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Xeka

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Xeka
Xeka playing for Lille in 2021
Personal information
Full name Miguel Ângelo da Silva Rocha[1]
Date of birth (1994-11-10) 10 November 1994 (age 30)[1]
Place of birth Rebordosa, Portugal
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Estoril
Number 88
Youth career
2003–2007 Paços Ferreira
2007–2011 Gondomar
2011–2012 Valencia
2012–2013 Paços Ferreira
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Braga B 28 (2)
2014–2016Covilhã (loan) 39 (0)
2016–2017 Braga 11 (0)
2017Lille (loan) 13 (1)
2017–2022 Lille 101 (6)
2017–2018Dijon (loan) 17 (2)
2019 Lille II 1 (0)
2022–2023 Rennes 8 (0)
2024 Al Sadd 0 (0)
2024– Estoril 3 (0)
International career
2014 Portugal U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:35, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

Miguel Ângelo da Silva Rocha (born 10 November 1994), known as Xeka (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʃɛkɐ]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Estoril.

Formed at Braga, he spent most of his career in France, playing for Lille, Dijon and Rennes in Ligue 1 and winning the league with the first of those teams in 2020–21 while making 144 total appearances.

Club career

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Braga

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Born in Rebordosa, Paredes,[3] Xeka received his nickname from his grandfather for being the youngest of his siblings, just like him.[4] He played youth football with three clubs, including Valencia CF from Spain until the age of 17.[5] Having returned to his homeland, he started playing as a senior with S.C. Braga's reserves in the Segunda Liga, being then loaned for two years to S.C. Covilhã of the same league.[6] On 23 September 2013, whilst at the service of the former side, he scored his first goal in competition, but in a 1–3 home loss against S.L. Benfica B.[7]

Xeka started being called to Braga's first team in October 2016, by manager José Peseiro.[8] He made his debut in the Primeira Liga late in that month, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win over G.D. Chaves.[9] His fortunes changed, however, when Jorge Simão became the new coach before the end of the year.[10]

Lille

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On 31 January 2017, Xeka was loaned to Lille OSC from Ligue 1 until June.[11] He made his debut four days later as a starter in a 1–0 home loss to FC Lorient.[12] He made 13 appearances for the 12th-place team and scored in a 3–0 win at Montpellier HSC on 29 April, assisted by compatriot Rony Lopes.[13]

In June 2017, Lille exercised the 5 million buyout clause to make Xeka's move permanent.[14] In the last hours of the summer transfer window, he joined Dijon FCO in the same league in a season-long loan.[15] He became a regular under Christophe Galtier at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy the following year, but suffered a thigh injury in a 5–1 home victory over Paris Saint-Germain F.C. on 14 April 2019, ruling him out until September.[16]

Xeka contributed 33 matches and one goal during the 2020–21 campaign to help Lille win the national championship for the fourth time in their history.[17] On 1 August 2021, he scored in the 1–0 defeat of PSG in the Trophée des Champions, with the club winning that trophy for the first time ever.[18]

On 20 May 2022, Xeka was released at the end of his contract.[19]

Rennes

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On 21 September 2022, Xeka agreed to a two-year deal at Stade Rennais F.C. also of the French top tier.[20] He made his debut on 9 October, starting in a 3–0 home win over Derby Breton rivals FC Nantes.[21] In January, he had ankle surgery.[22]

Xeka left Roazhon Park by mutual consent on 10 August 2023, with only nine matches to his name.[23]

Later career

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On 1 May 2024, Al Sadd SC of the Qatar Stars League signed Xeka as a replacement for the injured Guilherme Torres.[24] On 15 August, having made no appearances, he moved to G.D. Estoril Praia on a one-year contract.[25]

International career

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Xeka earned one cap for Portugal at under-20 level on 5 February 2014, in a 2–0 friendly win over Slovakia under-21 in Marinha Grande. He played the final ten minutes as a substitute for Tomás Podstawski.[26]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 7 January 2023[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Braga B 2013–14 Liga Portugal 2 17 1 17 1
2016–17 Liga Portugal 2 11 1 11 1
Total 28 2 28 2
Covilhã (loan) 2014–15 Liga Portugal 2 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
2015–16 Liga Portugal 2 34 0 0 0 0 0 34 0
Total 39 0 1 0 1 0 41 0
Braga 2016–17 Primeira Liga 11 0 3 0 4 0 18 0
Lille (loan) 2016–17 Ligue 1 13 1 2 0 15 1
Lille 2017–18 Ligue 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2018–19 Ligue 1 27 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 30 2
2019–20 Ligue 1 17 0 3 0 2 0 3[c] 0 25 0
2020–21 Ligue 1 33 1 3 1 6[d] 0 42 2
2021–22 Ligue 1 23 3 0 0 7[c] 0 1[e] 1 31 4
Total 114 7 10 1 3 0 16 0 1 1 144 9
Dijon (loan) 2017–18 Ligue 1 17 2 17 2
Lille II 2019–20 CFA 2 1 0 1 0
Rennes 2022–23 Ligue 1 8 0 1 0 9 0
Career total 218 11 14 1 8 0 16 0 1 1 257 13
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal and Coupe de France
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga and Coupe de la Ligue
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearance in Trophée des Champions

