External links
- Afonso Taira at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Afonso Taira national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- Afonso Taira at Soccerway
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira [1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 June 1992 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Cascais, Portugal [1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) [1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Abha | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Internacional Almancil | ||
| 2003–2006 | Estoril | ||
| 2006–2011 | Sporting CP | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Córdoba | 2 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | → Atlético (loan) | 67 | (2) |
| 2014–2017 | Estoril | 64 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 31 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Beitar Jerusalem | 17 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Hermannstadt | 10 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | B-SAD | 32 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Casa Pia | 56 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Al-Kholood | 33 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Al Batin | 27 | (1) |
| 2025– | Abha | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Portugal U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Portugal U17 | 11 | (0) |
| 2010 | Portugal U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Portugal U19 | 8 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:57, 26 August 2025 (UTC) | |||
Afonso Miguel Castro Vilhena Taira (born 17 June 1992) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Saudi Arabian club Abha as a defensive midfielder.
Born in Cascais, Lisbon, Taira joined Sporting CP's youth system in 2006 (aged 14) from neighbouring G.D. Estoril Praia. [2] He made his professional debut in 2011 with Córdoba CF in the Spanish Segunda División, signing a three-year contract [3] but making only three competitive appearances during his only season in Andalusia. [4]
In 2012–13, Taira returned to his country after being loaned to Atlético Clube de Portugal of the Segunda Liga. [5] The move was extended for the following campaign. [2]
Taira returned to his former youth club Estoril on 8 June 2014, after agreeing to a four-year deal. [6] He played 13 Primeira Liga matches in his first year, in an eventual 12th-place finish.
Taira scored his only Portuguese top-flight goal on 24 October 2015, in a 2–2 home draw against Rio Ave FC. [7] On 19 July 2017, he signed with Israeli Premier League team Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC, [8] and a year later Beitar Jerusalem F.C. in the same competition. [9]
After spending the 2019–20 season in the Romanian Liga I with FC Hermannstadt, [10] Taira joined top-tier B-SAD on a two-year contract. [11] On 31 August 2021, he moved to Casa Pia A.C. one league below, [12] totalling 28 games in his first season (24 in the league, one assist) to help to a return to the main division after 83 years away. [13] [14]
In June 2023, Taira signed with Saudi First Division League club Al-Kholood Club. [15] He remained in the country and league the following seasons, with Al Batin FC [16] and Abha Club. [17]
Taira's father, José, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He appeared in more than 100 games in the Portuguese top tier, and also spent six years in Spain, representing mainly UD Salamanca. [18]
