Cadú (footballer, born 1981)

For other footballers also known as Cadu, see Cadu (disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Ferreira and the second or paternal family name is Sousa.

Cadú
Cadú with CFR Cluj in 2010
Personal information
Full name Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-21) 21 December 1981 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Paços de Ferreira, Portugal[1]
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Youth career
1990–2000 Paços Ferreira
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Paços Ferreira 46 (3)
2000–2001 → Aliados Lordelo (loan) 18 (4)
2001–2002 → Gondomar (loan) 34 (8)
2004–2006 Boavista 58 (3)
2006–2014 CFR Cluj 202 (27)
2014–2015 AEL Limassol 12 (2)
2015–2016 Gil Vicente 44 (7)
2016–2017 Leixões 12 (2)
2017–2019 Merelinense 41 (2)
2019–2021 Maia Lidador 37 (7)
Total 504 (65)
International career
2003–2004 Portugal U21 4 (0)
2004 Portugal B 2 (0)
Managerial career
2022–2025 Paços Ferreira (chief scout)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa (born 21 December 1981), known as Cadú, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 121 games and seven goals over five seasons, with Paços de Ferreira, Boavista and Gil Vicente. He spent the vast majority of his career in Romania with CFR Cluj, appearing in 255 competitive matches and winning eight major trophies.

Club career

Paços Ferreira, loans and Boavista

Cadú was born on 21 December 1981 in Paços de Ferreira, Portugal.[2][3][4] He began playing junior-level football in 1990 at local club Paços Ferreira.[2] One year later, he started to play senior-level football at fourth league side Aliados Lordelo.[2][3][4] Subsequently, for the 2001–02 season, he joined third tier club Gondomar.[2][3][4][5]

In 2002, Cadú returned to Paços Ferreira, making his Primeira Liga debut on 29 September under coach José Mota in a 3–1 home win over Boavista.[2][3][4][6][7] On 23 February 2003, he netted his first goal in a 2–0 victory against Gil Vicente.[6] Until the end of the season, he scored two more goals in a 3–1 loss to Beira-Mar and a 1–0 win over Porto.[6] In the 2003–04 season, Paços Ferreira finished in 17th place and was relegated.[2][4][8]

In 2004, Cadú joined Boavista.[2][3][4] In his first season, he netted two goals in a 2–1 loss to Marítimo and a 1–0 victory against Porto, with the team finishing in sixth place.[2][3][9] In the 2005–06 season, he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against Vitória de Guimarães and again finished in sixth place.[2][3][10]

CFR Cluj

In 2006, Cadú joined Romania's CFR Cluj, together with compatriots António Semedo, Manuel José and Pedro Oliveira.[2][3][11][12] CFR paid Boavista a €750,000 fee for his transfer.[11][13] He made his Liga I debut on 30 July 2006 when player-coach Dorinel Munteanu sent him in the 79th minute to replace Zoran Milošević in a 4–0 home victory over Unirea Urziceni.[2][13][14][15] On 20 September, he scored his first goal in the league in a 5–1 home win against FC Universitatea Craiova.[2][14]

Cadú became CFR's captain in late 2007.[4][16] In the 2007–08 season, CFR won The Double, which constituted the club's first trophies, and Cadú contributed with four goals in 29 league matches under coach Ioan Andone.[2][17][18] One of these goals was scored in the last round of the season from a penalty in a 1–0 Cluj derby win over Universitatea Cluj that mathematically secured the title.[19] Additionally, he made his debut in a European club competition, playing in both legs of the 3–1 loss on aggregate to Anorthosis in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round.[2][20] Cadú then played six games in the 2008–09 Champions League group stage with The Railway Men, including a historical 2–1 victory at Stadio Olimpico against AS Roma.[2][21] In the same season he won another Cupa României, coach Toni Conceição using him the entire match in the 3–0 win over Politehnica Timișoara in the final.[2][22]

