Jair Tavares
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jair Veiga Vieira Tavares | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 2001 | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2022 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Benfica B | 37 | (4) |
| 2022–2025 | Hibernian | 34 | (2) |
| 2024–2025 | → Motherwell (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2025 | Kauno Žalgiris | 7 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | Portugal U16 | 12 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Portugal U17 | 14 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Portugal U18 | 7 | (3) |
| 2019 | Portugal U19 | 7 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Jair Veiga Vieira Tavares (born 13 February 2001) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger.
Career
Tavares came through the Benfica youth system, and played for their B team during the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.
On 15 June 2022 Tavares joined Scottish club Hibernian for an undisclosed fee[1] on a contract until the summer of 2026.[2] Tavares made limited appearances under the management of Lee Johnson, but he became a first team regular following the appointment of Nick Montgomery.[3][4]
On 30 August 2024, Tavares joined Motherwell on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season.[5] He was released from his contract with Hibs in June 2025.[6]
On 22 August 2025, Tavares joined Kauno Žalgiris.[7][8] On 15 August 2025 he made debut in A Lyga against FK Riteriai. FK Kauno Žalgiris won 6-1.[9][10][11] On 2 November 2025 he scored first goal in A Lyga against FK Panevėžys and FK Kauno Žalgiris won 3–2.[12][13][14] On 1 February 2026 officially announced that Jair Tavares left Kauno Žalgiris Club.[15]
Personal life
Born in Portugal, Tavares is of Cape Verdean descent.[16] He hails from a footballing family, with both of his brothers, Cláudio and Miguel, as well as cousin Renato Sanches, all being professional footballers.[17]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2020–21 | LigaPro | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | 24 | 4 | — | — | — | 24 | 4 | |||||
| Total | 37 | 4 | — | — | — | 37 | 4 | |||||
| Hibernian | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | |||
| Total | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 38 | 2 | |||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |
| Career totals | 79 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 87 | 6 | |||
- Notes
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup
Honours
FK Kauno Žalgiris
References
- ^ "Hibs sign Benfica winger Jair Tavares on four-year deal in 'real coup'". BBC Sport. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Jair Tavares joins Hibernian FC!". Hibernian FC. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Fraser (23 November 2023). "Jair Tavares reveals Hibs 'mental devastation' kept him up at night as he makes Nick Montgomery vow". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ McLauchlin, Brian (24 November 2023). "Montgomery 'proud' of Tavares' resurgence". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Jair Tavares joins on loan". Motherwell FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Jair Tavares Departs Hibs". Hibernian FC. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ J.Tavaresas: „Ieškojau komandos, kuri žaidžia dominuojantį futbolą“
- ^ sportas.lt naujienos: Papildymas „Kauno Žalgirio“ gretose: atvyksta Portugalijos futbolininkas
- ^ 2025-09-14 Kauno Žalgiris 6-1 Riteriai (on alyga.lt)
- ^ 2025-09-14 Kauno Žalgiris 6-1 Riteriai (on Soccerway)
- ^ FK KAUNO ŽALGIRIS 6-1 FK RITERIAI (on lietuvosfutbolas.lt)
- ^ 2025-11-02 Kauno Žalgiris 3-2 Panevėžys (on alyga.lt)
- ^ 2025-11-02 Kauno Žalgiris 3-2 Panevėžys (on Soccerway)
- ^ KAUNO ŽALGIRIS 3–2 PANEVĖŽYS (on lietuvosfutbolas.lt)
- ^ FK „Kauno Žalgiris“ atsisveikino su J.Tavaresu (FK Kauno Žalgiris site)
- ^ "Ex-Benfica reage a alegado racismo: "O tempo passa e nada muda"". Maisfutebol.
- ^ "Irmãos Tavares convocados para a visita à Luz". record.pt (in Portuguese). 9 January 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ Jair Tavares at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Jair Tavares at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- ^ "A Lyga - Lietuvos Futbolas". lietuvosfutbolas.lt (in Lithuanian).