Honours

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Lille

References

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  1. ^ a b "Xeka" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Xeka" (in French). Lille OSC. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  3. ^ Sousa, Miguel (25 May 2021). "Câmara de Paredes homenageia Xeka jogador do Lille que se sagrou campeão de França" [Paredes city hall honours Xeka Lille player who was crowned French champion] (in Portuguese). Novum Notícias. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ^ Marques Costa, Pedro (26 October 2016). "Nasce uma estrela em nome do avô" [A star is born in the name of the grandfather]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ^ Cunha, Pedro Jorge (17 October 2011). "De Gondomar a Valência: Miguel Xeca, "ché" aos 16 anos" [From Gondomar to Valencia: Miguel Xeca, "che" at the age of 16] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Nove jogadores de saída do Sp. Covilhã" [Nine players leaving Sp. Covilhã] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Funes Mori bisa no triunfo das águias em Braga" [Funes Mori grabs brace in eagles win in Braga] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Sp. Braga: Xeka estreia-se nos convocados" [Sp. Braga: Xeka selected for the first time] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Regresso a casa abençoa regresso às vitórias" [Return home blesses return to wins] (in Portuguese). S.C. Braga. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  10. ^ Costinha Sousa, Carlos (27 December 2016). "Xeka: Pérola da formação arsenalista" [Xeka: Gem from the arsenalista youth system]. Correio do Minho (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Sporting de Braga empresta Xeka e Bakic" [Sporting de Braga loan Xeka and Bakic]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Foot/L1 – Lille: les recrues El Ghazi et Xeka titulaires contre Lorient" [Football/L1 – Lille: recruits El Ghazi and Xeka starters against Lorient]. La Voix du Nord (in French). 4 February 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Football / Ligue 1: Montpellier s'incline lourdement face à Lille (0–3)" [Football / Ligue 1: Montpellier fall heavily to Lille (0–3)]. Midi Libre (in French). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  14. ^ Lima, Fábio (9 June 2017). "Lille paga 5 milhões e fica com Xeka" [Lille pay 5 million and take Xeka]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Xeka prêté au Dijon FCO" [Xeka loaned to Dijon FCO] (in French). Lille OSC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  16. ^ Domenighetti, Joël (18 October 2019). "Ligue 1: Xeka (Lille) veut retrouver sa place de titulaire dans un secteur hyper concurrentiel" [Ligue 1: Xeka (Lille) wants to recover his starting place in a super crowded position]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  17. ^ a b Crépin, Timothé (24 May 2021). "Ligue 1: Lille est champion de France! FF passe le titre des Dogues à la loupe" [Ligue 1: Lille are French champions! FF puts Dogues title under magnifying glass] (in French). France Football. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Lille 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain: Les Dogues clinch first French Super Cup". Sky Sports. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Xeka, en fin de contrat, quitte Lille" [Xeka, out of contract, leaves Lille]. L'Équipe (in French). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Xeka est rouge et noir!" [Xeka is red and black!] (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  21. ^ Castro, João (10 October 2022). "Portugueses lá fora: Ronaldo chega aos 700, Cancelo levanta o estádio e Paulo Fonseca regressa às vitórias" [Portuguese out there: Ronaldo gets to 700, Cancelo makes the stadium stand up and Paulo Fonseca returns to winning ways] (in Portuguese). SAPO. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  22. ^ Mangeard, Nicolas (16 January 2023). "Stade Rennais. Xeka a été opéré de la cheville" [Stade Rennais. Xeka had ankle surgery]. Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  23. ^ Prouvoyeur, Julien (10 August 2023). "Le milieu de terrain Xeka quitte le Stade Rennais" [Midfielder Xeka leaves Stade Rennais] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Al Sadd sign Xeka to replace Torres". The Peninsula. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Xeka é reforço do Estoril Praia até 2025" [Xeka is a Estoril Praia addition until 2025] (in Portuguese). G.D. Estoril Praia. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Sub-20 vencem Eslováquia sub-21 (2–0)" [Under-20 team beat Slovakia under-21 (2–0)]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  27. ^ Xeka at Soccerway
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