João Pinto
João Manuel Vieira Pinto CvIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈɐ̃w ˈpĩtu, ˈʒwɐ̃w -]; born 19 August 1971) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played mostly as a forward.
| Pinto in 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | João Manuel Vieira Pinto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 August 1971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Porto, Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1983 | Águias da Areosa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1988 | Boavista | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Boavista | 17 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Atlético Madrileño | 30 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Boavista | 34 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–2000 | Benfica | 220 | (64) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Sporting CP | 115 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Boavista | 57 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Braga | 33 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 506 | (127) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Portugal U16 | 15 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Portugal U18 | 22 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1991 | Portugal U20 | 18 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Portugal U21 | 16 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–2002 | Portugal | 81 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blessed with playmaking and goalscoring ability, he made his name mostly at a domestic level and as a key figure in the Portuguese national team's "Golden Generation",[1] collecting 152 caps and scoring 47 goals all categories comprised (81/23 for the senior team alone) and representing the country in one World Cup and two European Championships.
At the club level, Pinto started his career with Boavista, but it was mainly associated with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting, with which he won one Primeira Liga each for a total of six major titles combined. Over 19 top-division seasons, he played 450 matches and netted 112 goals.
Career edit
As a youth, Pinto played for Bairro do Falcão (where he was born, in Campanhã, Porto's east side) and Águias da Areosa FC, and once tried to join FC Porto's youth system – refused, he moved to Boavista F.C. instead. As a child, he impressed with his speed and ball control, and was subsequently one of the brightest stars in Portugal's wins in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Riyadh and Lisbon, being one of three players ever to have been on the winning side in this competition twice, along with goalkeeper Fernando Brassard (whom however did not play in the first tournament) and Argentinian Sergio Agüero;[2][3][4] additionally, he made his Primeira Liga debut at only 17.
Pinto's performance in the first youth competition earned him a transfer to Atlético Madrid in 1990, but he was placed instead with the club's B-team. After a forgettable season he rejoined Boavista, played every game, scored eight goals and helped his team win the 1992 Portuguese Cup, in a final against city rivals Porto; shortly after, he signed with S.L. Benfica.
Whilst with Benfica, Pinto's career was threatened in late 1992 by a collapsed lung during an international match for Portugal in Scotland for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers[5]– he did recover, but was unable to help the team win the title. However, in the next season, he played arguably his best football there, his best moment coming in the Lisbon derby against Sporting CP, where he scored three goals and was on the play of the remaining three in a 6–3 win at the Estádio José Alvalade; this result proved to be decisive for the club's clinching of the 1994 national championship.[6][5]
Dubbed "The Golden Boy", Pinto won club captaincy from veteran António Veloso after the latter's retirement in 1995, but was unable to win a national title again. Arguably, the lack of quality of a poorly managed Benfica side played a part in his lack of development after 1995, as he was considered as the main talent of the Portugal squad alongside playmaker Rui Costa. Finally, after a wage dispute with president João Vale e Azevedo,[7] he was released from contract weeks before the UEFA Euro 2000 (making him the only free-agent in the competition),[8] where he helped the national team reach the semi-finals after scoring eight goals during the qualifying stage: on 13 June 2000, he netted through a header against England for a 3–2 group stage win, after a two-goal disadvantage;[9] he was also selected for Euro 1996.[10][11]
After the end of the tournament Pinto had several offers from abroad, and after almost signing with Porto he settled for Sporting instead, agreeing to a four-year deal.[12] After a relatively poor season in 2000–01, the Lions hired four-time Portuguese Golden Boot winner Mário Jardel, and Pinto returned to his golden years in a magnificent run which ended with the conquest of his second title; named the "father of the team" by the Brazilian, he played all but one game and scored nine goals.[13]
Although a highly talented player, Pinto was also known for a series of red cards for aggression and bad tackles – his feud with Porto player and national teammate Paulinho Santos lasted for years, and both players would be frequently sent off after hitting each other.[14] Other incidents that stirred some controversy included one case of aggression against a fireman during the half-time break and elbowing a C.F. Estrela da Amadora player during a practice match.
