Paulo Daniel Fernandes Tavares (born 9 December 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Campeonato de Portugal side Lusitânia. He made his first team debut with Leixões in May 2004, and then spent the next four years on loan with lower league clubs Padroense, Ribeirão, and Estoril. He played in the Primeira Liga with Leixões in 2008–09, though the club were relegated the following season. He returned to the Primeira Liga when he signed with Vitória Setúbal in July 2012, and remained with the club for four years. He joined English club Port Vale in July 2016. He returned to Portugal and joined Cova da Piedade in August 2017. In February 2018, he travelled to Vietnam to sign for Hồ Chí Minh City. He returned to Portugal to play for Lusitânia in June 2019. Career Leixões Paulo Daniel Fernandes Tavares was born in Massarelos, and began his career in Senhora da Hora. He came through the junior ranks at Leixões to make his first team debut in the Segunda Liga (second tier) on 9 May 2004, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Bruno China in a 1–1 draw with Varzim at the Estádio do Mar. He went on to spend two years at Terceira Divisão (fourth tier) club Padroense, helping them to finish 13th in Série B in 2004–05 and 15th in 2005–06; with the latter campaign seeing the club relegated into the regional leagues (fifth tier). Tavares then joined Ribeirão on loan, making 20 appearances in the 2006–07 campaign as the club finished fourth in Segunda Divisão – Série A (third tier). He then featured in 17 league games in the 2007–08 season, before moving back up to the Liga de Honra (second tier) with Estoril. He scored two goals in 13 league games for Estoril, who ended the 2007–08 season in seventh place. He returned to the first team at Leixões in 2008, with the club now in the Primeira Liga (first tier). Initially a squad player under José Mota, he featured in just four league games in both the 2008–09 and 2009–10 campaigns. The club were relegated in 2009–10, and Tavares played 12 games in the 2010–11 campaign, before he secured a first team place in the 2011–12, scoring seven goals in 34 appearances. Vitória Setúbal Tavares then returned to the Primeira Liga to sign with Vitória Setúbal in July 2012,