Manuel Fernandes (footballer born 1951)

Manuel Fernandes

Personal information
Full name	Manuel José Tavares Fernandes
Date of birth	5 June 1951 (1951-06-05) (age 60)
Place of birth	Sarilhos Pequenos, Portugal
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1967–1969	Sarilhense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1969–1975	CUF	132	(38)
1975–1987	Sporting CP	326	(189)
1987–1988	Vitória Setúbal	28	(16)
National team
1975–1987	Portugal	31	(7)
Teams managed
1988–1990	Vitória Setúbal
1990–1991	Estrela Amadora
1991–1992	Ovarense
1992–1994	Sporting CP (assistant)
1994–1996	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
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Manuel José Tavares Fernandes (born 5 June 1951 in Sarilhos Pequenos, Moita, Setúbal) is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a striker, and a current coach.

One of the country's most prolific goalscorers, his playing career was mainly associated with Sporting, which he later also coached. At 386 goals in all official competitions, he is the second-highest goalscorer in the club's history.^[1][2]

Club career

Playing

Fernandes started his career with local club Grupo Desportivo da CUF, scoring 38 times in five years. In 1975, got his first break, joining first division giants Sporting Clube de Portugal, finding the net more than 250 times in official matches, only trailing legendary Fernando Peyroteo, who scored over 500.

In 1985–86, at the ripe age of 34/35, Fernandes produced his best individual season, scoring 30 times – winning the Bola de Prata – for the eventual third-placed team, behind F.C. Porto and S.L. Benfica.

On 14 December 1986, Fernandes had arguably his finest moment as a professional, when he scored four times to help to the home demolition of Benfica, 7–1. After that season in Lisbon, he closed out his career with Vitória de Setúbal – reuniting with former Sporting teammate Rui Jordão – adding a further 16 goals to his tally, and retiring at 37. During 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 7th place.

Manager

Fernandes began his coaching career with Setúbal in 1988, and stayed with the club a further year (it would be the club with which he would have the most spells). Then, he went on to manage several clubs: C.F. Estrela da Amadora, A.D. Ovarense, S.C. Campomaiorense, F.C. Tirsense, C.D. Santa Clara, F.C. Penafiel and Atlético Sport Aviação – the Azores team would be the first from the region to play in the topflight.

With Sporting, Fernandes had already served as an assistant, to England's Bobby Robson, leaving the club after the head coach was sacked. In 2001, he had a short spell as head manager for the Lions,^[3] winning the domestic Supercup before leaving his post later in the year.

In October 2009, after a successful second division promotion with União de Leiria, and having already started the following first division campaign, Fernandes bought out his contract and returned to struggling Setúbal, for a third stint,^[4] which ended on 1 March 2011.

International career

For Portugal, Fernandes played 31 times scoring seven goals. Even though he had that stellar campaign with Sporting in 1985–86, he was excluded from the squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which was marred by the Saltillo Affair.

Manuel Fernandes: International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
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	1–3	2–4	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 qualification

Honours

Player

• Portuguese League: 1979–80, 1981–82
• Portuguese Cup 1977–78, 1981–82
• Portuguese Supercup: 1982, 1987

Individual

• Portuguese League: Top scorer 1985–86

Manager

• Portuguese Supercup: 2001

References

1. ^ Manel pede 12 golos a Van Wolfswinkel (Manel asks for 12 goals from Van Wolfswinkel); O Jogo, 24 October 2011 (Portuguese)
2. ^ Saídas sem glória (Departures without glory); Correio da Manhã (Portuguese)
3. ^ Sporting appoint Fernandes as coach; BBC Sport, 24 January 2001
4. ^ Manuel Fernandes assina por três épocas (Manuel Fernandes signs for three seasons); RTP, 20 October 2009 (Portuguese)

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Coach profile at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Manuel Fernandes (footballer born 1951) at National-Football-Teams.com

Sporting positions
Preceded by Manuel Bento	Portugal national football team captain 1986–1987	Succeeded by Fernando Gomes

Persondata
Name	Fernandes, Manuel
Alternative names
Short description	Portuguese football player/manager
Date of birth	5 June 1951
Place of birth	Sarilhos Pequenos, Portugal
Date of death
Place of death