Dani (footballer, born 1982)

Daniel Ricardo da Silva Soares (born 30 January 1982), commonly known as Dani, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for F.C. Maia as a midfielder.

"Daniel Ricardo" redirects here; not to be confused with Daniel Ricciardo.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Soares.

Dani

Dani before a Champions League match with CFR Cluj in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Daniel Ricardo da Silva Soares
Date of birth	(1982-01-30) 30 January 1982 (age 43)
Place of birth	Felgueiras, Portugal
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Maia
Number	21
Youth career
1992–2001	Vizela
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2006	Vizela	114	(1)
2006	Paços Ferreira	14	(0)
2007–2010	CFR Cluj	94	(2)
2010–2011	Iraklis	24	(2)
2011–2013	Skoda Xanthi	46	(0)
2013–2016	Vitória Setúbal	83	(0)
2016–2018	Vizela	27	(0)
2018–2019	Lixa	30	(2)
2019–	Maia	31	(1)
Medal record CFR Cluj Winner Romanian Cup 2008 Winner Romanian Cup 2009 Winner Romanian Cup 2010
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:45, 26 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Portugal

Dani started playing football for F.C. Vizela, located near his birthcity of Felgueiras. He remained 14 years with the club his youth spell accounted for, playing his first four seasons as a senior in the third division, the latter ending in league conquest and promotion to the second level.

For the 2006–07 campaign, Dani moved to the Primeira Liga with F.C. Paços de Ferreira, making his debut in the competition on 27 August 2006 in a 1–2 away loss against S.C. Braga (90 minutes played).^[1] He started in all his league appearances during his short tenure.

Cluj

During the 2007 winter transfer window, Dani signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with CFR Cluj in Romania.^[2] He scored his first Liga I goal more than one year later, in a 1–1 draw at FC Unirea Urziceni.^[3]

Dani finished his first full season with 29 games as the team won the national championship, going on to be an important midfield unit in the conquest of seven major titles, including three consecutive Romanian Cups.^[4][5]

Greece

On 31 August 2010, Dani agreed to a two-year deal at Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. of the Super League Greece.^[6] He made his competitive debut for his new club on 11 September, in a 1–1 away draw to Atromitos FC.^[7] He scored his first league goal in the 19th round of the season, opening the score against AEK Athens F.C. in an eventual 2–0 win for the hosts.^[8][9]

In late July 2011, Dani joined fellow league side Skoda Xanthi FC.^[10]

Honours

Vizela

• Portuguese Second Division: 2004–05

CFR Cluj

• Liga I: 2007–08, 2009–10
• Cupa României: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
• Supercupa României: 2009, 2010