The lowest point, however, was when Pinto hit Argentine referee Ángel Sánchez (in the third group stage game, against South Korea, at the 2002 World Cup), who had sent him off after a bad tackle early in the match.[15] He was suspended for six months.[16]
Pinto ended his Portugal career with 81 caps, 23 goals, and appearances in Euro 1996, Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup. Never recovering fully from the incident at the latter tournament, he failed to impress in the following seasons, when Sporting failed to reach the top two spots, and in 2004 he was released from contract, returning to Boavista. Although he was close to signing with Al-Hilal FC of Saudi Arabia in the January transfer window, he remained with his first professional club.[17]
After a second season carrying Boavista's squad (who almost qualified for UEFA Cup, with him scoring nine league goals and receiving numerous Player of the match awards), Pinto accepted the invitation of S.C. Braga's board in July 2006,[18] signing for one year. He netted twice in 24 appearances in an eventual fourth-place finish for the Minho side, and extended his contract for the 2007–08 campaign;[19] however, during February 2008, he trained with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and, late into that month, announced the termination of his contract at Braga,[20] retiring shortly after at nearly 37 years of age.[5]
Subsequently, Pinto worked with the Portuguese Football Federation in directorial capacities.[21][22][23]
Personal life edit
Still in his teens, Pinto had two children from his first marriage to Carla Baía.[24][5] The elder, Tiago, first played professionally with C.D. Olivais e Moscavide;[25] in 2008 he married television presenter Marisa Cruz, with the couple divorcing five years later.[24]
Pinto's younger brother, Sérgio, was also a footballer, having played almost exclusively in the lower leagues of Portugal and one year in England.[26]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boavista | 1988–89 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 5 | |
| Total | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 5 | |
| Atlético Madrid B | 1990–91 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boavista | 1991–92 | 34 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 8 |
| Benfica | 1992–93 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 9 |
| 1993–94 | 34 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 44 | 18 | |
| 1994–95 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 36 | 6 | |
| 1995–96 | 31 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 42 | 23 | |
| 1996–97 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 16 | |
| 1997–98 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 7 | |
| 1998–99 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 36 | 7 | |
| 1999–2000 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| Total | 220 | 64 | 30 | 14 | 44 | 11 | 294 | 89 | |
| Sporting | 2000–01 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 7 |
| 2001–02 | 33 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 44 | 12 | |
| 2002–03 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 | |
| 2003–04 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| Total | 115 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 142 | 32 | |
| Boavista | 2004–05 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
| 2005–06 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 10 | |
| Total | 57 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 13 | |
| Braga | 2006–07 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| 2007–08 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| Total | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| Career total | 476 | 117 | 56 | 20 | 75 | 15 | 605 | 152 | |
International edit
- Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pinto goal.[29][30]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 November 1991 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal | Greece | 1–0 | 1–0 | Euro 1992 qualifying |
| 2 | 19 June 1993 | Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal | Malta | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 13 October 1993 | Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal | Switzerland | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1994 World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 9 October 1994 | Daugava Stadium (Riga), Riga, Latvia | Latvia | 1–1 | 3–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 5 | 9 October 1994 | Daugava Stadium (Riga), Riga, Latvia | Latvia | 2–0 | 3–1 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 6 | 18 December 1994 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal | Liechtenstein | 4–0 | 8–0 | Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 7 | 19 June 1996 | City Ground, Nottingham, England | Croatia | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 |
| 8 | 5 October 1996 | Olimpiysky National Sports Complex, Kyiv, Ukraine | Ukraine | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 7 June 1997 | Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal | Albania | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 14 October 1998 | Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava, Slovakia | Slovakia | 1–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 11 | 14 October 1998 | Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava, Slovakia | Slovakia | 2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 12 | 26 March 1999 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (1965), Guimarães, Portugal | Azerbaijan | 2–0 | 7–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 13 | 26 March 1999 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (1965), Guimarães, Portugal | Azerbaijan | 5–0 | 7–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 14 | 9 June 1999 | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | Liechtenstein | 2–0 | 8–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 15 | 9 June 1999 | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | Liechtenstein | 5–0 | 8–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 16 | 9 June 1999 | Estádio Municipal de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | Liechtenstein | 6–0 | 8–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 17 | 18 August 1999 | Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal | Andorra | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 18 | 9 October 1999 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal | Hungary | 2–0 | 3–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 19 | 12 June 2000 | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands | England | 2–2 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 20 | 16 August 2000 | Estádio do Fontelo, Viseu, Portugal | Lithuania | 1–0 | 5–1 | Friendly |
