Eric Botteghin


Eric Fernando Botteghin is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Portuguesa.

Career

Early career

Botteghin played in the youth academies of Palmeiras and Grêmio Barueri, but was also loaned out to Internacional for one season. In January 2007, after impressing in a youth tournament in Groningen, he moved to Dutch side FC Zwolle.
Botteghin made his professional debut on 26 January 2007, starting in a 4–1 Eerste Divisie home routing of FC Eindhoven. He scored his first goal on 23 February, in a 2–1 home win over Stormvogels Telstar, and established himself as a regular starter afterwards.

NAC Breda

On 31 March 2011, Botteghin agreed to join Eredivisie side NAC Breda, effective as of 1 July. He made his debut in the category on 14 August, coming on as a half-time substitute for Kees Luijckx in a 2–1 away loss to Heracles Almelo.
Botteghin scored his first goal in the top tier of Dutch football on 28 October 2011, netting the opener in a 3–1 home win over VVV-Venlo. He then became an undisputed starter for the side, contributing with 32 league matches in both seasons.

Groningen

On 28 June 2013, Botteghin moved to fellow top tier side FC Groningen, after the club paid € 650,000 for his transfer. He helped the Green-White Army win the KNVB Cup in 2014–15 against defending champions PEC Zwolle; it was their first major trophy and they qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

Feyenoord

On 13 August 2015, Botteghin signed a four-year contract with Feyenoord, for a rumoured fee of € 2.5 million. A backup option, he became a first-choice in January 2016, but suffered a knee injury in September 2017; he still signed a new deal until 2020 in November of that year.
Back to action in January 2018, Botteghin played with the under-23s to regain match fitness, before returning to first team duties in February. On 22 April 2018, he played as Feyenoord won the 2017–18 KNVB Cup final 3–0 against AZ Alkmaar.
In 2019, Botteghin became the captain of Feyenoord, and signed a one-year contract extension with the club on 22 July 2020, keeping him at the club until 2021. He left them after the 2020–21 season, after his contract was not extended.

Ascoli

On 3 August 2021, Botteghin moved to Italy after nearly 14 years, and signed a two-year contract with Serie B side Ascoli. He immediately became a starter, and was a team captain during the 2023–24 season.

Modena

On 17 July 2024, Botteghin moved to fellow second division side Modena on a one-year deal. After only five matches, he left after his contract expired.

Portuguesa

On 21 November 2025, after nearly two decades in Europe, Botteghin returned to his home country and joined Portuguesa.

Personal life

Botteghin is a Brazilian with Italian ancestry; his paternal great-grandfather was originally from Treviso and moved to Brazil during the World War II. Due to that, he is also an Italian citizen through jus sanguinis.

Honours

Groningen
Feyenoord