Miguel Lopes


Hugo Miguel Almeida Costa Lopes is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Turkish club Kayserispor.
During his career, he played for each of the Big Three of Portuguese football – Benfica, Porto and Sporting – as well as spending time on loan in Spain and France. In 2016, he signed with Akhisar Belediyespor from Turkey.
Lopes represented Portugal at Euro 2012.

Club career

Early career

Born in Lisbon, Lopes started his professional career with S.L. Benfica's B-team. In the following summer, he moved to the lower leagues with CD Operário.
After some solid displays, Lopes signed in the 2007–08 season with second division's Rio Ave FC. In his first year, he was an habitual starter as the Vila do Conde side returned to the Primeira Liga after two years.
In 2008–09, Lopes helped Rio Ave to home draws against Benfica and FC Porto, and was again featured regularly, thus prompting interest from bigger clubs.

Porto

On 23 January 2009, Lopes agreed to a four-year deal with Porto which was made effective on 1 July: in his debut season, having to compete with Uruguayan Jorge Fucile for a starting berth, he appeared sparingly in the league but did manage to play in 17 official matches, 13 as a starter.
In late August 2010, deemed surplus to requirements by new Porto manager André Villas-Boas as practically all Portuguese players in the team, Lopes moved to Spanish side Real Betis on a one-year loan deal. He passed his medical and was unveiled on 2 September, eventually appearing in exactly half of the league games during the campaign as the Andalusians returned to La Liga as champions after three years.
Lopes spent the first part of 2011–12 unregistered by Porto. In the January transfer window he was loaned to fellow league club S.C. Braga, going on to start in seven of his league appearances as it finished third and qualified to the UEFA Champions League for the second time in its history.
Lopes returned to Porto for the 2012–13 season. On 29 September he scored through a rare header, opening the score in an eventual 2–2 draw at former team Rio Ave.

Sporting

In January 2013, Lopes joined fellow Big Three side Sporting CP on a five-and-a-half-year contract, with Marat Izmailov moving in the opposite direction. On 7 July he moved to Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1, on a one-year loan deal.
On 31 May 2015, Lopes was featured in the final of the Taça de Portugal against Braga, coming on as a substitute after the first-half dismissal of Cédric Soares. Although he was beaten by Rafa who put the opposition 2–0 up, his team eventually won in a penalty shootout.
Lopes returned to Spain on 6 August 2015, joining Granada CF on a one-year loan deal.

Akhisar Belediyespor

, still owned by Sporting, Lopes signed with Akhisar Belediyespor in the Süper Lig. Subsequently, the move was made permanent.
On 10 May 2018, Lopes helped the club win their first professional trophy, the Turkish Cup. In the final, he scored once in the 3–2 win against Fenerbahçe SK.

International career

Due to his ability to play as both a right and a left back, Lopes was selected by Portugal coach Paulo Bento for his UEFA Euro 2012 squad. He earned his first cap on 2 June in a 1–3 friendly loss against Turkey in Lisbon, being an unused member in the finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Personal life

Lopes' twin brother, Nuno, was also a footballer and a right-back. Both came through exactly the same youth system setup, with the exception of Benfica.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

Porto
Betis
Sporting
Akhisar Belediyespor