Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal 1994–1995 Costa do Estoril Height 1.8 m | Playing position 1995–1996 Estoril Atlético Date joined 2007 (Málaga CF) | |
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Full name Hélder Miguel do Rosário Date of birth (1980-03-08) 8 March 1980 (age 37) | ||
Hélder Miguel do Rosário (born 9 March 1980; [ˈɛɫdɛɾ ʁuˈzaɾiu]) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender.
Football career
Born in Lisbon, Rosário started playing professionally with Sporting Clube de Portugal's feeder club, Sporting Clube Lourinhanense, then had a stint with the former's B-team. From 2001 to 2003 he had spells in the second division, with F.C. Maia and S.C. Farense.
In the 2003–04 season Rosário made his Primeira Liga debuts, with C.F. Os Belenenses, also scoring his first league goal in a 1–3 away loss against S.L. Benfica. In the following three years he was an important defensive element with Boavista FC, always in the top level of Portuguese football.
Alongside countrymen Eliseu and Paulo Jorge, Rosário joined Málaga CF in the Spanish division two for 2007–08, and would only miss three league games – out of 42 – during the campaign, adding goals in home matches against Córdoba CF (4–1) and Hércules CF (4–6, also being sent off) as the Andalusia club was promoted back to La Liga after two years.
In his third season at Malaga, Rosário struggled with injuries and weight problems, and only made two appearances in the Copa del Rey in the first half of the season. His first league appearance only came on 18 April 2010, in the 0–0 home draw against Real Valladolid.
During the first months of 2011, Rosário and countryman Edinho were deemed surplus to requirements, being only allowed to train with the first team. On 30 June 2012 his contract expired and he left, signing the following month with SD Ponferradina in the second tier. He left at the end of the campaign, having failed to appear in any games due to several physical ailments.