Hélio Pinto
Hélio José Ribeiro Pinto (born 29 February 1984) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
| Pinto playing for APOEL in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hélio José Ribeiro Pinto[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 February 1984[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Portimão, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1999 | Portimonense | ||
| 1999–2002 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Benfica B | ||
| 2003–2004 | Benfica | 2 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Sevilla B | 18 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | → Apollon Limassol (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2006–2013 | APOEL | 190 | (16) |
| 2013–2015 | Legia Warsaw | 43 | (7) |
| 2015–2016 | Al-Mesaimeer | 15 | (0) |
| 2016 | Anorthosis | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Kongsvinger | 11 | (0) |
| 2017 | Trikala | 3 | (0) |
| 2017 | Kongsvinger | 10 | (0) |
| 2018 | NorthEast United | 3 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Louletano | 59 | (0) |
| Total | 379 | (25) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002 | Portugal U18 | 2 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Portugal U19 | 14 | (0) |
| 2004 | Portugal U20 | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
A youth product of Benfica, he spent most of his career with APOEL in Cyprus, appearing in 276 competitive matches and winning eight major titles.
Club career
Pinto was born in Portimão, Algarve. A product of S.L. Benfica's youth system, he could never break into the first team, tottalling just five minutes in the Primeira Liga under José Antonio Camacho. His next stop was in Spain with Sevilla FC, where he only appeared for the reserves.[2]
Still owned by Sevilla, Pinto spent the 2005–06 season in Cyprus with Apollon Limassol FC. Being released the summer, his career settled with another team in the country, APOEL FC.[2]
During his spell with APOEL, Pinto was an important member as the club won the Cypriot First Division on four occasions, adding amongst other trophies the domestic cup in 2007–08. He also appeared in all six group-stage games in their first participation in the UEFA Champions League.
Pinto played eight matches in the 2011–12 Champions League, as the Nicosia-based side surprisingly reached the quarter-finals of the competition.[3][4] On 5 June 2013, he signed a three-year contract extension[5] but, later that month, announced he was leaving after seven years.[6]
On 21 June 2013, Pinto agreed to a two-year deal (with an option for another season) with Legia Warsaw from Poland.[7] He was released two years later,[8] moving to the Qatar Stars League with Al-Mesaimeer Sports Club shortly after.[9]
On 2 February 2016, Pinto returned to Cyprus and joined Anorthosis Famagusta FC.[10] The following 28 January, he signed with Greek club Trikala F.C. from Norway's Kongsvinger IL Toppfotball.[11]
Following a stint with Indian Super League franchise NorthEast United FC, Pinto returned to Portugal after 14 years and agreed to a contract at third-tier Louletano D.C. on 15 June 2018.[12]
International career
Pinto gained Cypriot nationality on 27 July 2012, and the Cyprus Football Association subsequently waited for FIFA approval on whether could play for the national team.[13] The governing body eventually ruled he could not represent his adopted nation, after having appeared for Portugal at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.[2]
Career statistics
- As of 28 April 2019[14]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica | 2002–03[15] | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[15] | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Sevilla B | 2004–05[15] | Segunda División B | 18 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| Apollon Limassol (loan) | 2005–06[15] | Cypriot First Division | 25 | 2 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||||
| APOEL | 2006–07[15] | Cypriot First Division | 23 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5 |
| 2007–08[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 1 | 39 | 3 | |
| 2008–09[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 27 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5[a] | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 38 | 5 | |
| 2009–10[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 25 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 12[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 45 | 3 | |
| 2010–11[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6[d] | 1 | — | 34 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2012–13[15][16] | Cypriot First Division | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6[d] | 1 | — | 36 | 6 | ||
| Total | 190 | 16 | 34 | 4 | 48 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 276 | 25 | ||
| Legia Warsaw | 2013–14[16] | Ekstraklasa | 25 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 7[e] | 0 | — | 34 | 7 | |
| 2014–15[16] | Ekstraklasa | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Total | 43 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 8 | ||
| Al-Mesaimeer | 2015–16[16] | Qatar Stars League | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Kongsvinger | 2016[16] | 1. divisjon | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| Trikala | 2016–17[16] | Football League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Kongsvinger | 2017[16] | 1. divisjon | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| NorthEast United | 2017–18[16] | Indian Super League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Louletano | 2018–19[16] | Campeonato de Portugal | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 344 | 26 | 45 | 5 | 58 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 451 | 36 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance in UEFA Cup
- ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c d Appearances in Cypriot Super Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League
Honours
Apollon Limassol
APOEL
- Cypriot First Division: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13[16]
- Cypriot Cup: 2007–08[16]
- Cypriot Super Cup: 2008, 2009, 2011[16]
Legia Warsaw
References
- ^ a b c d "Helio Pinto" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (25 November 2018). ""Acho que foi Deus que me enviou para jogar na Polónia. A minha filha nasceu com o esófago cortado ao meio e os especialistas estavam lá"" ["I think it was God that sent me to play in Poland. My daughter was born with her esophagus split in half and the specialists were there"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ Haslam, Andrew (7 March 2012). "Lyon stunned as APOEL fairy tale continues". UEFA. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ Machado, Catarina (8 March 2012). "APOEL nos quartos da Champions: sim, é verdade" [APOEL in the Champions' last-eight: yes, it's true] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ [Decade of Pinto!] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 5 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ [Helio Pinto thank you] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Helio Pinto i Łukasz Broź w Legii" [Helio Pinto and Łukasz Broź to Legia] (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ "Helio Pinto odchodzi z Legii" [Helio Pinto leaves Legia] (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Pereira, Sérgio (22 June 2015). "Hélio Pinto apresentado no Al-Mesaimeer do Qatar" [Hélio Pinto presented at Qatar's Al-Mesaimeer] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- ^ Hajiloizis, Mario (2 February 2016). "Anorthosis Famagusta announce Hélio Pinto signing". Sigma TV. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Tempelis, Vassilis (28 January 2017). Πήραν και Έλιο Πίντο τα Τρίκαλα [And Trikala got Hélio Pinto] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Alves, Armando (15 June 2018). "Hélio Pinto reforça Louletano" [Hélio Pinto reinforces Louletano]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Κύπριοι υπήκοοι οι Πίντο, Τζούνιορ και Λαμπάν [Pinto, Junior and Laban Cypriot nationals] (in Greek). Cyprus Football Association. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
- ^ Hélio Pinto at FootballDatabase.eu
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Hélio Pinto". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
External links
- at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Hélio Pinto at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
- Hélio Pinto national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)