Cadú started the 2009–10 season by winning the Supercupa României, as coach Conceição used him the whole match in the penalty shoot-out win against Unirea Urziceni, and he netted the final spot kick.[2][23] Subsequently, he helped his side eliminate FK Sarajevo in the 2009–10 Europa League play-off, reaching the group stage where he played in five games.[2][24] Cadú finished the season by winning another Double with CFR, being used by coaches Conceição and Andrea Mandorlini in 28 games in which he netted five goals.[2][17] He also played the entire match in the victory at the penalty shoot-out against FC Vaslui in the Cupa României final with Cadú scoring the final spot kick.[2][25] For these performances he was voted Central Defender of the Year alongside Unirea Urziceni's George Galamaz.[4][26]

He won the 2010 Supercupa României, following another penalty shoot-out victory against Unirea Urziceni in which coach Mandorlini played him for the entire match.[2][27] Afterwards, he played five matches in the 2010–11 Champions League group stage, scoring a goal and an own goal in a 3–2 away loss to Bayern Munich.[2][28] Cadú's last trophy won with The White and Burgundies was the 2011–12 championship, as coaches Jorge Costa and Andone used him in 27 matches in which he netted five goals.[2][17][29] The title was mathematically clinched after Cadú scored the victory goal in the 88th minute of the 3–2 win over Universitatea Cluj.[30] Next season he played 10 games in the team's 2012–13 Champions League campaign as they got past Slovan Liberec, against whom he scored a goal, and Basel in the qualifying rounds.[2][31] In the group stage, the club finished third, earning 10 points against opponents such as Manchester United, Galatasaray and Braga.[2][32] Subsequently, they qualified for the round of 32 in the Europa League, where they were defeated by Inter Milan.[2][33]

On 6 May 2014, he made his 200th Liga I appearance in a 3–0 away win over Dinamo București, becoming the foreign player with the most matches played after the 1989 Romanian Revolution.[34] Cadú made his last appearance in the competition on 15 May 2014 in CFR's 3–1 home win over Gaz Metan Mediaș, totaling 202 matches with 27 goals in the competition.[2][35]

AEL Limassol and Gil Vicente

In July 2014, Cadú signed with AEL Limassol, making his Cypriot First Division debut on 24 August under coach Ivaylo Petev in a 2–0 away victory against Nea Salamina.[2][3][36][37] In the following two rounds, he scored his first two goals which helped the team earn a draw against Ethnikos and a win over Doxa.[2][36] Cadú also played in the two-legged 3–1 loss to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the 2014–15 Champions League third qualifying round.[2][38] Subsequently, he appeared in both games in the 2014–15 Europa League play-off as his side was defeated 5–1 on aggregate by Tottenham Hotspur.[2][39] Those were his last appearances in European competitions, as he accumulated 35 matches with two goals.[2]

In January 2015, Cadú returned to Portugal, signing with Gil Vicente.[2][3][40] He scored his first goal for them on 25 April in a 2–1 away victory against Académica.[41] On 23 May 2015, he made his last Primeira Liga appearance in a 2–0 home loss to Belenenses, totaling 121 matches with seven goals in the competition.[2][3][41] However, the team was relegated by the end of the season, but Cadú stayed with the club for one more year.[3]

Leixões, Merelinense and Maia Lidador

In July 2016, Cadú joined second league side Leixões.[2][42] Subsequently, he joined Merelinense in the third league and then played for Maia Lidador, ending his career in 2021.[43][44]

International career

From 2003 to 2004, Cadú played four matches for Portugal's under-21 team and made two appearances for the B squad.[43][45]

