In June 2007, after another stint at Bragança, Borges signed for Segunda Liga side Trofense.[1] He made his professional debut on 4 August, starting in a 2–1 home win over Feirense for the season's Taça da Liga, but only featured rarely and was subsequently loaned to third division club Moreirense in January 2008.
Borges signed a permanent deal with Moreirense after his loan spell, but returned to Mirandela in 2009. He scored a career-best 12 goals during the 2010–11 season, helping in the club's promotion to the third level after two years.
On 6 June 2012, Borges agreed to a contract with Famalicão.[2] After being regularly used, he moved to Freamunde in June 2013, but left in September to return to Bragança.[3]
In July 2015, Borges was announced back at his first club Mirandela.[4] He was a regular starter during his two-year spell, and retired in June 2017, aged 35.
Coaching career
Early career
Immediately after retiring, Borges took up coaching at his last club Mirandela.[5] On 5 February 2019, he left to take over second division side Académico de Viseu.[6]
Borges left Viseu on a mutual agreement on 11 July 2020,[7] and was named in charge of fellow league team Académica de Coimbra in the following day.[8] On 22 September 2021, after seven winless matches into the new season, he was sacked,[9] but was appointed Nacional manager just hours later.[10]
Borges announced his departure from Nacional on 18 May 2022,[11] and replaced Filipe Gouveia at the helm of Vilafranquense nine days later.[12] He resigned from the club on 7 February 2023, after having discrepancies with the board,[13] and was named manager of Mafra three days later.[14]
Borges left Mafra on 1 June 2023,[15] and was announced as manager of Primeira Liga side Moreirense on 4 July.[16] On his top-flight debut on 14 August, the team lost 2–1 at home to Porto.[17]
On 5 December 2023, with Moreirense sitting in sixth place in the Primeira Liga, having recently secured a 0–0 draw with Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, Borges signed a three-year contract extension.[18] He finished the campaign in that position, the club's best-ever inputs in the top tier.[19]
^"Bertinho e Rui Borges no Famalicão" [Bertinho and Rui Borges at Famalicão] (in Portuguese). Digital de Vizela. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^"Bragança contratou Rui Borges" [Bragança signed Rui Borges] (in Portuguese). Mensageiro de Bragança. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^"SC Mirandela com treze caras novas" [SC Mirandela with thirteen new faces] (in Portuguese). Mensageiro de Bragança. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
