Cadú (footballer, born 1981)

Cadú
Cadú with CFR Cluj in 2010
Personal information
Full name Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-21) 21 December 1981[1]
Place of birth Paços de Ferreira, Portugal
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 CFR Cluj (sporting director)
Youth career
1990–2000 Paços Ferreira
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Paços Ferreira 46 (3)
2000–2001 → Aliados Lordelo (loan) 18 (4)
2001–2002 → Gondomar (loan) 34 (8)
2004–2006 Boavista 58 (3)
2006–2014 CFR Cluj 202 (27)
2014–2015 AEL Limassol 12 (2)
2015–2016 Gil Vicente 44 (7)
2016–2017 Leixões 12 (2)
2017–2019 Merelinense 41 (2)
2019–2021 Maia Lidador 37 (7)
Total 504 (65)
International career
2003–2004 Portugal U21 4 (0)
2004 Portugal B 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ricardo Manuel Ferreira Sousa (born 21 December 1981), known as Cadú, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He is currently sporting director at Liga I club CFR Cluj.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 121 games and seven goals over five seasons, with Paços de Ferreira, Boavista and Gil Vicente. He spent eight years of his career in Romania with CFR Cluj, appearing in 255 competitive matches and winning eight major trophies.

Club career

Paços Ferreira

Cadú was born in Paços de Ferreira, Porto District.[2] joining Paços de Ferreira's youth system aged 8 initially as a forward.[3][4] He began his senior career in the fourth division with Aliados Lordelo,[2] moving to the third tier with Gondomar for the 2001–02 season also on loan.[5][3]

Cadú subsequently returned to Paços, making his Primeira Liga debut on 29 September 2002 in a 3–1 home win over Boavista under manager José Mota. He scored his first goal the following 23 February in the 2–0 victory over Gil Vicente,[6] adding two more until the end of the campaign in a 3–1 loss at Beira-Mar[7] and a 1–0 home defeat of Porto.[8]

In the following season, Cadú's team finished in 17th place and was relegated.[9][10]

Boavista

In summer 2004, Cadú signed for Boavista. In his debut campaign, he scored twice from 30 appearances for the sixth-placed side.[11][2]

In 2005–06, Cadú scored in a 1–1 home draw against Vitória de Guimarães,[12] as they eventually achieved the same placement.[13]

CFR Cluj

On 14 July 2006, Cadú joined CFR Cluj alongside his compatriots Manuel José, Pedro Oliveira and António Semedo, for a €750,000 fee.[14][15] He made his Liga I debut on 6 August, when player-coach Dorinel Munteanu sent him in as a 79th-minute substitute for Zoran Milošević in a 4–0 home victory over Unirea Urziceni.[16] He scored his first league goal on 20 September, in the 5–1 home win against FC Universitatea Craiova.[17]

Cadú was awarded captaincy in late 2007.[18] During that season, CFR won a double to inaugurate the club's trophy cabinet, and the player contributed four goals in 29 league matches under Ioan Andone;[19][20] one of these was scored in the last round from a penalty in a 1–0 derby win over Universitatea Cluj that mathematically secured the title.[21]

Cadú made his debut in European competitions by playing both legs of the 3–1 aggregate loss to Anorthosis Famagusta in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup second qualifying round.[22][23] He then made six group-stage appearances in the following season's UEFA Champions League with the Railway Men, including the historic 2–1 defeat of Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.[24][25][26] He claimed his second Cupa României at the end of the latter campaign, featuring the entire 3–0 win against Politehnica Timișoara in the final.[27]

Cadú began 2009–10 by winning the winning the Supercupa României, again starting and finishing the penalty shoot-out victory over Unirea Urziceni and converting the final spot kick.[28] Subsequently, he helped his side to eliminate FK Sarajevo in the Europa League play-offs, reaching the group stage and taking part in five matches.[29][17] He and his teammates won another double, being used by coaches Toni Conceição and Andrea Mandorlini 28 times and scoring five goals.[17][20] He again was charged of taking the last shot in a shootout, now against FC Vaslui in the Romanian Cup final, being successful;[30][17] for these performances, he was voted Central Defender of the Year alongside Unirea's George Galamaz.[31]

Following another penalty shoot-out victory against Unirea Urziceni, Cadú won the 2010 domestic supercup.[32] On 19 October, in the Champions League group phase, he scored a goal and an own goal in the 3–2 defeat away to Bayern Munich.[33][34]

