Anderson Cruz
Anderson Cruz | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 9, 1996 Luanda, Angola |
| Occupation | Professional footballer |
| Years active | 2015– |
| Known for | Winger for Petro de Luanda (on loan from Rio Ave) and Angola national team |
Anderson Emanuel Castelo Branco Cruz (born 9 April 1996) is an Angolan professional football player who operates primarily as a winger. He is currently on loan at Petro de Luanda from the Portuguese club Rio Ave and represents the Angola national team internationally.
Club career
Originally from Luanda, Cruz relocated to Lisbon when he was four years old and completed his youth training at Varzim S.C.. He began his senior career with Varzim's reserve squad during the 2015–16 campaign.
On 2 February 2016, Cruz was loaned out from Ourense CF to Verín CF, competing in Spain's Tercera División. After returning to Ourense for the 2016–17 season, he contributed ten goals, playing a key role in the club’s promotion to the fourth division.
On 26 August 2017, he transferred to Rápido de Bouzas, a team competing in Spain’s Segunda División B, while still under contract with Ourense. Subsequently, on 18 January 2018, Cruz secured a four-year deal with La Liga outfit Deportivo Alavés but was immediately loaned to their partner club NK Rudeš for the remainder of that season.
Cruz made his professional debut on 11 February 2018 in a 2–2 draw against NK Lokomotiva, and netted his first professional goal five days later during a 2–0 victory over NK Inter Zaprešić.
On 25 May 2018, he was loaned to French Ligue 2 side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard for the entirety of the 2018–19 season. The following year, on 27 July 2019, he joined Spanish Segunda División club CF Fuenlabrada on another loan arrangement.
Cruz signed with Bolivian top-tier club Club Bolívar on 1 September 2020, where he featured in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana tournaments.
He returned to Portugal on 28 January 2021 by signing a contract lasting four and a half years with Rio Ave.
In January 2022, Cruz moved on loan to Angolan team Petro de Luanda; this loan was extended for the 2022–23 season and further renewed for a third consecutive year in July 2023.
International career
Cruz earned his first cap for the Angola national team during a 2–0 victory over Gabon in the qualification rounds for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on 29 March 2021.