António Fonseca Explained

António Fonseca
Fullname:António Manuel Tavares Fonseca
Birth Date:30 January 1965
Birth Place:Lisbon, Portugal
Height:1.72 m
Position:Left back
Youthyears1:1978–1979
Youthclubs1:SL Olivais
Youthyears2:1979–1980
Youthclubs2:Sporting CP
Youthyears3:1980–1981
Youthclubs3:Oriental
Youthyears4:1981–1982
Youthclubs4:Torralta
Youthyears5:1982–1983
Youthclubs5:Benfica
Years1:1983–1984
Caps1:15
Goals1:0
Years2:1984–1985
Caps2:24
Goals2:0
Years3:1985–1987
Caps3:54
Goals3:1
Years4:1987–1990
Caps4:39
Goals4:1
Years5:1990–1992
Caps5:32
Goals5:0
Years6:1992–1999
Caps6:160
Goals6:2
Years7:1999–2001
Caps7:15
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:339
Totalgoals:4
Nationalyears1:1989–1990
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2002–2004
Managerclubs1:Vancouver Whitecaps
Manageryears2:2007–2012
Managerclubs2:Canada (assistant)
Manageryears3:2009–2012
Manageryears4:2013
Managerclubs4:Canada (interim)

António Manuel Tavares "Tony" Fonseca (born 30 January 1965) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left back, and a technical director for the Canadian Soccer Association.

Over 11 seasons, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 199 games and two goals, representing in the competition Benfica, Vitória de Guimarães and Estrela da Amadora. He finished his career in Canada, where he started working as a manager in 1999.

Club career

Born in Lisbon, Fonseca played youth football for five clubs, finishing his grooming at local S.L. Benfica. From 1983 to 1987 he competed in the Segunda Liga, after which the former bought him from F.C. Tirsense.

During his three-year tenure with Benfica, Fonseca was first-choice in the 1988–89 campaign as the team won the Primeira Liga championship and also reached the final of the Taça de Portugal, but played second-fiddle to Álvaro Magalhães and Samuel Quina in the other two. In eight of the following nine seasons he continued to play in the top flight, with Vitória S.C. and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, appearing regularly for both sides and reuniting at the latter with former Benfica teammates Edmundo, José Carlos, Fernando Mendes and Paulinho.[1]

Fonseca retired from football in 2000 at the age of 35, after two years with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the USL A-League, with whom he later worked as a manager.[2]

International career

Fonseca earned four caps for Portugal, over one year. He made his debut on 29 March 1989, playing the entirety of a 6–0 friendly win over Angola with marked the 75th anniversary of the Portuguese Football Federation.

During five years, Fonseca served as assistant to Stephen Hart and Dale Mitchell at the Canada national team, while also being in charge of the under-23s. Already as a technical director for the Canadian Soccer Association,[3] he acted as interim for the full side following the departure of Colin Miller,[4] who later replaced him after two friendlies.[5]

Personal life

Fonseca married a Portuguese-Canadian woman, fathering two children.[6]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fonseca. Glórias do Passado. Portuguese. 26 June 2008. 22 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Whitecaps FC appoint Carl Robinson as head coach. Vancouver Whitecaps. 16 December 2013. 4 September 2015.
  3. Web site: Canada Soccer announces Fonseca as new technical director. Canada Soccer. 6 November 2012. 4 September 2015.
  4. Web site: Tony Fonseca ready to lead Canada in men's soccer friendlies. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2013. 4 September 2015.
  5. Web site: Canadian men's soccer team drops hard-fought friendly. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 March 2013. 4 September 2015.
  6. News: Soccer yarn about a Portuguese love story. The Globe and Mail. Grant. Kerr. 14 February 2002. 16 July 2020.