View text source at Wikipedia
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Manuel José Tavares Fernandes[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 5 June 1951||
Place of birth | Sarilhos Pequenos, Portugal | ||
Date of death | 27 June 2024 | (aged 73)||
Place of death | Lisbon, Portugal | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1967–1969 | Sarilhense | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1969–1975 | CUF | 132 | (34) |
1975–1977 | Sporting CP | 55 | (47) |
1977 | Rochester Lancers | ||
1977–1979 | Sporting CP | 52 | (24) |
1979 | New England Tea Men | ||
1979–1987 | Sporting CP | 218 | (120) |
1987–1988 | Vitória Setúbal | 28 | (16) |
Total | 485 | (241) | |
International career | |||
1975–1987 | Portugal | 31 | (7) |
Managerial career | |||
1988–1990 | Vitória Setúbal | ||
1990–1991 | Estrela Amadora | ||
1991–1992 | Ovarense | ||
1992–1994 | Sporting CP (assistant) | ||
1994–1995 | 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 | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Manuel José Tavares Fernandes (5 June 1951 – 27 June 2024) was a Portuguese football striker and manager.
His playing career was mainly associated with Sporting CP, which he later also coached. At 255 goals in all competitions, he was the second-highest goalscorer in the club's history.[2][3]
Over 19 seasons, in which he also represented two other teams, Fernandes amassed Primeira Liga totals of 486 matches, an all-time record, and 241 goals.[4]
Born in Sarilhos Pequenos, Moita, Setúbal District, Fernandes started his career with local G.D. Fabril, scoring 43 goals in five years.[5] In 1975 he got his first break, joining Primeira Liga (the only tier he competed in in a career which spanned almost two decades) club Sporting CP, netting more than 250 times in official matches and only trailing legendary Fernando Peyroteo who totalled over 500.[6][4]
Halfway through his career at Sporting, Fernandes accepted an offer from the United States to play for the Rochester Lancers for a season in 1977. Two years later, he returned to North American soil to represent the New England Tea Men, a team based in the Greater Boston area.[7][8][9][6]
In 1985–86, aged 34/35, Fernandes produced his best individual season, scoring 30 goals – and winning the Bola de Prata – for the eventual third-placed side, behind FC Porto and S.L. Benfica.[10][11] On 14 December 1986, he had arguably his finest moment as a professional, when he netted four to help to the 7–1 home demolition of Benfica.[12]
After that season in Lisbon, Fernandes closed out his career at Vitória de Setúbal, reuniting with his former Sporting teammate Rui Jordão,[13] adding a further 20 total goals to his tally and retiring at 37.[5] In 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 eighth place.[14][15]
Fernandes won 31 caps for Portugal, scoring seven goals.[16] Even though he had that stellar campaign with Sporting, he was excluded from the 1986 FIFA World Cup squad, with the tournament being marred by the Saltillo Affair; he still travelled to Mexico courtesy of his club, later telling the media: "But I wasn't in Saltillo. I watched the games and that was it. I went on vacation near Guadalajara."[17]
Fernandes began his coaching career with Setúbal in 1988, and stayed with them a further year (several other spells there would befall in the future). Then, he went on to manage several teams: C.F. Estrela da Amadora, A.D. Ovarense, S.C. Campomaiorense, F.C. Tirsense, C.D. Santa Clara; the Azores club would be the first from the region to play in the Portuguese top division.[18][5]
With Sporting, Fernandes had already served as an assistant to England's Bobby Robson, leaving following the head coach's dismissal. In January 2001 he began a short managerial spell with the Lions,[19] winning the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira before quitting his post later that year.[20]
In October 2009, after a successful promotion from the Segunda Liga with U.D. Leiria, and having already started the following top-flight campaign, Fernandes bought out his contract and returned to struggling Setúbal for a third stint,[21] which ended on 1 March 2011.[22]
Fernandes' son Tiago was also a football player and manager.[23] In December 2020, Sporting dedicated Gate 7 of the Estádio José Alvalade to him.[24]
In May 2024, Sporting chairman Frederico Varandas and club footballer Viktor Gyökeres visited Fernandes in hospital with the league championship cup, before reception at Lisbon City Hall.[25] He died on 27 June at age 73, three days after surgery for a tumour.[26]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition[27] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 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 qualifying |
Sporting CP
Individual
Sporting CP