Biography
Who is Raul Meireles?
Early life and real name
Raul Meireles José Trindade Meireles was born in Porto, Portugal, on March 17, 1983. He joined the youth system of local club Boavista at the age of seven. During his early development, he spent two years on loan to Aves in the Segunda Liga, where he was presented on July 8, 2001.
He scored his first senior goal on May 25, 2003, in a match against União da Madeira. For the 2003 to 2004 campaign, he returned to Boavista and made his debut in the Primeira Liga on August 17 against Benfica, earning the player of the match award in a scoreless draw.
Career highlights
On July 7, 2004, Porto signed Raul on a five year contract. During his time with Porto, he made 198 official games and won ten major trophies, including four Primeira Liga titles in a row. He scored his first goal for the club on February 19, 2006, in a victory over Marítimo.
On August 29, 2010, Raul moved to Liverpool for a fee of £11.5 million. He scored his first goal for Liverpool in a draw with Everton and later won the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award for his performances during the season.
International career
Raul represented Portugal at various youth levels, winning the 2000 UEFA European Championship with the under 16 team and the Toulon Tournament with the under 20 side in 2003. He also played in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where Portugal competed in the group stage.
His first game for the Portuguese senior team took place on November 15, 2006, in a win over Kazakhstan for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers. Raul represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships, earning a total of 73 caps and scoring ten goals before concluding his international career.
Raul's height and personal life
Raul stands at a height of 180 centimetres. Throughout his professional club career, he played as a midfielder across Portugal, England, and Turkey. In December 2012, he was involved in a disciplinary case with the Turkish Football Federation, receiving a ban that was later reduced on appeal after a review of the incident.
Birthday and age
Raul Meireles was born on March 17, 1983, which makes Raul 43 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Raul shares the date with 67 other famous people.
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