*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 February 2020
Valmiro Lopes Rocha (born 23 April 1981), known as Valdo, is a former Cape Verdean professional footballer who played mainly as a winger.
Valdo had played for several clubs in La Liga during his professional career, notably Osasuna, Espanyol and Levante. Over 12 seasons in the competition, he appeared in 258 matches and scored 34 goals.
Early years
Valdo was born in Villablino, León, in the region of Laciana, where his parents had moved after migrating from Cape Verde to work in the coal mines.[1]
He started playing football with the amateur side CF Pozuelo de Alarcón in Madrid and stayed there for the following seven years.
RCD Espanyol signed Valdo at the end of 2006–07 to a four-year deal.[7] He played his first game for the Barcelona-based side against CF Peralada during the pre-season.
On 14 July 2009, after having appeared sparingly, Valdo moved to Málaga CF in a season-long loan. After being dropped from the squad for several months due to his bad performances, he was brought back on 27 February 2010; he scored his first goal for the club against Barcelona on the same day, but Málaga lost 1–2 away at Camp Nou.[8]
Levante
On 13 August 2010, Valdo left Espanyol and signed with Levante UD, reuniting with his Málaga teammates Gustavo Munúa and Xavi Torres.[9] He contributed heavily during his first season – 2,119 minutes, 25 starts – as Levante retained their top-flight status, scoring against Getafe CF in a 2–0 home win[10] and Villarreal CF for a 1–0 away victory.[11]