Table of Contents
José Fonte (Footballer)
In the world of football, where superstars often dominate the headlines, there are those players whose contributions, though less glamorous, are vital to their team’s success. One such player is José Miguel da Rocha Fonte, commonly known as José Fonte. A stalwart in defense, José Fonte’s career trajectory is a testament to hard work, resilience, and unwavering dedication. José Miguel da Rocha Fonte ComM (born 22 December 1983) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Primeira Liga club Braga and the Portugal national team.
José Fonte began his professional career with Sporting CP B and moved to England with Crystal Palace in 2007. He signed for Southampton in 2010, making 288 appearances in all competitions before joining West Ham United in January 2017. He later played for Dalian Yifang in China and Lille in France, where he won the Ligue 1 title in the 2020–21 season.
A Portuguese international since age 30, José Fonte was part of the squad at two UEFA European Championships and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, winning UEFA Euro 2016.
Penafiel, Portugal
| José Miguel da Rocha Fonte | |
| 22 December 1983 | |
| Date of Birth | 22 December 1983 |
| Birth Place | Penafiel, Portugal |
| Nationality | Portugal |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Dates joined | August 2018 (LOSC Lille) |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Spouse | Cassie Sumner Fonte |
| Parents | Artur Fonte, Diana Rocha |
Early Life and Background
Born on December 22, 1983, in Penafiel, Portugal, José Fonte began his football journey in the youth ranks of Sporting CP. Despite not breaking into the first team, his early years laid the foundation for his professional career. His journey took him through various Portuguese clubs, including Felgueiras and Vitória Setúbal, where he honed his skills as a central defender.
Club Career
Born in Penafiel, José Fonte completed his football education at Sporting CP, appearing only for their B team in the third division. In 2004, he signed with Salgueiros, but the club’s financial difficulties led to its liquidation. José Fonte then transferred to Felgueiras in the Segunda Liga. In 2005, he made his Primeira Liga debut with Vitória de Setúbal. His performances caught the attention of Benfica, who signed him in January 2006 and loaned him to Paços de Ferreira, where he finished the season with 26 league appearances and 1 goal.
During the 2006–07 season, José Fonte was loaned to Estrela da Amadora in the top division, missing only five league games as the team finished ninth.
Crystal Palace
In July 2007, José Fonte was loaned to Crystal Palace in England, where he became a regular starter. The move was made permanent at the end of the 2007–08 season. José Fonte continued to be a key player for Palace, even playing as a makeshift striker when required.
Southampton
José Fonte signed for Southampton on 9 January 2010 for around £1.2 million. He made his debut on 16 January in a 1–1 draw away to Millwall. He scored his first goal for Southampton on 28 August in a 4–0 away win over Bristol Rovers. Fonte helped Southampton win promotion to the Championship and was named in the League One Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season. He was also voted Southampton’s Player of the Year.
On 29 December 2011, José Fonte signed a new contract with Southampton until June 2015. He contributed to the team’s promotion to the Premier League, making his debut in the top flight on 19 August 2012 in a 3–2 loss to Manchester City. He scored his first Premier League goals in a 2–2 draw with Fulham on 7 October 2012.
José Fonte became team captain on 8 August 2014 and made his 250th league appearance for the club on 16 October 2016.
West Ham United
On 20 January 2017, José Fonte signed for West Ham United for a reported fee of £8 million on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut on 1 February in a 4–0 home defeat to Manchester City. A foot injury on 4 November 2017 sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Dalian Yifang
José Fonte transferred to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang on 23 February 2018 for a reported £5 million fee. He terminated his contract on 15 July 2018.
Lille
José Fonte joined Lille on 20 July 2018 on a two-year contract. He made his debut on 18 August in a goalless draw against Monaco and scored his first goal on 22 September in a 2–1 win over Nantes. Fonte played a crucial role in Lille’s 2020–21 Ligue 1 title win, making 36 appearances and scoring three goals.
He extended his contract to 2021 and played in the Trophée des Champions on 1 August 2021, a 1–0 win over PSG. Fonte renewed his contract for the 2022–23 season and was released afterward. On 19 July 2023, José Fonte signed a one-year contract with S.C. Braga.
International Career
José Fonte was called up to the Portuguese B squad for the Vale do Tejo tournament in 2006, playing against Slovenia in a match that ended in a penalty shoot-out loss after a 1–1 draw.
Senior National Team
On 3 October 2014, nearly 31 years old, José Fonte received his first call-up to the senior team for a friendly with France and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Denmark. He made his debut in another friendly, playing the second half of a 1–0 win over Argentina at Old Trafford on 18 November.
