Manuel Fernandes (footballer, born 1951)

Manuel José Tavares Fernandes (5 June 1951 – 27 June 2024) was a Portuguese football striker and manager.

Manuel Fernandes
Personal information
Full name Manuel José Tavares Fernandes[1]
Date of birth (1951-06-05)5 June 1951[1]
Place of birth Sarilhos Pequenos, Portugal
Date of death 27 June 2024(2024-06-27) (aged 73)
Place of death Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1967–1969 Sarilhense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1975 CUF 132 (34)
1975–1977 Sporting CP 55 (47)
1977 Rochester Lancers
1977–1979 Sporting CP 52 (24)
1979 New England Tea Men
1979–1987 Sporting CP 218 (120)
1987–1988 Vitória Setúbal 28 (16)
Total 485 (241)
International career
1975–1987 Portugal 31 (7)
Managerial career
1988–1990 Vitória Setúbal
1990–1991 Estrela Amadora
1991–1992 Ovarense
1992–1994 Sporting CP (assistant)
1994–1995 Campomaiorense
1996–1997 Tirsense
1997 Vitória Setúbal
1998–2001 Santa Clara
2001 Sporting CP
2003–2005 Penafiel
2007–2008 Atlético Aviação
2008–2009 União Leiria
2009–2011 Vitória Setúbal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His playing career was mainly associated with Sporting CP, which he later also coached. At 255 goals in all competitions, he was the second-highest goalscorer in the club's history.[2][3]

Over 19 seasons, in which he also represented two other teams, Fernandes amassed Primeira Liga totals of 486 matches, an all-time record, and 241 goals.[4]

Club career

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Born in Sarilhos Pequenos, Moita, Setúbal District, Fernandes started his career with local G.D. Fabril, scoring 43 goals in five years.[5] In 1975 he got his first break, joining Primeira Liga (the only tier he competed in in a career which spanned almost two decades) club Sporting CP, netting more than 250 times in official matches and only trailing legendary Fernando Peyroteo who totalled over 500.[6][4]

Halfway through his career at Sporting, Fernandes accepted an offer from the United States to play for the Rochester Lancers for a season in 1977. Two years later, he returned to North American soil to represent the New England Tea Men, a team based in the Greater Boston area.[7][8][9][6]

In 1985–86, aged 34/35, Fernandes produced his best individual season, scoring 30 goals – and winning the Bola de Prata – for the eventual third-placed side, behind FC Porto and S.L. Benfica.[10][11] On 14 December 1986, he had arguably his finest moment as a professional, when he netted four to help to the 7–1 home demolition of Benfica.[12]

After that season in Lisbon, Fernandes closed out his career at Vitória de Setúbal, reuniting with his former Sporting teammate Rui Jordão,[13] adding a further 20 total goals to his tally and retiring at 37.[5] In his last campaign he notably scored against Sporting in a 2–1 home win, mere minutes after kick-off, and the Sadinos finished in a comfortable eighth place.[14][15]

International career

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Fernandes won 31 caps for Portugal, scoring seven goals.[16] Even though he had that stellar campaign with Sporting, he was excluded from the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which was marred by the Saltillo Affair; he still travelled to Mexico with the squad, later telling the media: "But I wasn't in Saltillo. I watched the games and that was it. I went on vacation near Guadalajara."[17]

Coaching career

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Fernandes began his coaching career with Setúbal in 1988, and stayed with them a further year (several other spells there would befall in the future). Then, he went on to manage several teams: C.F. Estrela da Amadora, A.D. Ovarense, S.C. Campomaiorense, F.C. Tirsense, C.D. Santa Clara; the Azores club would be the first from the region to play in the Portuguese top division.[18][5]

With Sporting, Fernandes had already served as an assistant to England's Bobby Robson, leaving following the head coach's dismissal. In January 2001 he began a short managerial spell with the Lions,[19] winning the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira before quitting his post later that year.[20]

In October 2009, after a successful promotion from the Segunda Liga with U.D. Leiria, and having already started the following top-flight campaign, Fernandes bought out his contract and returned to struggling Setúbal for a third stint,[21] which ended on 1 March 2011.[22]

Personal life and death

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Fernandes' son Tiago was also a football player and manager.[23] In December 2020, Sporting dedicated Gate 7 of the Estádio José Alvalade to him.[24]

In May 2024, Sporting chairman Frederico Varandas and club footballer Viktor Gyökeres visited Fernandes in hospital with the league championship cup, before reception at Lisbon City Hall.[25] He died on 27 June at age 73, three days after surgery for a tumor.[26]

