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JORGE MANUEL ALMEIDA GOMES DE ANDRADE
Date of Birth: 9 April 1978
Nationality: Portugal (international from 2001 until now))
Period at Deportivo: 2002 - 2007
Transfer: €12 million (includes Nuno valuated at €3 million) (2002)
Clubs: Juventus, Deportivo (2002-2007), FC Porto (2000-2002), Estrela Amadora (1997-2000)
Sold: €12 million (2007, to Juventus)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Position: Defender (central)
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 One of Europe’s best central defenders of the first decennium after the 21st century was at Deportivo for five seasons. This makes him, without a doubt, one of the best defenders ever to have worn the shirt of the Galicians. Unfortunately, the only trophy he lifted at the club was, as newly-arrived, the Supercopa in 2002. The fact that he still made such an impact makes one wonder what had happened if the undisputed starter in the national team of Portugal had been around earlier, when Deportivo had their best years. In 2007 both player and club agreed that it would be in the interest of all if the Portuguese player moved to one of Europe’s giants: Juventus.
Although many in the world of football already knew about his enormous qualities, a wider audience got to know him because of his impressive performances during the Euro 2004 tournament in his home-country. Portugal only lost the final due to a late goal of Greece, but the defensive security had been the main reason why Portugal did so well including eliminating Spain. Hadn’t he been out injured for many months in 2006, for sure Jorge Andrade would have included in the successful Portuguese squad reaching the Semi Finals at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.
Jorge Andrade was at little Estrela Amadora during their most successful season ever as they finished 7th in the Portuguese first division. Jorge Andrade caught the eye immediately and in 2000 was on the move, north to FC Porto. It took him just two years to attract the interest already of some important European clubs like Arsenal, Leeds United and FC Barcelona. It was the summer of 2002 and the last for some years when Deportivo spent millions on improving their squad; Luque, ‘Toro’ Acuña, Jorge Andrade, Juanmi and Pablo Amo cost the club around €40 million. It almost would take the Galicians into the 2004 Champions League final.
Before this all happened, Jorge Andrade was an important piece in Mourinho's FC Porto as he played the most minutes for them in the 2001/2002 edition of the Champions League (12 matches). This experience was exactly what Irureta was looking for when Deportivo wanted to sign a new central defender in 2002. The defensive performances of Deportivo had been irregular in the years before and the club needed new strength for the back four.
The strong Portuguese defender is a rapid one and knows where to be positioned on the pitch. Besides, he rules in the air and is a very secure factor at the back who rarely performances below his level. During his first season at Deportivo (2002/2003) he didn’t have much time to show these qualities though as an early injury in the first match against Betis Sevilla ruled him out for 5,5 months. But eleven Liga matches in the 2003 part of the season were enough to prove that Jorge Andrade added defensive security to the team. Partly because of him Deportivo even were Liga leaders near the end of the season after a difficult start.
 The season 2003/2004 was his breakthrough as he missed just one Liga match (because of a suspension), of all squad players played most full Liga matches, started most Liga matches and played most Liga matches in total. It did not seem to matter much if he played with either César Martín or Naybet, as Deportivo leaked less goals than before and Jorge Andrade was the engine behind it. Andrade is rarely caught out of position and makes few mistakes. One nasty incident marked the end of the campaign though as he slightly touched his friend Deco with his foot during the Champions League Semi-Final (0-0) encounter with FC Porto. German referee Merk sent him off for it, despite Jorge Andrade kept saying “he’s my friend!”. It made him miss the return match, where his replacement César Martin made a crucial mistake and Deportivo lost 0-1 to miss the final.
