Nuno Morais - Football Career

Football Career

Morais started his career at hometown F.C. Penafiel, but in August 2004 was signed by England's Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, in a three-year contract after a successful trial period. He made his Chelsea debut in an FA Cup victory over Scunthorpe United in January 2005, playing the full 90 minutes.

However, Morais found first-team opportunities limited, spending most of the time with the reserves, and was loaned to C.S. Marítimo in the 2005–06 season, alongside compatriot Filipe Oliveira. In that summer, he appeared twice for the Portuguese under-21s at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship on home soil, with Oliveira.

Returning to Chelsea, he only appeared twice in the league, totalling less than twenty minutes in home draws against Manchester United and Everton F.C. combined. On 11 May 2007, Morais signed a two-year deal with Cypriot champions APOEL FC, on a free transfer.

During his time there, Morais was reconverted to a defensive midfielder, and signed a new contract until June 2012. Since his debuts, he was an essential defensive unit as the side won, amongst other trophies, two championships, one cup and three super cups; he also appeared in all six group stage matches of the club in its first UEFA Champions League participation.

In the 2011–12 Champions League, Morais was an essential defensive unit for APOEL as it reached the quarter-finals for the first time ever, appearing in all ten matches – including the round-of-16 triumph over Olympique Lyonnais where he converted his attempt in the penalty shootout. On 4 May 2012, he signed a three-year contract extension with the club.