1989–1993 Sanjoanense Role Footballer 1993–1996 Benfica Height 1.80 m | Years Team Name Jose Leite | |
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Full name Jose Carlos Leite de Sousa Date of birth (1977-10-09) 9 October 1977 (age 38) Place of birth Sao Joao da Madeira, Portugal | ||
José Carlos Leite de Sousa (born 9 October 1977) is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a right back.
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He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 159 games and four goals during ten seasons, representing mainly in the competition Belenenses (five years).
Club career
Born in São João da Madeira, Sousa started playing with local A.D. Sanjoanense. In 1993 he joined the youth rankings of S.L. Benfica, from where he was loaned to F.C. Alverca who acted as the farm team.
After a successful debut season with the Ribatejo Province side, 20-year-old Sousa was recalled by Benfica manager Manuel José in August 1997, due to a good performance in a Segunda Liga match against F.C. Paços de Ferreira. Dubbed the new António Veloso by the press, he made his debut on 13 September 1997 in a Primeira Liga home draw against Académica de Coimbra, becoming a regular starter and scoring his first and only goal for the club in a 4–1 win over Sporting Clube de Portugal at the Estádio José Alvalade. Midway through the 1998–99 campaign, Graeme Souness brought in Gary Charles, and his playing time was subsequently vastly reduced.
In 1999, Sousa joined Alverca on a permanent deal, staying only one year before signing a five-year contract with FC Porto on 5 August 2000. He was consecutively loaned during his tenure, also spending time with the B-team in the first part of 2001–02.
On 21 August 2002, Sousa joined C.F. Os Belenenses on a one-year loan, signing on a permanent basis in the following season and always representing the Lisbon-based club in the top flight. Afterwards, he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus, before ending his career in 2010 after one season with F.C. Arouca.
International career
Sousa gained 18 caps for Portugal at youth level, all categories comprised. He made his debut for the under-21 team on 5 September 1998, playing the first half of a 3–0 away win against Hungary for the 2000 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
Personal life
Sousa's uncle, António Sousa, was also a footballer. A midfielder, he too represented Sanjoanense and Porto, being a longtime Portuguese international.