Ianique dos Santos Tavares (Portuguese: [ja.ˈni.kɨ duʃ ˈsɐ̃.tuʃ ta.ˈva.ɾɨʃ]; born 20 May 1988), commonly known as Stopira Kabuverdianu: [sto.ˈpi.ɾɐ], is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Torreense and the Cape Verde national team.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ianique dos Santos Tavares[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 May 1988[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Praia, Cape Verde[1] | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Torreense | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2008 | Sporting Praia | ||
| 2008–2010 | Santa Clara | 32 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Deportivo La Coruña B | 23 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Feirense | 15 | (0) |
| 2012–2023 | Fehérvár | 265 | (22) |
| 2024– | Torreense | 60 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008– | Cape Verde | 60 | (4) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:55, 18 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:57, 23 April 2026 (UTC) | |||
He spent most of his career in Hungary with Fehérvár, having signed for the club in 2012.[2]
Club career
editStopira was born in Praia. In 2008, he signed for Portugal's Santa Clara from local side Sporting Praia, playing just six matches in his first season but being first choice in the following, as the Azores team competed in the Segunda Liga.[3][4]
On 10 July 2010, after a thwarted transfer to Primeira Liga club Vitória Guimarães, Stopira signed a four-year contract with Deportivo La Coruña in Spain, with 75% of his right being owned by IberSports.[5] He spent his only season, however, with the reserves in the Segunda División B.[6][7]
Stopira joined newly promoted Feirense ahead of the 2011–12 campaign, on a one-year deal.[8] He made his debut in the Portuguese top flight on 20 August 2011, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–1 away loss against Benfica.[9]
In summer 2012, Stopira moved to Fehérvár in Hungary. He remained there for 11 years, notably winning the 2014–15 and 2017–18 editions of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I.[10][11][12]
International career
editStopira received his first call-up to the Cape Verde national team in May 2008, for a friendly with Luxembourg and a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.[13][14] He was an unused substitute in the first two qualifying matches, and made his competitive debut against Mauritius on 22 June of that year, replacing Nando in the dying minutes.
On 24 May 2010, Stopira appeared in a friendly in Covilhã with Portugal – who were preparing for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa – playing the entire match as the minnows (ranked 117th) managed a 0–0 draw.[15] He also won the 2009 Lusofonia Games with the under-21 team.[16]
In May 2026, Stopira was named in Cape Verde's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad for that year's World Cup, in their first-ever participation in the tournament.[17]
Personal life
editStopira received his nickname in honour of former French international Yannick Stopyra.[18] In December 2019, he acquired Hungarian citizenship via naturalization.[19]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 15 May 2022[20]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santa Clara | 2008–09 | Liga de Honra | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Liga de Honra | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| Deportivo B | 2010–11 | Segunda División B | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Feirense | 2011–12 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Fehérvár | 2012–13 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 2013–14 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2014–15 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 24 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 0 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2017–18 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 1 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 28 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | 14[d] | 1 | 48 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 21 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — | 4[c] | 1 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2020–21 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 31 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 4[c] | 0 | 40 | 5 | ||
| 2021–22 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Total | 240 | 20 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 46 | 3 | 325 | 27 | ||
| Career total | 310 | 20 | 35 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 46 | 3 | 401 | 27 | ||
- ↑ Includes Taça de Portugal, Magyar Kupa
- ↑ Includes Taça da Liga, Ligakupa
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
edit- As of match played 13 November 2025[21]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | |||
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 60 | 4 | |
- Cape Verde score listed first, score column indicates score after each Stopira goal.[20]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 October 2018 | Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cape Verde |  Tanzania | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 13 November 2021 | Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo, Cape Verde |  Central African Republic | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 16 November 2021 | Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria |  Nigeria | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 13 October 2025 | Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cape Verde |  Eswatini | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
editTorreense
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Stopira" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Internacional cabo-verdiano Stopira deixa o MOL Fehervar (Vidi) depois de mais de uma década" [Cape Verdean international Stopira leaves MOL Fehervar (Vidi) after more than one decade]. A Nação (in Portuguese). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ↑ "Laterais de regresso" [Full-backs return]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ Cordeiro, Paulo (4 December 2009). "Stopira diz que o Santa Clara pode subir de divisão (vídeo)" [Stopira says Santa Clara may promote (video)] (in Portuguese). RTP Açores. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "El Deportivo ficha al lateral izquierdo Stopira por cuatro temporadas" [Deportivo sign left-back Stopira for four seasons]. Marca (in Spanish). 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ↑ "El líder le toma la medida al Deportivo B en el derbi" [Leaders measure Deportivo B up in derby]. El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "El Depor se cansa de Stopira" [Depor have had enough of Stopira]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Lateral Stopira por uma época" [Full-back Stopira for one season]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ Sousa, Hugo Daniel (20 August 2011). "Benfica derrota Feirense mas só respira de alívio no fim" [Benfica beat Feirense but only breathe a sigh of relief in the end]. Público (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ Watson-Broughton, Matthew (4 May 2015). "Videoton champions of Hungary again". UEFA. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Stopira no onze ideal do campeonato húngaro" [Stopira in Hungarian league's all-star XI]. Expresso das Ilhas (in Portuguese). 17 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Criolos no estrangeiro: Stopira atinge a marca de 150 jogos no Vidi FC" [Creoles abroad: Stopira reaches 150 games at Vidi FC] (in Portuguese). Criolo Sports. 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Foreign contingent boost Cape Verde". FIFA. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ↑ "Pele called in for Cape Verde". FIFA. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ↑ "Portugal held to 0–0 draw by Cape Verde". USA Today. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ↑ Delgado, Evandro (18 May 2010). "Futebol: Santa Clara dificulta transferência de Stopira para Guimarães" [Football: Santa Clara make Stopira transfer to Guimarães difficult] (in Portuguese). SAPO. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- ↑ McKenna, Lorraine (18 May 2026). "Shamrock's Lopes makes Cape Verde's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Stopira: "É um salto na minha carreira"" [Stopira: "This is a leap in my career"]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 May 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ↑ "Fehérvár: Stopira is magyar állampolgár lett" [Fehérvár: Stopira also became a Hungarian citizen] (in Hungarian). 24.hu. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- 1 2 Stopira at Soccerway
- ↑ "Stopira". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ Kundert, Tom (24 May 2026). "Sporting 1-2 Torreense: extra time joy for Torreense who make history in Portuguese Cup final". portugoal.net. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
