#2 Cédric Soares
Former clubs: Sporting CP, Académica, Sporting B
Early years
Cédric was born in the German town of Singen, to a Portuguese couple who had met while both living in the country, on 31st August 1991.
Aged two, Cédric’s parents relocated to Portugal, moving to Montijo, just outside Lisbon. At the age of eight, he followed brother Kevin – three years his senior – into the youth teams of Sporting CP.
Soares made his club debut at the age of 19, starting in a 3-1 defeat to Belgian side Gent in the UEFA Europa League in November 2010.
After a further European appearance and one more in the Taça da Liga (league cup), his league debut arrived in May 2011 with a start in a home defeat to Vitória Setúbal.
Soares began the 2011/12 season on loan with another Primeira Liga side, Académica de Coimbra. He would play regularly, making 24 starts in the league plus five more in the Taça de Portugal – the last of which came in a 1-0 win over his parent club in the final.
Having represented his country at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels, as well as playing at the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals, Cédric made his under-21 debut in the autumn of 2011.
Sporting breakthrough
Back with Sporting for the 2012/13 campaign, Soares racked up 16 appearances plus another seven in the Europa League. He netted his first professional goal in December, grabbing the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Nacional.
Cédric established himself in the side in 2013/14 with 31 appearances and another goal, but it was last season in which he really made his breakthrough.
2014/15 saw the right-back rack up 24 league appearances and three more in Sporting’s successful Taça de Portugal campaign, although he was sent off 15 minutes into their win over Sporting Braga in the final.
He also experienced UEFA Champions League football for the first time last season, starting five of Sporting’s six group-stage fixtures.
Cédric received his first call-up to the senior Portugal squad on 3rd October 2014 – the day José Fonte was also selected for the first time. Soares made his debut in a 2-1 defeat to France, playing the full game.
European champion
After a successful first season in England, in which he helped Saints record their highest-ever Premier League finish, the right-back played a key role in helping Portugal win UEFA EURO 2016 in France alongside José Fonte.
Upon his return, Cédric signed a new contract, extending his commitment to the club until 2020.
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