José Fonte was selected by manager Fernando Santos for the Euro 2016 squad. His first game in the tournament was on 25 June, starting alongside Southampton teammate Cédric Soares in the round-of-16 tie against Croatia, which Portugal won 1–0 after extra time. He retained his position until the final, where Portugal beat the hosts France 1–0.
José Fonte was named in the final 23-man squads for both the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and Portugal’s victorious campaign in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals. He was also part of the squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, where he did not play.
On 9 October 2021, at age 37, José Fonte scored his first goal for the national team in a 3–0 home win over Qatar. On 24 March 2022, aged 38, he earned his 50th cap in Portugal’s World Cup qualifying play-off match against Turkey, where he conceded a penalty. However, Burak Yılmaz missed the shot, and Portugal won 3–1 to advance to the final playoff game.
In October 2022, José Fonte was named in Portugal’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar but did not make the final cut.
Career Statistics
| Youth career | ||
| Years | Club | Details |
| 1991–1994 | Penafiel | Youth career |
| 1994–2002 | Sporting CP | Youth career |
| 1997–2000 | → Sacavenense (loan) | Youth career |
| International Career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Portugal U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | Portugal B | 1 | (0) |
| 2014–2022 | Portugal | 50 | (1) |
| Medal Record | ||
| Event | Medal | Year |
| UEFA European Championship | Winner | 2016 |
| UEFA Nations League | Winner | 2019 |
| FIFA Confederations Cup | Third place | 2017 |
| Team Information | |||
| Category | Details | ||
| Current team | Braga | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Senior Career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Sporting CP B | 59 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Felgueiras | 28 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Vitória de Setúbal | 15 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Benfica | 0 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Paços Ferreira (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | → Estrela Amadora (loan) | 25 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Crystal Palace | 60 | (5) |
| 2010–2017 | Southampton | 260 | (15) |
| 2017–2018 | West Ham United | 24 | (0) |
| 2018 | Dalian Yifang | 7 | (0) |
| 2018–2023 | Lille | 166 | (8) |
| 2023– | Braga | 19 | (0) |
International Success with Portugal
Despite his club success, international recognition came relatively late for José Fonte. He made his debut for the Portuguese national team in 2014 at the age of 30. However, he quickly became an integral part of the squad, known for his dependable defensive displays.
José Fonte most significant achievement with the national team came in 2016 when Portugal won the UEFA European Championship. His performances in the tournament, particularly in the knockout stages, were crucial to Portugal’s triumph. He played every minute of the final against France, showcasing his defensive solidity and composure.
Career Statistics
Goals By Club
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | National Cup | Goals | League Cup | Goals | Continental | Goals | Other | Goals | Total | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting CP B | 2002–03 | Segunda Divisão B | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Sporting CP B | 2003–04 | Segunda Divisão B | 37 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 0 |
| Total | 59 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | 0 | ||
| Felgueiras | 2004–05 | Segunda Liga | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 1 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Benfica | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Benfica | 2006–07 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Benfica | 2007–08 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Paços de Ferreira (loan) | 2005–06 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Estrela da Amadora (loan) | 2006–07 | Primeira Liga | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 1 |
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 2007–08 | Championship | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| Crystal Palace | 2008–09 | Championship | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 41 | 4 |
| Crystal Palace | 2009–10 | Championship | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Total | 82 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 92 | 6 | ||
| Southampton | 2009–10 | League One | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Southampton | 2010–11 | League One | 43 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 48 | 7 |
| Southampton | 2011–12 | Championship | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 44 | 1 |
| Southampton | 2012–13 | Premier League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 2 |
| Southampton | 2013–14 | Premier League | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 3 |
| Southampton | 2014–15 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 44 | 0 |
| Southampton | 2015–16 | Premier League | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 2 |
| Southampton | 2016–17 | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Total | 260 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 288 | 15 | ||
| West Ham United | 2016–17 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| West Ham United | 2017–18 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| Dalian Yifang | 2018 | Chinese Super League | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Lille | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 3 |
| Lille | 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 2 |
| Total | 61 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 72 | 5 | ||
| Shanghai SIPG | 2020 | Chinese Super League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Moreirense | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Retired |
International Records
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2015 | 7 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2016 | 12 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| Portugal | 2021 | 6 | 1 |
| Portugal | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 50 | 1 |
International Goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 October 2021 | Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal | Qatar | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Southampton
- Football League Trophy: 2009–10
Lille
- Ligue 1: 2020–21
- Trophée des Champions: 2021
Braga
- Taça da Liga: 2023–24
Portugal
- UEFA European Championship: 2016
- UEFA Nations League: 2018–19
- FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2017
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 League One
- Southampton Player of the Season: 2010–11, 2014–15
- Lille Player of the Season: 2020–21
Orders
- Commander of the Order of Merit
