Bruno Gama


Bruno Alexandre Vilela Gama is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Greek club Apoel Nicosia mainly as a right winger.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 129 matches and 11 goals over seven seasons, mainly representing Vitória de Setúbal and Rio Ave. Abroad, he played with Deportivo, Dnipro, Alcorcón and Aris.
Gama won 83 caps for Portugal all youth categories comprised, scoring 28 goals.

Club career

Portugal

Gama was born in Vila Verde, Braga District. A S.C. Braga youth graduate, he appeared aged 16 in his first Primeira Liga game, a 2–2 away draw against U.D. Leiria, being subsequently acquired by FC Porto in a €750,000 deal.
After spending most of his first seasons with the club's B-side, Gama served another two first division loans, at Braga in 2006–07– scoring in a 4–0 home win over FC Slovan Liberec for the campaign's UEFA Cup– and Vitória de Setúbal in the following two years.
In mid-July 2009, Gama was released by Porto and joined Rio Ave F.C. on a two-year contract. During his first season with the Vila do Conde club he was one of the few players to appear in all 30 league matches, contributing to a final 12th place in the top division; he scored in home wins against former side Setúbal and Leixões SC.

Deportivo

As many compatriots during that timeframe, Gama signed for Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña on 27 July 2011, for an undisclosed fee. He contributed with 29 games and seven goals in his first year, to help the Galicians win the Segunda División championship.
Gama made his debut in La Liga on 20 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 home win against CA Osasuna.

Dnipro

On 20 August 2013, following Deportivo's relegation, Gama moved teams and countries again, joining FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on a three-year contract. On 13 September of the following year, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 win at FC Metalist Kharkiv.
Gama contributed with 16 appearances – all rounds included – to help his team reach the final of the 2015 Europa League against Sevilla FC, being an unused substitute in the 2–3 loss in Warsaw.

Alcorcón

On 17 February 2018, after a further two top flight seasons with Deportivo, free agent Gama signed a short-term deal with AD Alcorcón. He scored his only goal for the latter on 3 June, helping the hosts defeat CF Reus Deportiu 3–0.

Aris

On 10 August 2018, Gama joined Aris Thessaloniki F.C. on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Seventeen days later, in his Superleague Greece debut, he scored in a 3–0 away win against PAS Lamia 1964. In his second season, he netted a career-best 12 goals as the team from Thessaloniki came fifth and qualified for the Europa League; this included a brace on 6 June 2020 in a 3–1 home win over OFI Crete FC.

International career

Internationally, Gama first participated in the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, as Portugal emerged victorious on home soil. He also helped the team reach the quarter-finals in that year's FIFA World Cup held in Finland, scoring one goal against Cameroon.
Gama captained Portugal in the 2004 European Under-17 Championship, being crowned top goal scorer after netting three in five appearances and being essential as the national side took third place. In 2006 he appeared with the under-19s at the Under-19 European Championship, scoring in every game in the group stage.
Gama was part of the squad that took part in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring two goals in Portugal's only win in the tournament – one from a free kick and the other from the penalty spot in a 2–0 triumph against New Zealand. In the ensuing Autumn he was called up to the under-21s and, in 2010, he played with the Olympic team in the 2009–11 International Challenge Trophy.

Personal life

Gama's older brother, Augusto, was also a footballer. He too represented Braga and Rio Ave.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

Vitória Setúbal
Deportivo
Dnipro