Sandro Fernando Silva Cunha (born 5 December 1982) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Sandro Cunha
Personal information
Full name Sandro Fernando Silva Cunha[1]
Date of birth (1982-12-05) 5 December 1982 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Fafe, Portugal[1]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1996–1998 Fornelos
1999–2001 Fafe
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Fafe 50 (2)
2004–2005 Porto B 30 (1)
2005–2006 Tourizense 22 (2)
2006–2007 Lixa 25 (0)
2007–2008 Olhanense 19 (1)
2008–2009 Vizela 20 (1)
2009–2013 Gil Vicente 76 (6)
2013–2014 Moreirense 9 (1)
2014–2019 Varzim 134 (12)
2020 Fafe 0 (0)
Total 385 (26)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Born in Fafe, Braga District, Cunha spent five of his first six seasons as a senior in the third division, in representation of AD Fafe, FC Porto B, G.D. Tourizense and F.C. Lixa. In 2007 he upgraded to the Segunda Liga, where he first appeared with S.C. Olhanense.

In the 2010–11 campaign, Cunha contributed 29 games and two goals[2][3] as Gil Vicente F.C. returned to the Primeira Liga after an absence of five years.[4] He made his debut in the competition on 12 August 2011, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–2 home draw against S.L. Benfica.[5] His first goal arrived on 19 May 2013, but in a 1–3 home loss to G.D. Estoril Praia.[6]

In the summer of 2014, after one season in the second tier with Moreirense FC,[7] Cunha signed for Varzim S.C. in the third.[8] He won promotion in his debut campaign with a career-best seven goals,[9] then spent a further four years with the club in division two.[10][11][12]

Cunha returned to Fafe in February 2020.[13] He retired shortly after, however, going on to work as manager in the lower leagues.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sandro" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. ^ Vieira, Mário (16 January 2011). "Gilistas quebram longo jejum" [Gil boys break long fast]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Fátima 1–3 Gil Vicente" (in Portuguese). SAPO. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Gil Vicente festejou título da Liga de Honra e subida à I Liga" [Gil Vicente celebrated Honour League title and promotion to I League] (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  5. ^ Shave, Ben (12 August 2011). "Gil Vicente 2–2 Benfica". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Gil Vicente-Estoril, 1–3: Estendidos ao sol e a cantar de galo" [Gil Vicente-Estoril, 1–3: Laying in the sun and cocky as a rooster]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Sandro reforça Moreirense" [Sandro bolsters Moreirense]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Varzim: Revolução para a subida" [Varzim: Revolution for promotion]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Varzim promovido à Segunda Liga" [Varzim promoted to the Second League]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Varzim-Fafe, 2–1: Poveiros vencem com reviravolta no segundo tempo" [Varzim-Fafe, 2–1: Men from Póvoa come from behind in second half]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 December 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  11. ^ "COMENTÁRIO: Varzim e Gil Vicente empatam em jogo com maior emoção no segundo tempo" [COMMENTARY: Varzim and Gil Vicente draw in match of more excitement in the second half]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 19 August 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Varzim-Oliveirense, 1–1: Empate nos descontos 'estraga' estreia de César Peixoto" [Varzim-Oliveirense, 1–1: Injury-time draw 'ruins' debut for César Peixoto]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 March 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  13. ^ Maia, João (26 February 2020). "Um novo treinador confirmado e vários reforços no Campeonato de Portugal" [New manager confirmed and several additions in the Campeonato de Portugal]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Futebol: Sandro Cunha é o novo treinador do Ribeirão FC" [Football: Sandro Cunha is the new manager of Ribeirão FC] (in Portuguese). Cidade Hoje. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
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