Moisés Moura Pinheiro


Moisés Moura Pinheiro is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Nanuque, Minas Gerais, Moura started his career with Esporte Clube Vitória, gradually becoming a regular for the Série A team and helping it win two consecutive Bahia State Championships. In 2002, he competed with fellow league side Paraná Clube who finished 22nd out of 26 teams, narrowly avoiding relegation.
Moura moved to Russia still in 2002, joining Premier League club FC Spartak Moscow and winning the Russian Cup after defeating FC Rostov 1–0 in the final, with the player playing the full 90 minutes. The following season, as they underperformed in the domestic championship, he was allowed to leave the capital, signing for another side in the country and category, FC Krylia Sovetov Samara, for US$1.9 million.
Initially, things started well for Moura and his new team, who finished a best-ever third in the league and lost the domestic cup final, against FC Terek Grozny. After not being paid for five months, however, he returned to his country and joined Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, where he won the Minas Gerais League and attracted interest from Sporting Clube de Portugal, especially since his contract was about to end; the move was, however, terminated by Lisbon club after a ruling by FIFA concluded that he had been persuaded by Cruzeiro to terminate his contract with Krylia, and he was subsequently banned for four mouths, with the Brazilians not being able to acquire any players for two transfer windows.
After his ban was lifted, Moura would however play parts of the following four seasons in Portugal, notably with S.C. Braga. In 2009–10 he only missed two league games as the Minho club finished in a best-ever second place, adding nine UEFA Champions League appearances in the following campaign ; he also played in his country with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, who loaned him to Boavista F.C. while selling 50% of his economic rights to Cruzeiro.
On 16 January 2011, Moura joined Qatar Stars League side Al Rayyan SC, who paid €1.5 million for his services, split between Braga and Cruzeiro. On 27 December of the following year he returned to his homeland, signing with Associação Portuguesa de Desportos.

Honours

;Vitória
;Spartak Moscow
;Krylia
;Cruzeiro
;Flamengo
;Braga
;Al Rayyan
;Portuguesa