The island air of Santa Clara holds a quiet challenge for Miguel Pires. This young midfielder is back with the club after two seasons away. He spent that time on loan with Alverca, a team from mainland Portugal. Pires played over 50 games there. He even helped them win promotions to higher divisions. Now, his goal is to find a solid place in Vasco Matos’s squad.
Pires is 23 years old. He learned his trade in the youth systems of Benfica and Cova da Piedade. His return to Santa Clara has already seen him get a taste of big games. He was called up for both Europa Conference League matches. He even got some minutes on the field against the Croatian side RK Varazdin. That’s a good start for anyone wanting to make a mark.
Still, the competition for spots is fierce. Santa Clara has many talented players in midfield. Names like Adriano, Serginho, Pedro Ferreira, and Matheus Pereira are all fighting for playing time. Despite these strong rivals, Miguel Pires is determined. He wants to show the coach he deserves a real chance. He aims to prove he belongs in the island club’s starting lineup.