Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela (born 29 April 1988), known as Minhoca, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for S.C.U. Torreense as an attacking midfielder.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1988-04-29) 29 April 1988 (age 34)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Ponta Delgada, Portugal | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Torreense | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2004 | Marítimo Ponta Delgada | ||
2005 | Oliveirenses | ||
2005–2006 | Marítimo Ponta Delgada | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2011 | Micaelense | 68 | (14) |
2011–2014 | Santa Clara | 80 | (7) |
2014–2017 | Paços Ferreira | 66 | (3) |
2017–2019 | Santa Clara | 37 | (3) |
2019–2020 | Varzim | 19 | (0) |
2020– | Torreense | 20 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:45, 31 January 2022 (UTC) |
Born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Minhoca earned his nickname meaning "earthworm" in his native language for his dribbling ability while a youth player at Marítimo Sport Clube in his hometown.[2] He began his senior career with CU Micaelense in the fourth division and, in June 2011, he signed a three-year deal with C.D. Santa Clara of the Segunda Liga, again in his native islands.[3]
In January 2014, Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira secured Minhoca on a 31⁄2-year contract.[4] He scored his first goals for his new team on 23 November, a brace in a 9–0 rout of amateurs Clube Atlético Riachense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[5] His first top-flight goal was on 17 April 2016, in a 4–3 away win against C.F. União.[6]
Minhoca returned to Santa Clara in May 2017, on a two-year deal.[7] In his first season in his second spell, he contributed three goals as they were promoted as runners-up to C.D. Nacional. On 17 September he received a straight red card after half an hour in a 2–1 victory at Gil Vicente FC.[8]
In July 2019, released by Santa Clara, Minhoca agreed to a one-year contract at Varzim S.C. in division two.[9] At its conclusion, he dropped down to the third tier and joined S.C.U. Torreense.[10]