Minhoca

Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela (born 29 April 1988), known as Minhoca, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Rabo de Peixe as an attacking midfielder.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Farpelha and the second or paternal family name is Estrela.

Minhoca
Personal information
Full name Nélson Alexandre Farpelha Estrela[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-29) 29 April 1988[1]
Place of birth Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rabo de Peixe
Youth career
1999–2004 Marítimo Ponta Delgada
2005 Oliveirenses
2005–2006 Marítimo Ponta Delgada
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Micaelense 68 (14)
2011–2014 Santa Clara 80 (7)
2014–2017 Paços Ferreira 66 (3)
2017–2019 Santa Clara 37 (3)
2019–2020 Varzim 19 (0)
2020–2022 Torreense 25 (2)
2022– Rabo de Peixe 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 February 2023

Club career

Born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Minhoca earned his nickname meaning "earthworm" in his native language for his dribbling ability while a youth player at Marítimo Sport Clube in his hometown.[2] He began his senior career with CU Micaelense in the fourth division and, in June 2011, he signed a three-year deal with C.D. Santa Clara of the Segunda Liga, again in his native islands.[3]

In January 2014, Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira secured Minhoca on a 31⁄2-year contract.[4] He scored his first goals for his new team on 23 November, a brace in a 9–0 rout of amateurs Clube Atlético Riachense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[5] His first top-flight goal was on 17 April 2016, in a 4–3 away win against C.F. União.[6]

Minhoca returned to Santa Clara in May 2017, on a two-year deal.[7] In his first season in his second spell, he contributed three goals as they were promoted as runners-up to C.D. Nacional. On 17 September he received a straight red card after half an hour in a 2–1 victory at Gil Vicente FC.[8]

In July 2019, released by Santa Clara, Minhoca agreed to a one-year contract at Varzim S.C. in division two.[9] At its conclusion, he dropped down to the third tier and joined S.C.U. Torreense.[10]

References
  1. "Minhoca" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. "Minhoca rendido ao potencial do Paços de Ferreira" [Minhoca surrendered to Paços de Ferreira's potential]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. "Minhoca é primeiro reforço do Santa Clara" [Minhoca is Santa Clara's first addition]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. "Paços de Ferreira contrata Minhoca ao Santa Clara" [Paços de Ferreira sign Minhoca from Santa Clara] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. "Com show de Cícero e Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira faz 9 a 0 em time da 3ª divisão" [With a show from Cícero and Minhoca, Paços de Ferreira do a 9–0 against 3rd division team] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. "Paços de Ferreira vence União da Madeira por 4–3 na I Liga" [Paços de Ferreira defeat União da Madeira 4–3 in I League] (in Portuguese). TSF. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. "Santa Clara assegura Minhoca até 2019" [Santa Clara secure Minhoca until 2019]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. "Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Açorianos mantêm liderança" [Gil Vicente-Santa Clara, 1–2: Azoreans maintain lead]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. "Minhoca muda-se do Santa Clara para o Varzim" [Minhoca moves from Santa Clara to Varzim] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. "Minhoca é reforço do Torreense" [Minhoca is addition to Torreense] (in Portuguese). Torres Vedras Web. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
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