 on aggregate).^[28]

Career statistics

As of 31 March 2023^[29]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vitória Setúbal	2013–14	Primeira Liga	12	0	2	1	—		1[a]	0	15	1
Valencia	2013–14	La Liga	8	1	0	0	0	0	—		8	1
	2014–15		7	0	3	0	—		—		10	0
	2015–16		15	0	6	0	6[b]	1	—		27	1
	2016–17		1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2017–18		19	0	7	1	—		—		26	1
	2018–19		4	0	5	0	3[c]	0	—		12	0
	Total		54	1	21	1	9	1	–		84	3
Granada (loan)	2016–17	La Liga	18	0	1	0	—		—		19	0
Levante (loan)	2018–19	La Liga	15	2	0	0	—		—		15	2
Levante	2019–20	La Liga	29	1	1	0	—		—		30	1
	2020–21	La Liga	32	1	5	0	—		—		37	1
	2021–22	La Liga	32	0	0	0	—		—		32	0
	2022–23	Segunda División	27	0	1	0	—		—		28	0
	Total		135	4	7	0	—		—		142	4
Career total			219	5	31	2	9	1	1	0	260	8

1. Appearance in Taça da Liga
2. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 2018–19^[16]

References

1. "Rúben Vezo" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
2. Pires, Sérgio (13 October 2015). "Nélson Semedo: e Portugal lá pescou mais um "tubarão"..." [Nélson Semedo: and Portugal fished yet another "shark"...] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
3. Lopes Pereira, Ricardo (23 May 2013). "Hassan e Rúben Vezo já são profissionais" [Hassan and Rúben Vezo are already professionals]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
4. Nunes, Luís Miguel (18 August 2013). "V. Setúbal 1–3 FC Porto: campeão entra a meio gás" [V. Setúbal 1–3 FC Porto: champions begin at half-strength] (in Portuguese). Relvado. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
5. Lopes Pereira, Ricardo (3 September 2013). "Castigo de Vezo obriga a mexer na defesa" [Vezo ban forces defensive changes]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
6. "Vitória de Setúbal vence Arouca" [Vitória de Setúbal beat Arouca] (in Portuguese). TSF. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
7. "El Valencia hace oficial el fichaje de Rúben Vezo" [Valencia make signing of Rúben Vezo official]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). 4 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
8. Liceras, Ángel (8 February 2014). "Pizzi devuelve la solvencia al Valencia" [Pizzi returns resolve to Valencia]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 February 2014.
9. Egea, Pablo (23 February 2014). "Vezo apaga el fuego" [Vezo puts out the fire]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2014.
10. "Vezo, llegar y besar el santo" [Vezo, veni, vidi, vici]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
11. "Zenit St Petersburg maintain 100% record to leave Valencia sweating". The Guardian. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
12. "Europa League roundup: Neville's Valencia reach last 16 with ease". The Guardian. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
13. "Comunicado oficial | Rúben Vezo" [Official announcement | Rúben Vezo] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
14. "Ruben Vezo firma con el Levante hasta 2024" [Ruben Vezo signs with Levante until 2024] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
15. "Betis rescató un empate de atrás" [Betis rescued a draw from behind]. El País (in Spanish). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
16. López Sanfeliu, Álex (26 May 2019). "Una Copa que también pertenece a Vezo" [A Cup that also belongs to Vezo] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
17. "Official statement | Ruben Vezo". Valencia CF. 29 January 2019. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
18. Miranda, N. (1 February 2019). "Vezo se estrena en una convocatoria con el Levante" [Vezo debuts in a Levante matchday squad]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
19. Pérez, José Ignacio (2 February 2019). "La filosofía del no perder" [The philosophy of not losing]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
20. Clancy, Conor (21 April 2019). "Levante pick up vital point in battle for survival". Marca. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
21. "Un desatado Levante acaricia la salvación y deja al Rayo al borde del descenso" [An unleashed Levante are touching survival and leave Rayo on the brink of relegation] (in Spanish). RTVE. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
22. "Levante UD y Valencia CF acuerdan el traspaso de Rubén Vezo" [Levante UD and Valencia CF agree the transfer of Rubén Vezo] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
23. Millar, Colin (1 July 2019). "Levante break transfer record for Valencia's Ruben Vezo". Football España. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
24. Nieto, Luis (22 August 2021). "Vinicius, socorrista de lujo" [Vinicius, deluxe helper]. As (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2021.
25. "El Levante UD y el Olympiacos FC acuerdan el traspaso de Ruben Vezo" [Levante UD and Olympiacos FC agree the transfer of Ruben Vezo] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
26. "Rúben Vezo aumenta a armada lusa do Olympiacos" [Rúben Vezo adds to Olympiacos' Lusitanian army]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
27. Santos, Carlos Jorge (5 March 2014). "Perfect Portugal dispatch FYROM". UEFA. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
28. "Portugal through after nine-goal thriller". UEFA. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
29. "Rúben Vezo". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 December 2015.

External links

• Rúben Vezo at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Rúben Vezo at BDFutbol
• Rúben Vezo national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)