Rui Miguel (footballer, born 1983)


Rui Miguel Melo Rodrigues, known as Rui Miguel, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for C.D. Trofense as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Born in Viseu, Rui Miguel began playing for hometown's Académico FC, first appearing as a senior in the third division. In 2004, he stayed in that level, signing with S.C. Covilhã.
Rui Miguel moved into the Primeira Liga in the following season, with Associação Naval 1º de Maio. His competition debut took place on 22 August 2005 as he came on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 away win against Vitória de Guimarães, and the vast majority of his appearances would also be from the bench, as on 26 August in the 2–3 home loss to FC Porto where he featured 35 minutes.
Rui Miguel started 2006–07 again in division three, with S.L. Nelas. However, in January 2007, he moved to Poland and signed with Zagłębie Lubin; after one and a half years he returned to his country, where he finally would make a name for himself in the top flight, first with F.C. Paços de Ferreira.
Rui Miguel signed with Vitória Guimarães for the 2009–10 campaign. Never an undisputed started except for the league's final games, he contributed solidly as the Guimarães-based team finished sixth and nearly qualified for the UEFA Europa League, for example scoring a last-minute equaliser against eventually fourth-placed Sporting CP.
After two seasons in Minho and 51 official appearances, Rui Miguel signed for Russian club FC Krasnodar.