Career statistics

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Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fernandes goal.
List of international goals scored by Manuel Fernandes
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[27]
1 17 November 1976 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal   Denmark 1–0 1–0 1978 World Cup qualification
2 9 October 1977 Idrætsparken, Copenhagen, Denmark   Denmark 3–1 4–2 1978 World Cup qualification
3 29 October 1977 Silesian Stadium, Chorzow, Poland   Poland 1–1 1–1 1978 World Cup qualification
4 16 November 1977 Estádio de São Luís, Faro, Portugal   Cyprus 4–0 4–0 1978 World Cup qualification
5 18 November 1981 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal   Scotland 1–1 2–1 1982 World Cup qualification
6 18 November 1981 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal   Scotland 2–1 2–1 1982 World Cup qualification
7 29 October 1986 Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland    Switzerland 1–1 1–1 Euro 1988 qualifying

Honours

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Player

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Sporting CP

Individual

Manager

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Sporting CP

  • Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2000[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b Manuel Fernandes at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Simas, Nuno Miguel (18 June 2011). "Saídas sem glória" [Departures without glory]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ^ Cortez, Rodrigo (24 October 2011). "Manel pede 12 golos a Van Wolfswinkel" [Manel asks for 12 goals from Van Wolfswinkel]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Manuel Fernandes homenageado pelo recorde de jogos na 1.ª Divisão" [Manuel Fernandes honoured for record games in the 1st Division]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "A carreira de Manuel Fernandes em números" [Manuel Fernandes' career in numbers]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b Botelho, António (27 June 2024). "De Sarilhos a um sarilho para adversários. Manuel Fernandes apaixonou-se pelo Sporting pela mãe e a ouvir relatos" [From Sarilhos to trouble for his opponents (pun on his birthplace). Manuel Fernandes fell in love with Sporting because of his mother and listening to broadcasts] (in Portuguese). TSF. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Futebol de luto por Manuel Fernandes" [Football mourns Manuel Fernandes] (in Portuguese). Setúbal Football Association. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Morreu Manuel Fernandes" [Manuel Fernandes has died] (in Portuguese). Sindicato dos Jogadores. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Manuel Fernandes". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b Claro, Paulo; Preston, Simon; Nunes, João; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Portugal – List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  11. ^ Rodrigues, Berta; Marques, David (28 June 2024). "Manuel Fernandes, a paixão em forma de golos: memórias do leão eterno" [Manuel Fernandes, passion dressed up as goals: memories of the eternal lion] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  12. ^ ""Campeonatos há muitos, mas um jogo como o dos 7–1 há só um"" ["There are many championships, but only one game like that of the 7–1"]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 10 December 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  13. ^ Fernandes, Nuno (18 October 2019). "Morreu Rui Jordão, o grande goleador que se zangou com o futebol" [Death of Rui Jordão, the great goalscorer who became angry with football]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  14. ^ Pereira, David (19 January 2018). "Trocaram de clube mas continuaram de verde e branco" [They changed club but remained in green and white]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  15. ^ Teixeira, Jorge Miguel. "Portugal 1987–88". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  17. ^ Candeias, Pedro (19 April 2011). "Manuel Fernandes: "O Torres não pensou pela cabeça dele quando me deixou de fora"" [Manuel Fernandes: "Torres was not thinking for himself when he left me out"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Santa Clara agradece ao antigo treinador Manuel Fernandes" [Santa Clara thank former manager Manuel Fernandes]. Açoriano Oriental (in Portuguese). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Sporting appoint Fernandes as coach". BBC Sport. 24 January 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  20. ^ a b "Manuel Fernandes de saída" [Manuel Fernandes leaving]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Manuel Fernandes assina por três épocas" [Manuel Fernandes signs for three seasons] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  22. ^ "News round-up: Fernandes leaves Vitoria Setubal – official". PortuGOAL. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  23. ^ "Quem é Tiago Fernandes? O treinador que não precisa que lhe ensinem de futebol" [Who is Tiago Fernandes? The manager who does not need teaching about football] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Porta 7 do estádio José Alvalade passa a ter o nome de Manuel Fernandes" [José Alvalade stadium's Gate 7 to be named after Manuel Fernandes]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 14 December 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Varandas e Gyokeres visitaram Manuel Fernandes (com 'companhia' especial)" [Varandas and Gyokeres visited Manuel Fernandes (with special 'company')] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Morreu Manuel Fernandes" [Manuel Fernandes has died]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Manuel Fernandes". European Football. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
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