Name Steven Vitoria Career start 2004 Weight 86 kg | 2004–2005 Woodbridge Strikers Height 1.95 m Playing position Role Footballer | |
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Full name Steven de Sousa Vitoria Date of birth (1987-01-11) 11 January 1987 (age 28) Similar People Fernando Santos, Jorge Jesus, Jose Mourinho | ||
Steven de Sousa Vitória (born 11 January 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for Polish club Lechia Gdańsk and the Canada national team as a central defender.
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He is known for his heading, marking and scoring abilities, especially on penalty kicks and free kicks.
Early life
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Portuguese immigrants from the Azores, Vitória played youth football with the Woodbridge Strikers, mainly as a striker. He was approached to appear for Canada's youth national teams on multiple occasions after leaving the country, but declined each time.
Porto
Vitória was signed by FC Porto at the age of 18, already reconverted as a central defender. In the following years he began a series of loans, starting out at G.D. Tourizense in the third division then joining S.C. Olhanense for two years, and helping the Algarve side promote to the Primeira Liga in his second season by appearing in 18 games, 15 as a starter.
In the 2009–10 campaign, Vitória continued on loan, this time with S.C. Covilhã in the Segunda Liga. He played his first official match for his new club on 2 August 2009, in a 1–0 away win against A.D. Carregado for the Taça da Liga.
Estoril
Vitória cut all ties with Porto in July 2010, signing with G.D. Estoril Praia in the second division. In his debut season in the top flight, 2012–13, he played 27 games and scored 11 goals to finish ninth among the league's top goalscorers– eight of them from penalties – to help his team finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
Benfica
Free agent Vitória joined S.L. Benfica on 16 June 2013, signing a four-year contract. He called the day of his signing "the most important and happiest day of my life". His only league appearance took place in the last day of the season as the club had already been crowned champions, and he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 loss at former side Porto.
Vitória was an unused substitute in Benfica's loss in the Europa League final to Sevilla FC on penalties. After becoming unsatisfied with his status, he was targeted by Real Betis and C.S. Marítimo.
On 9 February 2015, Vitória was loaned to Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union for one season. He scored his first goal for the team in his hometown of Toronto, in a 1–3 Major League Soccer away defeat to Toronto FC, being released in December after the club declined against exercising its contract option on the player.
Lechia Gdańsk
Vitória joined Lechia Gdańsk on 17 August 2016, signing a three-year contract. He made his debut on 21 September, playing the entire round-of-16 penalty shootout loss to Puszcza Niepołomice for the Polish Cup (1–1 after 120 minutes).
International career
Vitória represented Portugal at the 2006 Lusophony Games in Macau, the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poland and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in his birth nation. In the latter tournament, he featured in the 1–2 group stage loss to Gambia.
In September 2012, without having been capped at senior level, 25-year-old Vitória considered switching allegiance to Canada. In January 2016, he accepted a call-up by the country for a friendly against the United States on 5 February, and played the full 90 minutes in the 0–1 defeat in Carson, California.