Bruno Martins Simão (born 5 May 1985) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

He spent most of his career abroad, making 49 appearances with three clubs in Romania's Liga I and also winning cups in Azerbaijan and Moldova, in addition to brief stints in Slovakia, Cyprus and France. Domestically, he totalled 68 games in LigaPro, where he represented four teams.

Club career

Simão was born in Lisbon. He had two stints at Benfica's youth system, where he played with Ruben Amorim and Pedro Russiano.

Following the decision of club president João Vale e Azevedo to dissolve the club's underage teams, Simão moved on to Estoril and Belenenses before returning to the Eagles' reserves. After a brief spell in the Segunda Liga with Barreirense, he moved abroad for the first time to UTA Arad in Romania's Liga I.

Simão had further experience of the Eastern European country's top flight with Dinamo București and Astra Giurgiu, with a year at Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia in between. In 2010, he signed for Khazar Lankaran of the Azerbaijan Premier League, and won the cup in his only season.

Moving on to Milsami Orhei of Moldova, Simão was again a cup champion in his first campaign (2011–12), also picking up the Super Cup that summer. After a brief stint in Cyprus with Doxa Katokopias without playing, he signed in September 2013 with Dacia Chișinău in the previous country.

Simão's eight-year Eastern adventure ended in 2014 as he joined União de Leiria in his country's third division, moving on to Oliveirense in LigaPro that July. Following a brief return to Leiria in July 2015, he signed for Atlético Clube de Portugal of division two.

In August 2017, Simão headed abroad again to sign for Lusitanos Saint-Maur, a Portuguese-community team in France's fourth tier. He left soon after for Pinhalnovense in the Portuguese lower leagues, where he suffered a road accident that put him in a coma for two days.

Simão joined Casa Pia in July 2018, and was part of their squad that defeated Vilafranquense on penalties to win the third-division title. He was one of three players to be released halfway through the season in January 2020, dropping down a level to Torreense.

Personal life

Simão's younger brother, David, was also a footballer, in the midfielder position. Their cousin Amorim was also involved in the sport, as both a player and a manager.

Career statistics

As of 19 October 2019

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Belenenses2003–04Primeira Liga0000—00
Barreirense2005–06Segunda Liga6010—70
UTA Arad2006–07Liga I12000—120
2007–08Liga I23100—231
2008–09Liga II1000—10
Total36100—361
Dinamo București2008–09Liga I9010—100
Slovan Bratislava2009–10Slovak Superliga70002090
Astra Ploieşti2009–10Liga I4000—40
Khazar2010–11Azerbaijan Premier League8020—100
Milsami2011–12Divizia Națională15000—150
2012–13Divizia Națională1321020162
Total2821020312
Doxa2013–14Cypriot First Division0000—00
Dacia2013–14Divizia Națională11000—110
União Leiria2013–14Campeonato de Portugal13100—131
Oliveirense2014–15Segunda Liga35050—400
União Leiria2015–16Campeonato de Portugal10020—120
Atlético2015–16Segunda Liga15100—151
Fátima2016–17Campeonato de Portugal24030—270
Lusitanos Saint-Maur2017–18Championnat National 29010—100
Pinhalnovense2017–18Campeonato de Portugal1000—10
Casa Pia2018–19Campeonato de Portugal32030—350
2019–20Segunda Liga7020—90
Total39050—440
Career total2555210402805

Honours

Khazar Lankaran

Milsami

Casa Pia

External links