Miguel Alexandre Areias Lopes (born 2 June 1977), known as Areias, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played mainly as a left-back.

Club career

After establishing himself as a professional player with S.C. Beira-Mar, Porto-born Areias joined Primeira Liga club FC Porto for the 2004–05 season but, after being rarely used, he was consecutively loaned for the duration of his contract: Boavista FC,[1] Standard Liège (where he teamed up with former Portuguese internationals Sérgio Conceição and Ricardo Sá Pinto)[2] and RC Celta de Vigo; arrived in January 2007 at the latter, he only managed one La Liga appearance during his short spell, a 0–2 home loss against RCD Espanyol.[3][4][5]

Released, Areias signed with C.F. Os Belenenses on a free transfer, for the 2007–08 campaign.[6] Unsettled, he switched the following year to newly promoted C.D. Trofense, also in the top division.[7] After featuring rarely as the Lisbon side finished eighth, he could not help prevent the northern newcomers from being relegated in their first season ever.[8]

In the summer of 2010, after one year out of football, the 33-year-old Areias signed with Leixões S.C. of the Segunda Liga.[9] He left at the end of the season, having played less than one third of the league games for the Matosinhos-based team.

Areias retired in 2011, and started working immediately as a players' agent. He returned to Porto four years later, as youth coach.[10]

References

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