Honours

CFR Cluj

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ricardo Cadú" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Cadú at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ricardo Cadú profile". ForaDeJogo.net. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cadú" (in Portuguese). Aliadosfclordelo.pt. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Hernâni Silva: "A nossa dignidade não admite dúvidas"" [Hernâni Silva: "Our dignity is beyond doubt"]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 May 2002. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Ricardo Cadú. Primeira Liga 2002/2003". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Paços Ferreira vs. Boavista 3 – 1". WorldFootball. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Cadú: "Vamos lá "roubar" pontos!"" [Cadú: "Let's go "steal" some points!"]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Ricardo Cadú. Primeira Liga 2004/2005". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Ricardo Cadú. Primeira Liga 2005/2006". WorldFootball. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
    Silva, Elisabete (4 May 2005). "Mais um adeus de Pacheco" [Another Pacheco farewell]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b "CFR Cluj dă 1,25 milioane de euro pe portughezi" [CFR Cluj spends 1,25 million euros on Portuguese players] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 14 July 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Fotbalu' din tara noastra: Strainii, fotbalul si CFR-ul" [Football from our country: Foreigners, football and the CFR] (in Romanian). Romaniansoccer.ro. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Unicul Ricardo Cadu. Căpitanul celor de la CFR Cluj poate atinge o performanţă impresionantă la meciul cu Dinamo" [The one and only Ricardo Cadu. The captain of CFR Cluj can achieve an impressive performance in the match against Dinamo] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Ricardo Cadú. Liga I 2006/2007". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  15. ^ "CFR Cluj vs. Unirea Urziceni 4 – 0". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Cadu noul capitan al echipei din Gruia" [Cadu new captain in Gruia's squad] (in Romanian). Presa Online. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  17. ^ a b c "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  18. ^ "CFR 2008 Ce s-a intamplat cu cei care ii aduceau, acum 10 ani, primul titlu din istorie lui CFR Cluj" [CFR 2008 What happened to those who brought, 10 years ago, the first title in the history of CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  19. ^ ""U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 0-1 / CFR e noua campioana a Romaniei" ["U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 0-1 / CFR is the new champion of Romania] (in Romanian). Golazo.ro. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  20. ^ "CFR Cluj a pierdut cu 1-3 in fata Anorthosis Famagusta" [CFR Cluj lost 1-3 against Anorthosis Famagusta] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Anorthosis - CFR Cluj 0-0" [CFR Cluj lost 1-3 against Anorthosis Famagusta] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Papa de la primărie" [The Pope from the city hall] (in Romanian). Welovesport.ro. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
    "Primari, antrenori, preoți! Ce fac acum jucătorii CFR-ului care au învins Roma pe Olimpico" [Mayors, coaches, priests! What are the CFR players who beat Roma at the Olimpico doing now?] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "FINAL AS Roma - CFR Cluj 1-2 Victorie incredibila: Culio cucereste Roma!" [FINAL AS Roma - CFR Cluj 1-2 Incredible victory: Culio conquers Rome!] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 2008–2009". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Cupa ramane la Cluj! CFR 3-0 Timisoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)" [The cup remains in Cluj! CFR 3-0 Timisoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  23. ^ "CFR Cluj a castigat Supercupa Romaniei: Unirea 1-1 CFR (3-4 d.p)" [CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup: Unirea 1-1 CFR (3-4 d.p.)] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  24. ^ "CFR, in grupele Europa League! CFR Cluj 2-1 FK Sarajevo!" [CFR, in the Europa League groups! CFR Cluj 2-1 FK Sarajevo!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Ricardo Cadú. Europa League 2009/2010". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 2009–2010". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "FC Vaslui - CFR Cluj 4-5. Ardelenii au câştigat Cupa României la penalty-uri" [FC Vaslui - CFR Cluj 4-5. The Transylvanians won the Romanian Cup on penalties] (in Romanian). Evz.ro. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  26. ^ Baicu, Radu (24 June 2010). "Best players in Romania". Scouting Romania. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  27. ^ "CFR Cluj a castigat Supercupa Romaniei" [CFR Cluj won the Supercupa Romaniei] (in Romanian). Stirileprotv.ro. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  28. ^ Holyman, Ian (19 October 2010). "Bayern beat CFR Cluj to extend group lead". UEFA. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
