Rui Pedro (footballer, born 1988)


Rui Pedro Couto Ramalho, known as Rui Pedro, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Hungarian club Diósgyőri VTK on loan from Ferencvárosi TC.

Club career

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Rui Pedro joined FC Porto's youth system in 2001, at the age of 13. He was promoted to the main squad for 2007–08, but his input would consist of 45 minutes in a 0–0 away draw against C.D. Fátima for the Portuguese League Cup; he finished the season on loan, appearing rarely for fellow Primeira Liga side C.F. Estrela da Amadora.
Pedro spent the following three years out on loan, appearing for three second level clubs and playing and scoring regularly for the last two, Gil Vicente F.C. and Leixões SC. In summer 2011 he left Porto by mutual agreement and signed for three years with CFR Cluj in Romania, joining a host of compatriots at the Liga I team, including manager Jorge Costa. On 20 November of the following year he netted the first hat-trick of his professional career, scoring all three goals in a 3–1 home win against S.C. Braga in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
On 8 July 2014, Rui Pedro returned to Portugal, joining Académica de Coimbra on a two-year deal. He netted six times in his first year to help his team narrowly avoid relegation, but they did go down the following campaign.
On 26 June 2017, Rui Pedro was signed by Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Ferencvárosi TC for three years, from Bulgaria's PFC CSKA Sofia.

International career

All youth categories comprised, Rui Pedro earned 64 caps for Portugal, scoring 20 goals. On 25 March 2009 he, alongside teammate Bruno Pereirinha, was suspended by under-21 coach Carlos Queiroz after both attempted an unsuccessful backpass penalty during a match against Cape Verde for the Madeira International Tournament.

Club statistics

Honours

CFR Cluj