Cadú's last trophy won with CFR Cluj was the 2011–12 national championship, making 27 appearances under managers Jorge Costa and Andone and scoring on five occasions; the title was confirmed after he netted in the 88th minute of the 3–2 win over Universitatea Cluj.[35][36][20] He played ten games in the subsequent Champions League, scoring against Slovan Liberec in the third qualifying round[37] and being part of the squad that earned ten points in the group stage against Braga, Galatasaray and Manchester United;[38][17] he also featured in both legs of the defeat to Inter Milan in the Europa League round of 32.[39][40]

On 6 May 2014, he made his 200th Romanian top-flight appearance in a 3–0 away win over Dinamo București, becoming the foreign player with the most after the Romanian revolution.[41] His last in the competition took place nine days later in the 3–1 victory against Gaz Metan Mediaș at the Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium.[42][43][17]

AEL and Gil Vicente

On 2 July 2014, Cadú agreed to a one-year contract at AEL Limassol,[44] making his Cypriot First Division debut on 24 August in a 2–0 away victory against Nea Salamina[45] and scoring in the following two rounds against Ethnikos Achna (2–2)[46] and Doxa Katokopias (4–0).[47] He appeared in the two-legged 3–1 loss to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League third qualifying round,[48][49] subsequently taking part in both games of the Europa League play-off as his side was defeated 5–1 on aggregate by Tottenham Hotspur;[50][51] those were his last appearances in European competitions, where he accumulated 35 matches with two goals.[17]

Cadú returned to Portugal in January 2015, signing with Gil Vicente.[52] He scored his first goal on 25 April in a 2–1 away victory against Académica de Coimbra,[53] remaining with the club in spite of its top-flight relegation.[54][55][56]

Cadú took part in 121 games in the Portuguese main division in five seasons, scoring seven times.[17]

Later career

On 26 July 2016, the 34-year-old Cadú joined Leixões of the LigaPro.[57] Before retiring in 2021, he represented lower-league sides Merelinense and Maia Lidador.[58][59]

International career

Cadú played four matches for the Portugal under-21 team, adding two appearances at B level.[60][59]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Cadú worked with Paços de Ferreira as director of football.[61] On 25 April 2026, in the same capacitiy, he was appointed at his main club CFR Cluj.[62]