    "CFR Cluj s-a batut singura la Munchen! Vezi golul lui Culio si gafele lui Cadu si Panin!" [CFR Cluj s-a batut singura la Munchen! Vezi golul lui Culio si gafele lui Cadu si Panin!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Ricardo Cadú. Champions League 2010/2011". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  29. ^ ""U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 2-3. Oaspeții revin de la 0-2 și câștigă al treilea titlu din istorie!" ["U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 2-3. The guests come back from 0-2 and win the third title in history!] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Meciul care a trimis titlul în Gruia în 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2-3, în vizorul DNA. Cum a ajuns cazul pe masa procurorilor" [The match that sent the title to Gruia in 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2-3, in DNA's sights. How the case ended up on the table of the prosecutors] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  30. ^ ""U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 2-3. Oaspeții revin de la 0-2 și câștigă al treilea titlu din istorie!" ["U" Cluj - CFR Cluj 2-3. The guests come back from 0-2 and win the third title in history!] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Meciul care a trimis titlul în Gruia în 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2-3, în vizorul DNA. Cum a ajuns cazul pe masa procurorilor" [The match that sent the title to Gruia in 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2-3, in DNA's sights. How the case ended up on the table of the prosecutors] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  31. ^ "Ricardo Cadú. Champions League Qualifiers 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  32. ^ "LIGA CAMPIONILOR. Cadu: Nu văd o altă echipă de la noi să facă 10 puncte în grupe" [CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Cadu: I don't see another team from our country getting 10 points in the groups] (in Romanian). Digi24.ro. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Ricardo Cadú. Champions League 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  33. ^ "CFR - Inter 0-3. Un gol splendid și o gafă a lui Felguieras au decis meciul" [CFR - Inter 0-3. A splendid goal and a mistake by Felguieras decided the match] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Ricardo Cadú. Europa League 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Futebolista português Cadú diz sentir-se em casa no Cluj" [Portuguese footballer Cadú says he feels at home at Cluj] (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  35. ^ "CFR Cluj - Gaz Metan Mediaș 3-1. Caseta tehnică și imagini" [CFR Cluj - Gaz Metan Mediaș 3-1. Technical report and images] (in Romanian). Orangesport.ro. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "CFR Cluj își pierde simbolul! Ricardo Cadu a anunțat că pleacă: "Da! M-am înțeles cu șefii"" [CFR Cluj loses its symbol! Ricardo Cadu announced that he is leaving: "Yes! I agreed with the bosses"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  36. ^ a b "Ricardo Cadú. Cypriot First Division 2014/2015". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  37. ^ "Cadu a semnat cu AEL Limassol. Poate debuta pentru ciprioți contra Stelei, în amicalul de pe 7 iulie" [Cadu has signed with AEL Limassol. He could debut for the Cypriots against Steaua, in the friendly on July 7] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Nea Salamina vs. AEL Limassol 0 – 2". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  38. ^ "Hulk si milionarii de la Zenit, ANIHILATI de Cadu! AEL Limassol a produs una dintre surprizele serii in Liga Campionilor: VIDEO" [Hulk and the millionaires from Zenit, ANNIHILATED by Cadu! AEL Limassol produced one of the surprises of the evening in the Champions League: VIDEO] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Alexandru Tudor, nemilos! Arbitrul român a eliminat un jucător în duelul Zenit - AEL Limassol 3-0" [Alexandru Tudor, ruthless! The Romanian referee eliminated a player in the Zenit - AEL Limassol 3-0 duel] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
    "Ricardo Cadú. Champions League Qual. 2014/2015". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  39. ^ "Ricardo Cadú. Europa League Qual. 2014/2015". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  40. ^ "OFICIAL: Ricardo Cadu a semnat cu echipa de pe ultimul loc din Portugalia" [OFFICIAL: Ricardo Cadu signed with the last-place team in Portugal] (in Romanian). Digiport.ro. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  41. ^ a b "Ricardo Cadú. Primeira Liga 2014/2015". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  42. ^ "Cadú é reforço" [Cadú is a reinforcement] (in Portuguese). Record.pt. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  43. ^ a b "Cadu, pregătit să revină în fotbalul românesc! Portughezul a scris istorie la CFR Cluj" [Cadu, ready to return to Romanian football! The Portuguese made history at CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Eurosport.ro. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  44. ^ "Incredibil! Unde a ajuns să joace Cadu, cel mai titrat fotbalist străin din Liga 1" [Unbelievable! Where did Cadu, the most successful foreign footballer in League 1, end up playing?] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  45. ^ Cadú national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
  • Cadú at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  • Cadú at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  • Cadú at Soccerway
  • Cadú at WorldFootball.net
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cad%C3%BA_(footballer,_born_1981)