Kikas (footballer, born 1998)

João Diogo Alves Rodrigues (born 17 September 1998), known as Kikas, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Estrela da Amadora as a striker.

Kikas
Personal information
Full name João Diogo Alves Rodrigues[1]
Date of birth (1998-09-17) 17 September 1998 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth Castelo Branco, Portugal[1]
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Estrela Amadora
Number 98
Youth career
2006–2009 Benfica Castelo Branco
2009–2010 Sporting CP
2010–2011 Benfica Castelo Branco
2011–2014 Desportivo Castelo Branco
2014–2017 Vitória Guimarães
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Benfica Castelo Branco 29 (17)
2018–2023 B-SAD 45 (12)
2020Vilafranquense (loan) 6 (0)
2020–2021Doxa (loan) 30 (6)
2021–2022Mafra (loan) 11 (0)
2022União Leiria (loan) 14 (3)
2023Estrela Amadora (loan) 13 (3)
2023– Estrela Amadora 42 (12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:03, 10 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Kikas was born in Castelo Branco, and finished his youth career with Vitória de Guimarães up north.[2] He made his senior debut with local club Benfica e Castelo Branco in 2017, scoring 17 goals in his only season as the team finished in third position in the third division, the first outside the promotion play-offs zone. He added four in the Taça de Portugal,[3] and in January 2018 signed a three-year contract with Belenenses to be made effective on 1 July.[4]

Kikas' first match in the Primeira Liga took place on 27 August 2018, when he came on as a late substitute in the 1–1 away draw against Moreirense.[5] Starting on 22 February of the following year, he netted four times in three consecutive league matches, including in a fixture at Benfica that ended 2–2.[6][7]

On 7 May 2019, Kikas agreed to an extension until 2023 with a buyout clause of 15 million.[8] Late into the January 2020 transfer window, he was loaned to LigaPro side Vilafranquense until 30 June.[9]

Kikas continued to be loaned by the renamed B-SAD in the subsequent seasons, to Doxa Katokopias of the Cypriot First Division,[10] Mafra in the Portuguese second tier, União de Leiria in the third[11] and Estrela da Amadora in the second. Having helped the latter to return to the top flight in 2023 after a lengthy absence, that summer he joined them on a free transfer and a two-year deal.[12]

On the final matchday of the 2023–24 campaign, Kikas scored the only goal of a 1–0 win over Gil Vicente to secure Estrela's survival in the main tier.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Kikas" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ Jorge, Artur (2 February 2017). "Futebol: Kikas inscrito na liga profissional" [Football: Kikas registered in the professional league] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. ^ Jorge, Artur (26 April 2018). "Futebol: Menino de 19 anos é o rei dos marcadores" [Football: 19-year-old kid is the scorers' king] (in Portuguese). Reconquista. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Belenenses contrata avançado Kikas ao Benfica de Castelo Branco" [Belenenses sign forward Kikas from Benfica de Castelo Branco]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Belenenses volta a deixar escapar pontos nos descontos" [Belenenses let points slip away in injury time again]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 August 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Golos marcados por Kikas são sinónimo de vitórias" [Goals scored by Kikas equal wins]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. ^ Salvador, Rui (11 March 2019). "Erros do Benfica 'oferecem' empate e custam liderança isolada da I Liga" [Benfica blunders 'offer' draw and cost uncontested I League leadership]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. ^ Gouveia Pereira, Miguel (7 May 2019). "Kikas renova com o Belenenses e fixa cláusula de rescisão nos 15 milhões" [Kikas renews with Belenenses and sets release clause at 15 million]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Belenenses SAD empresta Kikas ao Vilafranquense" [Belenenses SAD loan Kikas to Vilafranquense] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  10. ^ Morais, Pedro (21 August 2020). "Kikas cedido pelo Belenenses SAD ao Doxa, do Chipre" [Kikas loaned by Belenenses SAD to Doxa, from Cyprus]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Kikas cedido à U. Leiria por empréstimo" [Kikas moves to U. Leiria on loan]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ^ "E. Amadora Kikas renovou contrato" [E. Amadora Kikas renewed contract]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Estrela da Amadora cumpre na Reboleira, vence Gil Vicente e vai continuar entre os grandes" [Estrela da Amadora do their job at the Reboleira, beat Gil Vicente and will remain among big boys] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
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