Honours

CFR Cluj

Individual

  • Liga I Central Defender of the Year: 2009–10[31]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ricardo Cadú" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cadú" (in Portuguese). Aliados Lordelo F.C. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 A. Lopes, Norberto (24 February 2003). "Cadú (Paços de Ferreira): a história do marceneiro que virou futebolista" [Cadú (Paços de Ferreira): the story of the carpenter turned footballer] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  4. ↑ A. Lopes, Norberto (24 February 2003). "Cadú: «O Ávalos de Paços de Ferreira» que queria ser o Rui Costa" [Cadú: "The Ávalos from Paços de Ferreira" who wanted to be Rui Costa] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Hernâni Silva: "A nossa dignidade não admite dúvidas"" [Hernâni Silva: "Our dignity is beyond doubt"]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 May 2002. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  6. ↑ A. Lopes, Norberto (24 February 2003). "«Hoje dá gosto andar na rua», diz Cadú (Paços de Ferreira)" ["It's a pleasure to walk the streets these days", says Cadú (Paços de Ferreira)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  7. ↑ A. Lopes, Norberto (23 March 2003). "Beira Mar-Paços de Ferreira, 3–1 (crónica)" [Beira Mar-Paços de Ferreira, 3–1 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "P. Ferreira-FC Porto, 1–0 (Cadú 90')". Record (in Portuguese). 11 May 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Cadú: "Vamos lá "roubar" pontos!"" [Cadú: "Let's go "steal" some points!"]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Destaques do "PÚBLICO" de hoje" ["PÚBLICO" headlines today]. Público (in Portuguese). 10 May 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Silva, Elisabete (4 May 2005). "Mais um adeus de Pacheco" [Another Pacheco farewell]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "Boavista-V. Guimarães, 1–1: Desfecho salomónico" [Boavista-V. Guimarães, 1–1: Solomonic outcome]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 December 2005. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Santos, Jorge; Schoenmakers, Jan; Dalence, Daniel. "Portugal 2005/06". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "CFR Cluj dă 1,25 milioane de euro pe portughezi" [CFR Cluj spend 1,25 million euros on Portuguese players]. Adevărul (in Romanian). 14 July 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  15. ↑ Ştefan, Liviu (25 May 2010). "Fotbalu' din tara noastra: Strainii, fotbalul si CFR-ul" [Football from our country: Foreigners, football and CFR] (in Romanian). Romanian Soccer. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Manolache, Liviu (6 May 2014). "Unicul Ricardo Cadu » Căpitanul celor de la CFR Cluj poate atinge o performanţă impresionantă la meciul cu Dinamo" [The one and only Ricardo Cadú » The captain of CFR Cluj can achieve an impressive performance in the match against Dinamo]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cadú at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  18. ↑ "Cadu noul capitan al echipei din Gruia" [Cadú new captain in team from Gruia] (in Romanian). Presa Online. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  19. ↑ "CFR 2008 Ce s-a intamplat cu cei care ii aduceau, acum 10 ani, primul titlu din istorie lui CFR Cluj" [CFR 2008 What happened to those who brought, 10 years ago, the first title in the history of CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Campionii naționali" [National champions] (in Romanian). Romanian Soccer. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Grigoroiu, Viorel (26 May 2008). ""U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 0–1 / CFR e noua campioana a Romaniei" ["U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 0–1 / CFR are the new champions of Romania] (in Romanian). Golazo. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "CFR Cluj a pierdut cu 1–3 in fata Anorthosis Famagusta" [CFR Cluj lost 1–3 against Anorthosis Famagusta] (in Romanian). Mediafax. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Anorthosis – CFR Cluj 0–0" (in Romanian). Hot News. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  24. ↑ Epurescu, Vlad (22 September 2008). "FINAL AS Roma – CFR Cluj 1–2 Victorie incredibila: Culio cucereste Roma!" [FINAL AS Roma – CFR Cluj 1–2 Incredible victory: Culio conquers Rome!] (in Romanian). Hot News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  25. ↑ Șchiopu, Vali (4 October 2020). "Papa de la primărie" [City hall Pope] (in Romanian). We Love Sport. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  26. ↑ Popovici, Marian (26 November 2020). "Primari, antrenori, preoți! Ce fac acum jucătorii CFR-ului care au învins Roma pe Olimpico" [Mayors, coaches, priests! What are the CFR players who beat Roma at the Olimpico doing now?]. Fanatik (in Romanian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Cupa ramane la Cluj! CFR 3–0 Timisoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)" [The cup remains in Cluj! CFR 3–0 Timisoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  28. 1 2 "CFR Cluj a castigat Supercupa Romaniei: Unirea 1–1 CFR (3–4 d.p)" [CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup: Unirea 1–1 CFR (3–4 p.k.)] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  29. ↑ "CFR, in grupele Europa League! CFR Cluj 2–1 FK Sarajevo!" [CFR, in the Europa League groups! CFR Cluj 2–1 FK Sarajevo!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  30. ↑ Tismăneanu, Vladimir (27 May 2010). "FC Vaslui – CFR Cluj 4–5. Ardelenii au câştigat Cupa României la penalty-uri" [FC Vaslui – CFR Cluj 4–5. Transylvanians won the Romanian Cup on penalties]. Evenimentul Zilei (in Romanian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  31. 1 2 Baicu, Radu (24 June 2010). "Liga I – Season 09/10". Scouting Romania. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  32. 1 2 "CFR Cluj a castigat Supercupa Romaniei" [CFR Cluj won Romanian Supercup] (in Romanian). Știrile Pro TV. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  33. ↑ Holyman, Ian (19 October 2010). "Bayern beat CFR Cluj to extend group lead". UEFA. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  34. ↑ "CFR Cluj s-a batut singura la Munchen! Vezi golul lui Culio si gafele lui Cadu si Panin!" [CFR Cluj fought alone in Munich! Watch Culio's goal and Cadú's and Panin's mistakes!] