Vieirinha

Adelino André Vieira de Freitas, known professionally as Vieirinha, ended his professional football career on 11 May 2025. A versatile operator capable of playing as both a winger and a full-back, the Portuguese athlete established his reputation through lengthy tenures at PAOK in Greece and VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, while also securing continental success with his national squad.

Formative Years and Porto

Born on 24 January 1986 in Guimarães, Portugal, Vieirinha developed his skills within the youth system of Vitória de Guimarães. His talent earned him a move to Porto, where he signed a four-year professional contract before the 2006–07 season. He made his official Porto debut on 11 August 2006 during the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, scoring in the closing minutes of a 3–0 win. Following a loan spell at Leixões during the 2007–08 campaign, he secured his first Primeira Liga title with Porto.

Success in Greece

In 2008, Vieirinha moved to PAOK on a season-long loan before making the transfer permanent in July 2009 for approximately €1 million. During his time at Toumba Stadium, he was named the Super League's most valuable player. He returned to PAOK in 2017 after a period in Germany. In his second stint, he captained the side to victory in the 2018 Greek Cup final and played a pivotal role in securing the 2018–19 and 2023–24 Super League Greece championships. Across all competitive matches for the club, he made 343 appearances.

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Bundesliga Tenure

Vieirinha joined VfL Wolfsburg in January 2012 for a fee of approximately €4 million, signing a contract until 2015. He contributed to the club's victory in the 2015 DFB-Pokal and the DFL-Supercup. In the 2015–16 Champions League group stage, his goal against Manchester United helped secure a 3–2 win. His time in Germany was marked by injury setbacks, including a knee ligament rupture in September 2013, yet he remained a fixture in the squad as both a wide attacker and defensive player.

International Representation

After representing Portugal across all youth levels, Vieirinha debuted for the main national team on 22 March 2013 against Israel. He participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was a member of the squad that won UEFA Euro 2016. In November 2015, he served as captain in a friendly against Luxembourg. In total, he earned 83 caps for his country across his youth and senior international career.

Post-Playing Career

Following his retirement from professional football in 2025, Vieirinha transitioned into club management. In June 2026, he was appointed as the technical director for PAOK, succeeding Christos Karipidis in the role. Throughout his career, he was decorated with the Commander of the Order of Merit of Portugal for his contributions to the sport.