Playing position Role Footballer Children Matilde Micael Name Ruben Micael Salary 1.2 million EUR (2012) | 1996–1997 Estreito Weight 70 kg Number 10 Height 1.76 m | |
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Full name Ruben Micael Freitas da Ressureicao Date of birth (1986-08-19) 19 August 1986 (age 29) Place of birth Camara de Lobos, Portugal Current teams Portugal national football team (Midfielder), Shijiazhuang Ever Bright F.C. (Midfielder) Similar People Helder Postiga, Custodio Castro, Ruben Amorim, Hugo Viana, Nelson Oliveira | ||
Rúben Micael Freitas da Ressureição (born 19 August 1986), known as Micael, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. on loan from Shijiazhuang Ever Bright F.C. as a midfielder.
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He totalled 137 Primeira Liga games and 17 goals during seven seasons, representing Nacional, Porto and Braga, winning seven major honours with the second team and a further one with the third.
A full Portuguese international since 2011, Micael was part of the squad at Euro 2012.
Early years / Nacional
Born in Câmara de Lobos, Madeira, Micael started his career with local C.F. União, making his professional debut at the age of 17. For the 2008–09 season, he moved across the island to sign with Primeira Liga club C.D. Nacional.
In that first year, in which Nacional qualified for the UEFA Europa League, Micael, almost never an undisputed starter, featured heavily, scoring notably in a 3–1 home win over S.L. Benfica on 2 May 2009. The previous month, he played for Portugal B in a 2–0 win against Romania.
Micael started the 2009–10 campaign established in the side's starting XI, notably netting twice against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Europa League's last qualifying round, first in the 4–3 home triumph, then adding a last-minute effort in Russia for the 1–1 and the two-legged aggregate win.
Porto
In mid-January 2010, FC Porto purchased 60% of Micael's playing rights for a €3 million transfer fee, signing him to a four-and-a-half-year deal and setting his release clause at €30 million. His first league game for his new club came on 30 January, where he started in the place of the suspended Raul Meireles in a 4–0 away success against his former team, Nacional.
In 2010–11, Micael was used sparingly by new manager André Villas-Boas. Nonetheless, he still appeared in 36 official matches and totalled 871 minutes of action (four goals, three in the Europa League campaign) as the team won the treble.
Atlético Madrid
On 18 August 2011, Micael and Porto teammate Radamel Falcao were both purchased by Atlético Madrid for 45 million € – the former for 5 million €, although Porto later confirmed that his sale did not generate any revenue for the club. The midfielder was then immediately loaned to fellow La Liga side Real Zaragoza, for a fee of €750,000. 23 of his appearances were as a starter, as his team narrowly avoided relegation.
Micael was loaned to S.C. Braga for 2012–13, starting the year in impressive fashion: in two games separated by only three days in late August, he scored three goals, starting with a brace in a 3–1 home win against S.C. Beira-Mar then netting the 1–1 equalizer at Udinese Calcio for the UEFA Champions League's last qualifying round. In the latter match, he rounded up his performance by converting the decisive penalty in the shootout to help his team reach the group stage for the second time in its history.
Micael continued his strong displays in the Champions League group phase, scoring the first goal in an eventual 2–0 away success over Galatasaray SK in the second round. On 20 October 2012, Atlético sold 50% of his economic rights to Braga for €3 million.
Shijiazhuang
In June 2015, Micael signed for Shijiazhuang Ever Bright FC. He made his Chinese Super League debut on 4 July, as a substitute in a goalless home draw against Changchun Yatai FC; he totalled 11 games over the season, and scored to open a 1–3 loss at Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C. on 31 October.
After his team was relegated in the 2016 season, Micael was linked with a move to Rangers of the Scottish Premiership. On 2 February 2017, he was loaned to Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. for the remainder of the campaign. He scored his first goal for the side on 18 March 2017, in a 3–0 home win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC.
International career
On 29 March 2011, Micael made his debut for Portugal, starting and scoring twice in a 2–0 friendly win with Finland in Aveiro.