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  35. ↑ ""U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. Oaspeții revin de la 0–2 și câștigă al treilea titlu din istorie!" ["U" Cluj – CFR Cluj 2–3. The guests come back from 0–2 and win the third title in history!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  36. ↑ Poloni, Ciprian (26 February 2015). "Breaking News | Meciul care a trimis titlul în Gruia în 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2–3, în vizorul DNA. Cum a ajuns cazul pe masa procurorilor" [Breaking News | The match that sent the title to Gruia in 2012, U Cluj – CFR 2–3, in the DNA's sights. How the case ended up on the prosecutors' table]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "Cadú garante vitória (1–0) do Cluj" [Cadú confirms win (1–0) of Cluj]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 August 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  38. ↑ "LIGA CAMPIONILOR. Cadu: Nu văd o altă echipă de la noi să facă 10 puncte în grupe" [CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Cadú: I don't see another team from our country getting 10 points in the groups] (in Romanian). Digi24. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  39. ↑ "Inter-Cluj 2–0, Palacio trascina i nerazzurri. Ma Milito si fa male, stagione finita" [Inter-Cluj 2–0, Palacio carries black-and-blues. But Milito hurts himself, season ended]. la Repubblica (in Italian). 14 February 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "CFR – Inter 0–3. Un gol splendid și o gafă a lui Felguieras [sic] au decis meciul" [CFR – Inter 0–3. A splendid goal and a mistake by Felgueiras decided the match] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  41. ↑ "Futebolista português Cadú diz sentir-se em casa no Cluj" [Portuguese footballer Cadú says he feels at home at Cluj] (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  42. ↑ "CFR Cluj – Gaz Metan Mediaș 3–1. Caseta tehnică și imagini" [CFR Cluj – Gaz Metan Mediaș 3–1. Technical report and images] (in Romanian). Orange Sport. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  43. ↑ "CFR Cluj își pierde simbolul! Ricardo Cadu a anunțat că pleacă: "Da! M-am înțeles cu șefii"" [CFR Cluj lose their symbol! Ricardo Cadú announced that he is leaving: "Yes! I agreed with the bosses"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 17 June 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  44. ↑ "Cadú a semnat cu AEL Limassol. Poate debuta pentru ciprioți contra Stelei, în amicalul de pe 7 iulie" [Cadú has signed with AEL Limassol. He could debut for the Cypriots against Steaua, in the friendly on 7 July] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  45. ↑ "Νέα Σαλαμίνα – ΑΕΛ 0–2" [Νea Salamina – AEL 0–2] (in Greek). ANT1 Cyprus. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  46. ↑ Długosz, Artur (1 September 2014). "Liga cypryjska: Gol Łukasza Gikiewicza" [Cypriot League: Goal by Łukasz Gikiewicz] (in Polish). Sportowe Fakty. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "Υγιεινός περίπατος για την ΑΕΛ 4–0 εκτός τη Δόξα (VIDEO)" [Healthy walk for AEL 4–0 at Doxa (VIDEO)] (in Greek). Sigma TV. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Hulk si milionarii de la Zenit, ANIHILATI de Cadu! AEL Limassol a produs una dintre surprizele serii in Liga Campionilor: VIDEO" [Hulk and the millionaires from Zenit, ANNIHILATED by Cadú! AEL Limassol produced one of the surprises of the evening in the Champions League: VIDEO] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  49. ↑ "Alexandru Tudor, nemilos! » Arbitrul român a eliminat un jucător în duelul Zenit – Ael Limassol 3–0" [Alexandru Tudor, ruthless! » The Romanian referee ejected a player in the Zenit – Ael Limassol 3–0 duel]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 7 August 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  50. ↑ "AEL 1–2 Spurs". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  51. ↑ Peck, Tom (29 August 2014). "Tottenham Hotspur vs AEL Limassol Europa League match report: Harry Kane proves Spurs' perfect citizen". The Independent. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  52. ↑ "OFICIAL: Ricardo Cadu a semnat cu echipa de pe ultimul loc din Portugalia" [OFFICIAL: Ricardo Cadú signed with the last-place team in Portugal] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  53. ↑ Sousa, Francisco (25 April 2015). "Académica-Gil Vicente, 1–2 (crónica)" [Académica-Gil Vicente, 1–2 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "Caetano e Cadú regressam na despedida do Gil Vicente" [Caetano and Cadú return in Gil Vicente farewell] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  55. ↑ "II Liga: Mafra surpreende Gil Vicente na estreia" [II League: Mafra upset Gil Vicente on debut] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "FC Porto B goleia e continua na frente" [FC Porto B thrash and remain top]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 4 November 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "Cadú é reforço" [Cadú is a reinforcement]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 July 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  58. ↑ Pal, Andrei (16 December 2017). "Incredibil! Unde a ajuns să joace Cadu, cel mai titrat fotbalist străin din Liga 1" [Unbelievable! Where did Cadú, the most successful foreign footballer in League 1, end up playing?]. Prosport (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  59. 1 2 Moisa, Tudor (29 October 2025). "Cadu, pregătit să revină în fotbalul românesc! Portughezul a scris istorie la CFR Cluj" [Cadú, ready to return to Romanian football! The Portuguese made history at CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Eurosport. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  60. ↑ Cadú national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
  61. ↑ "Oficial: Ricardo Cadú é novo diretor desportivo do CFR Cluj" [Official: Ricardo Cadú is the new sporting director of CFR Cluj] (in Portuguese). Flash Score. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  62. ↑ Duţă, Adrian (25 April 2026). "S-a întors oficial în Superliga cu „bagajul" plin: „Am deja jucători pe care vreau să-i aduc"" [He officially returned to the Super League with his "baggage" full: "I already have players I want to bring"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 May 2026.
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