António Simões

António Simões da Costa (pron. IPA2|ɐ̃'tɔniu si'mõĩʃ) (born Corroios, 14 December, 1943) is a legendary Portuguese footballer and a current coach. He played as an extreme-midfielder for Benfica, from 1961/62 to 1974/75. With only 1, 58 m of height, he's seen as the first "Giant Gnome" of Portuguese football, before Rui Barros.

He won the titles of National Champion for Benfica, in 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1970/71, 1971/72, 1972/73 and 1974/75, and the Cup of Portugal, in 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970 and 1972.

Simões was European Champion for SL Benfica, in 1962, at the 5-3 win over Real Madrid, aged only 18.

The Portuguese midfielder had his debut for the National Team the same year. He played for the National Team 46 times, scoring 3 goals. His first appearance was at 6 May 1962, in a 1-2 defeat with Brazil, in a friendly match. He was a member of the "Magriços" side that reached 3 rd place in the 1966 World Cup in England, like his Benfica colleagues, Mário Coluna, Eusébio, José Augusto and José Torres. He did the leading goal in the 3-1 win over Brazil.

Simões missed the team that reached the Independence Brazil Cup final, in 1972, because of an injury, and had his last game, at 13 October 1973, in a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria, in the World Cup qualifyings. He left Benfica in 1975, moving to the U.S., where he signed with the Boston Minutemen of the North American Soccer League. He spent two seasons in Boston before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes in 1976. He finished the 1977 season in San Jose, then played for the Dallas Tornado in 1979. ^{[http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Simoes.Antonio.htm]}

He has been, since then, a football manager and the female National Team trainer.