Ricardo Alves Coelho da Silva

Olimpija In the summer of 2015, after a short spell in Romania with FC Rapid București, Alves signed with NK Olimpija Ljubljana from the Slovenian PrvaLiga. He made his debut in top-flight football on 8 August, starting and scoring in a 2–0 away victory over NK Krško.

Alves and his team won the double in the 2017–18 campaign, with the player contributing a career-best ten league goals to the feat and adding one and two assists in the final of the domestic cup against NK Aluminij (6–1 in Ljubljana).

Later career On 6 September 2018, Alves joined Russian Premier League club FC Orenburg. On 2 October 2020, his contract was terminated by mutual consent; he remained in the country nonetheless, moving to Football National League side PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara in February 2021.

Alves agreed to an 18-month contract with FC Kairat on 13 July 2021. One year later, he left for the Persian Gulf Pro League with Tractor SC. He won the national championship in his third season with the latter; one of his three goals was scored in the decisive match, from a penalty kick to close a 4–0 away win over Shams Azar FC.

Alves continued in the Iranian top division for 2025–26, with the 32-year-old joining Sepahan SC. The transfer sparked protests from Tractor, who claimed that he had a registered three-year contract with them. They subsequently filed a complaint with FIFA against both the club and the player; additionally, Alves took to the governing body to press charges against the Iranian Football League, citing lack of expedition in the handling of his case.

Career statistics

Honours Belenenses Segunda Liga: 2012–13

Olimpija Ljubljana Slovenian PrvaLiga: 2015–16, 2017–18 Slovenian Football Cup: 2017–18

Tractor Persian Gulf Pro League: 2024–25