Ricardo Apolinário Şamaxı Scout Report
Ricardo Apolinário
Quick Answer
Ricardo Apolinário is a right-footed Portuguese midfielder who played for Santarém, Coruchense and Alverca in Portugal before joining Şamaxı as a free agent on 11 July 2025. His biggest strength is being the squad’s most valuable player at a €650k valuation and having broad playing experience in Portugal’s lower divisions; the key watch point is that he has not yet completed his first full season in the Azerbaijan league.
Player Info Card
| Full name | Ricardo Filipe Verde Apolinário |
| Date of birth | 5 May 1999 |
| Age | 27 |
| Place of birth | Marinhais, Portugal |
| Nationality | Portugal |
| Primary position | Midfielder |
| Shirt number | Unknown |
| Current club | Şamaxı (11 July 2025) |
| Contract status | Unknown |
Career History
| Period | Club | Note |
|---|---|---|
| — | Santarém | Portugal |
| — | Coruchense | Portugal |
| — | Alverca | Portugal |
| 2025-present | Şamaxı | Azerbaijan Premier League — since 11 July 2025 |
Born in Marinhais, Portugal, Apolinário began his career at Santarém before playing for Coruchense and Alverca. He left Santarém as a free agent on 11 July 2025 to move to Azerbaijan, joining Şamaxı. A right-footed midfielder, he quickly rose to become the squad’s most valuable player.
Playing Style & Assessment
Apolinário is a defensive midfielder who organises play through the centre, looks for the first pass quickly after winning the ball, and stands out for the game-reading ability he developed in Portuguese football.
Strengths
- Squad’s most valuable player — A €650k market value makes him the most valuable player in Şamaxı’s squad.
- Portuguese league experience — Having played for three different Portuguese clubs points to development in a technically demanding league culture.
- Quick trust from the club — Rising to become the squad’s most valuable player shortly after joining shows the coaching staff placed early trust in him.
Development Areas
- New to Şamaxı — Having joined in July 2025, he has not yet built a large sample in the Azerbaijan league.
- Limited top-flight experience in Portugal — His career spent in Portugal’s lower divisions points to limited top-flight European experience.
- Contract uncertainty — No clear public information on his contract expiry creates a degree of uncertainty for club planning.
Level Projection
Verdict: A defensive midfielder developed in Portugal’s lower divisions who has become Şamaxı’s most valuable player; could be assessed as a rotation option or a competitive first-team option for mid-to-upper table Süper Lig sides seeking build-up play and ball-winning strength.
Sporting Director’s Note
| Current level | Süper Lig competitive rotation |
| Primary role | Midfielder |
| Transfer cost | Data insufficient |
| Key strength | Squad’s most valuable player |
| Key risk | New to Şamaxı |
| Scout verdict | Track live |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ricardo Apolinário? A defensive midfielder who played for three Portuguese clubs before joining Şamaxı in July 2025 and quickly becoming the squad’s most valuable player.
What is Ricardo Apolinário’s market value? At €650k he is the most valuable player in Şamaxı’s squad.
Sources & Methodology
This profile was compiled by cross-referencing Transfermarkt, the club’s official profile page, Wikipedia and accessible football data platforms. Tactical commentary and the level projection are GegenSports editorial assessments.
- Soccerzz — Ricardo Apolinário player profile
- Sofascore — Ricardo Apolinário statistics
- Transfermarkt — FC Shamakhi squad page
