João Daniel Mendes Real

Born in Covilhã, Real started playing amateur football with locals of A.D. Estação. In 2003, at the age of 20, he switched to city giants Sporting Clube, twice helping them promote to the second division. In the summer of 2008, after a solid season – his second promotion – which brought him six goals in 25 matches, Real moved to the Primeira Liga with Associação Naval 1º de Maio. His first year was quite unassuming, as he had to wait until 15 February 2009 to make his league debut, playing eight minutes in a 2–2 away draw against C.D. Trofense. In the 2009–10 campaign, with Naval again remaining in the top flight, Real appeared more, but was still a fringe player. On 17 April 2010, he found the net in the club's 3–1 win at F.C. Paços de Ferreira, but also scored an own goal. Real featured regularly in 2010–11, but the Figueira da Foz side were relegated after a six-year stay. In June 2011, he signed for Académica de Coimbra on a free transfer. In his first year with the Students, he played the final of the Taça de Portugal as they won their first trophy in 73 years via a 1–0 victory over Sporting CP. On 20 August 2012, in the first game of the new season, Real was sent off after seven minutes at S.C. Beira-Mar for conceding a penalty kick with a foul on Nildo Petrolina; his team recovered from a 3–0 deficit to earn a draw. In May 2014, he extended his contract for three more years. Real remained a regular for Académica over the coming years, including after their relegation…

Académica

Taça de Portugal: 2011–12