Ricardo André de Pinho Sousa (born 11 January 1979) is a Portuguese professional footballmanager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.
Sousa was finally released by Porto in July 2002, returning to Beira-Mar and representing Boavista F.C. in the following campaign. He netted 14 times for a team that only achieved 32, one of the worst records in that year's top flight.[3]
Subsequently, Sousa left Boavista, signing for three years with German club Hannover 96, during which time he spent the second half of the 2004–05 on loan to De Graafschap of the Dutch Eredivisie and the whole of the 2006–07 season in the Portuguese top tier with Boavista, also on loan.[3]
Sousa split the 2008–09 campaign in Segunda Liga, starting with Beira-Mar and signing for U.D. Leiria in January 2009. After contributing only four matches and 138 minutes to the latter's return to the division, he moved abroad again, now with NK Drava Ptuj in Slovenia. In July 2010, he returned to Portugal's division two with U.D. Oliveirense, before ending his playing career in the lower leagues with SC São João de Ver and G.D. Gafanha.[5][6][7]
Sousa returned to Beira-Mar in June 2019, with the team having just been promoted from the Aveiro Football Association's district leagues.[16] He left by mutual accord 18 months later, as they eventually went back down.[17]
On 16 April 2021, Sousa was hired in his first professional managerial post, taking over at tenth-placed C.D. Mafra in the second division after the resignation of Filipe Cândido.[18] He debuted two days later in a goalless draw at Oliveirense.[19] In his first full season, he guided his side to the quarter-finals of the national cup for the first time, with a 3–1 home defeat of top-flight Moreirense F.C. with one man fewer.[20] In the next round, they ousted Portimonense S.C. of the same tier with a 4–2 away win.[21]
Sousa took over second-tier club C.D. Feirense on 23 June 2023.[22] The following 3 April, he left by mutual consent as they stood 15th, seriously threatened with relegation.[23]
Sousa was the son of another footballer – and midfielder – António Sousa, who played club football in the 1980s for Porto and Sporting CP, also being a mainstay with the national team during that decade. After retiring, he went on to have a lengthy spell in management, coaching Ricardo at Beira-Mar in four different stints (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03 and 2008).[26]
His son Afonso was also involved in the sport,[27] and they were also related to fellow footballer José Sousa.
^Gouveia, Ricardo (20 October 2016). ""A cultura do fabrico dos Sousa"" [The manufacturing process of the Sousas] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
^Baptista Seixas, João (7 June 2017). "Ricardo Sousa é o novo ténico do Anadia" [Ricardo Sousa is the new manager of Anadia]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 January 2022.
^Veloso, Sandro (25 May 2018). "Ricardo Sousa renova com o Felgueiras" [Ricardo Sousa renews with Felgueiras]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 January 2022.
^Aleixo, Mário (30 April 2019). "António Sousa antevê futuro brilhante ao neto Afonso" [António Sousa foresees bright future for grandson Afonso] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
