rui patricio

Legendary Portuguese shot-stopper Rui Patricio made over 450 appearances for Sporting CP before becoming a mainstay of what many consider to be the greatest Wolverhampton Wanderers squad ever assembled. He played a crucial part in the Portugal team that triumphed at the 2016 European Championships — the nation’s first-ever major tournament victory — and was awarded the National Order of Merit. He has since become his country’s most-capped goalkeeper.

Patricio was born in Regueira de Pontes in 1998. As a youth, he initially began playing football as a striker but swapped scoring goals for preventing them after a Sporting CP scout happened to watch him deputising in goal during a game. He joined the club’s youth academy in 2000. Six years later, he made his Primeira Liga debut in dramatic style: standing in for first-choice keeper Ricardo (who was then also the national keeper), Patricio saved a penalty in the final 15 minutes of the game as Sporting won 1-0. When Ricardo moved to Spain the following season, Patricio took his place — and stayed there for 11 seasons. During that time Sporting CP won four domestic cups and Patricio was twice named the club’s Player of the Year. In October 2016, he was one of 30 players shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or, perhaps the greatest individual prize any footballer can receive.

In 2018, Patricio moved to England, where Wolverhampton Wanderers were enjoying an incredible resurgence under former Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Wolves paid £18 million for the privilege, and Patricio immediately became their first-choice keeper, a role he has kept ever since.