| 21 | 6 June 2001 | Estádio José Alvalade (1956), Lisbon, Portugal | Cyprus | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 22 | 6 June 2001 | Estádio José Alvalade (1956), Lisbon, Portugal | Cyprus | 6–0 | 6–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 23 | 6 October 2001 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal | Estonia | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
Honours edit
Boavista
Benfica[31]
- Primeira Liga: 1993–94
- Taça de Portugal: 1992–93, 1995–96
Sporting
- Primeira Liga: 2001–02
- Taça de Portugal: 2001–02
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2000
Portugal
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1989, 1991
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 1994
- UEFA European Under-18 Championship runner-up: 1988, 1990
- UEFA European Under-16 Championship runner-up: 1988
Individual
- CNID Footballer of the Year: 1992, 1993, 1994
- Portuguese Golden Ball: 1993, 1996
- SJPF Player of the Month: February 2006
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Retirement beckons for João Pinto". UEFA. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Agüero, para entrar en la historia" [Agüero, out to make history]. La Nación (in Spanish). 21 July 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ Ribeiro, Ireneu (20 August 2011). "Geração de ouro faz 20 anos" [Golden generation celebrates 20th birthday]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (3 March 2014). "Riade, 25 anos: como foi e onde estão os campeões" [Riyadh, 25 anos: how did it go and where are the champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Costa, Luís Octávio (30 July 2008). "João Pinto – Pai aos 16, campeão do mundo aos 18, disponível aos 36" [João Pinto – Father at 16, world champion at 18, available at 36]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ Malheiro, João (July 2006). Memorial Benfica 100 Glórias [Benfica Memorial 100 glories] (in Portuguese) (Third ed.). QuidNovi. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-972-8998-26-4.
- ^ "João Pinto rescinde com Benfica" [João Pinto cuts ties with Benfica]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 June 2000. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ ""João Pinto tinha lugar no Benfica, mas quisemos cortar com o passado", diz Heynckes" [«João Pinto had a place in Benfica, but we wanted to put the past behind our backs», says Heynckes] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 15 July 2000. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ "England crushed in five-goal classic". BBC Sport. 13 June 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ Hodgson, Guy (1 June 1996). "The rising force in Europe counting on their foreign legion; CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN: No 9 Portugal". The Independent. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ "Portugal progress as Group D winners". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ . ESPN Soccernet. 2 July 2000. Archived from the original on 10 August 2001. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Overdose de ovos moles e outras histórias de Jardel" [Overdose on soft eggs and other Jardel stories]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 5 December 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ Candeias, Pedro (9 May 2014). ""O Paulinho Santos entrava e tinha um alvo: João Pinto"" ["Paulinho Santos came in and he had one target: João Pinto"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Porto to ask Sporting questions". UEFA. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ . FIFA. 12 July 2002. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ "João Pinto recebeu convites do estrangeiro" [João Pinto has received offers from abroad]. Público (in Portuguese). 1 June 2005. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ "Braga bag João Pinto's experience". UEFA. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "João Pinto prolongs career at Braga". UEFA. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ . Sportsnet. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
- ^ "FPF cria cargo para João Pinto" [PFF creates post for João Pinto]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 29 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Federação paga salários milionários" [Federation pays monster wages]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 October 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Ponte, Pedro (11 June 2016). "João Vieira Pinto: "Estamos numa fase de trabalho intensa"" [João Vieira Pinto: «We're at an intense work stage»]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ a b Sousa, Ana Lúcia (7 February 2013). "Casamento de Marisa Cruz e João Pinto chegou ao fim" [Marriage of Marisa Cruz and João Pinto ended] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Notícias. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ^ "Tiago Pinto: "Quiero alcanzar un nivel elevado"" [Tiago Pinto: "I want to reach a high level"]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Waddle debut for Bradford at Blues". The Independent. 12 October 1996. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ^ at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- ^ "João Pinto". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "João Manuel Vieira Pinto – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "João Vieira Pinto". European Football. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Bicampeões para a história" [Back-to-back champions for the ages]. Visão (in Portuguese). Portugal: Impresa Publishing. May 2015. p. 60. ISSN 0872-3540.
Further reading edit
- Lopes, Luís (2008). Os Magníficos: João Pinto, o menino de ouro [The Magnificents: João Pinto, the golden boy] (First ed.). QuidNovi. ISBN 978-989-554-500-1.
External links edit
- at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- João Pinto at BDFutbol
- João Pinto national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- João Pinto at National-Football-Teams.com
- – FIFA competition record (archived)