Pany Varela

Pany Varela
Personal information
Full name Anilton César Varela da Silva
Date of birth (1989-02-25) 25 February 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Tarrafal, Cape Verde
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Sporting CP
Number 18
Youth career
1999–2003 Os Patuscos
2003–2006 Forte da Casa
2006–2008 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2013 Benfica
2012Belenenses (loan)
2012–2013Olivais (loan) 6 (4)
2013–2016 Fundão 36 (26)
2016–2024 Sporting CP 148 (52)
2024— Al Nassr
International career
2015– Portugal 64 (14)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 5 November 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 5 November 2021 (UTC)

Anilton César Varela da Silva (born 25 February 1989), also known as Pany Varela, is a futsal player who plays for Al Nassr futsal club[1] as a winger. Born in Cape Verde, he represents Portugal internationally.

In 2021, he scored in the 2 most important finals of the sport, in terms of clubs and national teams, respectively: 1 goal[2] in the Champions League final against Barcelona and 2 goals[3] (the only ones in the match) in the final of the World Cup against Argentina, thus, aiding both his teams' victories in the competition.

Club career

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Born in Tarrafal, Cape Verde, Varela moved to the ICeSa neighbourhood in Vialonga, Portugal in 1999 and started playing futsal for the local club Os Patuscos. [4][5] After three seasons at UDC Forte da Casa, he moved to the youth ranks of Benfica, staying just one year, earning a place in the main squad in 2008.[6] Over the three years he spent at Benfica, he won three league titles, four other cups, and was part of the squad that won the 2009–10 UEFA Futsal Cup.[7][8]

On 29 December 2011, Varela was loaned out to gain experience, joining Belenenses on a six-month deal.[9] He moved to Olivais on 19 August 2012, in an equal predicament, but for one season.[10][11]

On 16 June 2013, Varela moved to Fundão on a permanent deal,[12] In the first year there, he helped the club win their first title ever, the Taça de Portugal de Futsal, plus reach the playoff finals.[13][14] After three years with Fundão, Varela returned to Lisbon to play for Sporting CP, joining them on 19 July 2016.[15] He helped them reach two consecutive UEFA Futsal Cup finals in 2016–17 and 2017–18.[16][17]

International career

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Varela made his debut for Portugal national team on 22 June 2015, and has represented them on the UEFA Futsal Euro 2016 and UEFA Futsal Euro 2018, winning the latter.[18]

Honours

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[19]

Benfica
Fundão
Sporting
Al Nassr
Portugal

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Pany Varela Titles". linealaterale.it. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ UEFA.com (3 May 2021). "Sporting sagra-se bicampeão da UEFA Futsal Champions League". UEFA.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Pany fires Portugal to World Cup glory". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Pany Varela: da formação no concelho de VFX até ao topo do mundo do futsal" [Pany Varela: from youth futsal in Vila Franca de Xira to the top of the futsal world]. O Mirante (in Portuguese). 4 October 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Anilton: "Estar no Benfica é o ponto mais alto"" [Anilton: "To be at Benfica, is my highest point"]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Anilton, ala cabo-verdiano, renova com o Benfica" [Anilton, Cape-verdian winger, renews contract with Benfica]. A Semana (in Portuguese). 17 April 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Máquina Encarnada" [Red machine]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Décimo-quarto titulo" [Fourteenth title]. Em Defesa do Benfica. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Benfica cede Anilton ao Belenenses" [Benfica loans Anilton to Belenenses]. Record (in Portuguese). 29 December 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Benfica empresta Anilton" [Benfica loans Anilton]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 August 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Futsal: Anilton emprestado ao SL Olivais" [Anilton loaned to SL Olivais] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 19 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Anilton ruma ao Fundão" [Anilton heads off to Fundão]. Futsal Global (in Portuguese). 16 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Fundão vence Taça de Portugal frente ao Benfica" [Fundão wins Portuguese Cup against Benfica]. Diário de Noticias (in Portuguese). 4 May 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Fundão elimina Benfica e está na final do campeonato de futsal" [Fundão eliminates Benfica and qualifies for the Playoff Final]. Público (in Portuguese). 31 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  15. ^ ""Estou muito feliz por assinar pelo Sporting CP"" ["I'm very happy to sign for Sporting CP"]. Sporting CP (in Portuguese). 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Sporting perde final da UEFA Futsal Cup" [Sporting loses UEFA Futsal Cup finaç]. Record (in Portuguese). 22 April 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Sporting perde final da UEFA Futsal Cup por 7-0" [Sporting loses UEFA Cup Final by 7-0]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 April 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Pany National team data". Federação Portuguesa Futebol. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  19. ^ "Pany Varela Titles". Finalball.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
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