Ricardo Vaz Té

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ricardo Vaz Tê


fullname = Ricardo Jorge Vaz Tê
height = height|ft=6|in=2
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|10|1
cityofbirth = Lisbon
countryofbirth = Portugal
currentclub = Bolton Wanderers
clubnumber = 20
position = Striker
youthyears = 2002–2003
youthclubs = SC Farense
years = 2003–
2007
clubs = Bolton Wanderers
→ Hull City (loan)
caps(goals) = 58 (3)
06 (0)
nationalyears = 2007–2008
nationalteam = Portugal U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 (1)
pcupdate = 16:32, 27 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:00, 17 June 2007 (UTC)

Ricardo Jorge Vaz Tê (born October 1, 1986 in Lisbon) is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays as a striker for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Club career

Vaz Tê first came to England in 2003, following a spell in the junior teams of Algarve's S.C. Farense in his homeland. His performances on trial with Bolton Wanderers prompted them to sign him on a three-year youth academy contract.

However, such was the impression made at youth level that Vaz Tê found himself as part of the Bolton first-team squad in a short period, making his debut in their FA Cup duels with Tranmere Rovers in January 2004.

Just over two months later he made his Premier League debut in a 2–0 defeat at Middlesbrough, and would gain his first full start in the game with Manchester United at Old Trafford, on Boxing Day 2004.

In 2005-06, Vaz Tê was more involved with first-team action, starting 7 games and coming on as a substitute in another 22. He scored a total of 6 overall goals in the season, one of which a late equalizer (after 1 minute on the pitch) on November 24, 2005, at Vitória de Guimarães.

In March 2007, Vaz Tê joined Hull City on a month's loan from Bolton.cite news
title = Hull sign Bolton striker on loan
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/6436217.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-03-09
accessdate = 2007-03-09] During this spell he failed to score in the lower league and didn't do enough to impress the Hull management or supporters.Vaz Tê had an unlucky beginning to 2007-08, damaging his ligaments on the opening day, in a 3–1 defeat to Newcastle United, and would appear sparingly throughout the season.

In August 2008, there was confusion regarding the player, when it was widely reported that Vaz Tê had signed for Racing de Santander on loan as part of a swap deal that would see fellow striker Ebi Smolarek go the other way. However, although Smolarek did join Bolton, the Portuguese also remained at the club. [ [http://mannyroad.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/bolton-wanderers-ricardo-vaz-te/ What's going on with Ricardo Vaz Te?] . "Manny Road", September 4 2008.]

Most peoplewho who are familiar with Vaz Te's game believe that a good 2008/09 is imperative for him in order for his career to develop as he has so far not managed to prove himself in either of the top two tiers of English football in the last five years.

International career

In the summer of 2005, Vaz Tê took part in the annual Toulon tournament scoring a hat-trick for Portugal U-20s, in their game with South Korea. He quickly became a regular fixture with the U21 side.

References

External links

* [http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/players/profile.php?id=65 Bolton Wanderers Profile] at [http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/ Burnden Aces]
* [http://www.zerozero.pt/jogador.php?id=1311 Stats and profile at zerozero.pt]
*soccerbase|id=36692|name=Ricardo Vaz Té