Class act

Published : Nov 22, 2008 00:00 IST

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Ricardo Carvalho has never been afraid of expressing himself on — or off — the pitch and the 30-year-old Chelsea star has bounced back from a minor spat with Jose Mourinho to become one of the finest defenders in the Barclays English Premier League. By Andy Hampson.

Ricardo Carvalho is a solid and dependable defender who adds a touch of continental flair to the Chelsea backline, where he plays alongside England lynchpin John Terry. A fine tackler who reads the game well, Carvalho is strong in the air and often willing to carry the ball forward.

Carvalho hails from northern Portugal, near Oporto, and was taken on by Porto after being spotted playing for Amarante. He showed promise but was sent on loan to small clubs Vitoria Setubal and Alverca to hone his game.

He came of age in the 2003-2004 season, proving a key member of the defensive line as Porto won both the Super Liga and the UEFA Champions League. He was named as the ‘best defender’ in the Champions League as well as the club’s Player of the Year.

The Champions League victory proved a watershed in the club’s history as manager Jose Mourinho resigned almost immediately after the game to take charge of Chelsea. He returned to Porto to make Carvalho one of his first signings, splashing out GBP19.8 million of Blues owner Roman Abramovich’s money.

Carvalho settled well in his first season at Stamford Bridge, winning the League Cup and Barclays English Premier League. The start of the following campaign was more problematic, however, as he lost his place and then irked Mourinho with some ill-advised comments.

Carvalho was not happy when he was left out for the first game of the 2005-2006 season and made his feelings known. He claimed his omission was “incomprehensible” and he had not been given a “valid explanation” for it. It was an outburst that cost him two weeks’ wages and earned him a severe rebuke from Mourinho, who questioned his intelligence as a result.

“Ricardo Carvalho seems to have problems understanding things, maybe he should have an IQ test,” Mourinho said. “I am not happy to have heard about this through the papers. Ricardo has worked with me for four years and I do not understand these quotes, he probably needs to see a doctor. I told the players this summer they will need to have patience because we have a great squad and everyone needs an opportunity.”

He soon returned to favour and played an influential role as Chelsea retained the league title. He has been an important member of the side since, helping the Blues to the semi-final stages of the Champions League in 2007 and the final last season.

He is a key member of the Portugal team and played at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, in which he was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Carvalho is married to Carina, with whom he has a son, Rodrigo. Due to living in London, Rodrigo has reportedly become a Charlton Athletic fan and has been spotted wearing an Addicks replica shirt at The Valley.

In common with a number of the EPL’s biggest stars, Carvalho has a GBP50,000 worth of BMW X5 in his garage. Boasting a top speed of 150mph, the X5 has become one of the must-have items among footballers and Manchester United stars Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo all have one.

© PA Sport, 2008, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, re-written, re-distributed or commercially exploited. Sportstar is not responsible for any inaccuracy in the material.

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