Some more misery, if you can call it, was to come that year during the Euro 2004 tournament as he lost the final with Portugal against Greece. In 2002 he was picked for the Portuguese national squad that was eliminated from the World Cup that year in the first phase. But only in the 2004 Euro tournament in his own country he was given the opportunity to shine, and he did. Jorge Andrade played an excellent tournament and didn’t miss a minute of it, something which again arose the interest of several big European clubs. The talented centre-back struck up a good relationship at the heart of the Portugal defence with former FC Porto defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Andrade’s 2004/2005 season was quiet, but with 35 full Liga matches he again reached the highest number of the squad and behind Valerón played most Liga minutes. Deportivo were out of steam though, finished eighth in the Liga and went out of the Champions League without having scored a single goal. It was the final season of Irureta at the club. But new coach Caparrós immediately made clear that Andrade was an important figure for him and asked president Lendoiro to let him stay, despite the usual interest of bigger clubs. Eyes in the Premiership were opened when Andrade scored two goals in the 4-2 on aggregate win of Deportivo against Newcastle in the Intertoto competition. Andrade’s goal at Marseille almost took the Galicians into the UEFA Cup, but the team had to cope with bad luck and an awful referee that night.
 As one the Liga’s most consistent defenders, Andrade was badly missed when he suffered two minor and one serious injury in the season 2005/2006. The Galicians handled his absence well in October and November. But in January and February his absence in four matches was noted: Deportivo lost at home against Alavés (0-2), Valencia (0-1), dropped points in Riazor against Mallorca (2-2) and leaked three goals at Atlético (2-3 loss). Note the difference when Andrade played in the three matches after it: a 1-0 win at Betis, a 1-1 draw against Zaragoza in Riazor and a 1-2 win at Osasuna (who would finish fourth that season).
On 4 March 2006 the Galicians were heroically drawing 2-2 at giants FC Barcelona (including a goal of Jorge Andrade) when he sustained an important injury. Moments later Eto’o won the match for the Galicians and Jorge Andrade was out for the remainder of the season including the World Cup 2006. Combined with the long-term absence of Valerón, Deportivo played a hopeless final part of the season while Andrade saw a transfer to a European giant bouncing. He was with the Portuguese squad in Germany as a ‘supporter’ though because he wasn’t on the official list nor fit.
It was expected that Jorge Andrade would be fit again at the start of the season 2006/2007. During the summer months the Portuguese defender said: “I’m following the daily movements of the club like the signings of Riki and Bodipo and I’m convinced that we will have a great team. It’s my intention to stay at the club and I want to help from September on. I am looking forward to that moment and to work with Caparrós again, who reminds me of Scolari. I know nothing about a possible move and it would be the club acting, not me”.
Andrade’s return was at Depor’s worst moment in many years when the team lost 4-0 at Sevilla and dropped to fifteenth place, very close to the relegation spots. Goalkeeper Aouate had already seen 23 goals flying passed him. Two months later Deportivo were at just six points of an UEFA Cup spot, had leaked just two other goals since that Sevilla match and had reached the Semi-Finals of the Copa del Rey. Again, it’s no coincidence that Andrade’s permanent presence was fundamental. It immediately revived the interest of some of the biggest European clubs: Internazionale, Juventus, Barcelona (where his friend Deco played), Real Madrid, Valencia, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United.
 After the season 2006/2007 was over, the moment seemed to have arrived for Jorge Andrade to make a step towards a bigger club. The Portuguese defender was 29-years old, had proved that he was fit again and was put on the market by Deportivo who needed the money. Andrade himself kept on mentioning that he would like to stay because he “loved the city, it’s impossible to find a better place” but only if a new investor would arrive to sign “the top players who were here when I first signed”. Returning to 2002 in a few months was impossible though and everybody knew. Assuming this, Andrade confirmed that “I think it’s now time for me to move. It’s time to make the step”.
Negotiations were difficult at first though because the player had still two more years to go in La Coruña and had a buy-out clause of €60 million. This is why clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus aimed at younger players like Milito and Chivu first to strengthen their defence. June 2007 was a month full of speculation and some rumours even situated him at Atlético de Madrid. The name of Juventus had been mentioned less than the ones of Real Madrid and Barcelona, when in the days before 6 July 2007 news reports appeared about their interest. That Friday, the official website of Deportivo announced a verbal agreement between both clubs.
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