Bruno Alves

Bruno Eduardo Regufe Alves (born 27 November 1981 in Póvoa de Varzim) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia and the Portuguese national team, as a central defender.

Alves is noted for his strength, tough tackling and aerial ability, and spent most of his professional career at F.C. Porto, winning a total of nine titles, seven as first-choice.

Club career

Porto

After three consecutive loans, two in Portugal and another in the Greek first division with AEK Athens FC, Alves returned to F.C. Porto in 2005–06, extending his contract until 2010, and battling for a first-team spot with Ricardo Costa and João Paulo. He played in seven league matches for the eventual champions, but was infamously sent off on 15 October 2005, in the 2–0 home loss against S.L. Benfica, after headbutting Nuno Gomes.

The arrival of Jesualdo Ferreira at the helm of Porto signalled the turning point in Alves' career. He beat off stiff competition for a starting berth in the team alongside Pepe and formed a rock solid partnership with the Brazilian-born. An impressive season saw the player, now in his mid-twenties, finally come of age. Alves was ever-present as Porto won another national championship.

On 7 April 2009, Alves' early mistake in the season's UEFA Champions League game against Manchester United at Old......
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