António Morato (footballer, born 1964) explained

António Morato
Fullname:António Maurício Farinha Henriques Morato
Birth Date:6 November 1964
Birth Place:Lisbon, Portugal
Height:1.77 m
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:1978–1983
Youthclubs1:Sporting CP
Years1:1983–1989
Years2:1989–1990
Years3:1990–1991
Years4:1991–1993
Years5:1993
Years6:1994
Years7:1995–1996
Clubs5:Estoril
Clubs6:Fanhões
Clubs7:Desportivo Beja
Caps1:141
Caps2:2
Caps3:35
Caps4:38
Caps5:3
Caps6:11
Caps7:1
Totalcaps:231
Goals1:4
Goals2:0
Goals3:0
Goals4:1
Goals5:0
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Totalgoals:5
Nationalyears1:1985–1990
Nationalteam1:Portugal
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0

António Maurício Farinha Henriques Morato (born 6 November 1964) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Relatively short for the position, Lisbon-born Morato quickly imposed himself at local Sporting CP, being an undisputed starter from the age of 19 onwards and making nearly 200 competitive appearances for the capital club before he reached 25. During his spell, he formed a pair of youth graduate stoppers alongside Pedro Venâncio.[1] [2]

Morato then moved to another Primeira Liga side in the summer of 1989, FC Porto, but his one-year stay would be not very successful: he won the only championship in his career but only appeared twice, barred by, amongst others, Belgian international Stéphane Demol.[3]

Morato finished his professional career at only 29, after spells with C.F. Os Belenenses, Gil Vicente F.C. (two years) and G.D. Estoril Praia.

International career

Morato earned six caps for Portugal, being picked for the squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup where he was an unused substitute.[4]

Personal life

Morato's father, also named António, was also an international footballer.[3]

Honours

Sporting CP

1987

Porto

1989–90

Notes and References

  1. News: Carlos Queiroz, Manuel José e Pedro Gomes analisam época natalícia do Sporting. Carlos Queiroz, Manuel José and Pedro Gomes comment on Sporting' Christmas season. Record. pt. 26 December 1999. 8 April 2020.
  2. News: O campeão pelos leões que podia ter mais 200 mil euros na conta. The lions' champion who could have 200 thousand euros more in his account. Diário de Notícias. Isaura. Almeida. pt. 19 November 2017. 8 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Morato: o capitão do Sporting que foi parar às Antas. Morato: the captain of Sporting that wound up at the Antas. Mais Futebol. Magda. Magalhães. pt. 7 May 2014. 20 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses. Complete list of Portuguese internationals. Mais Futebol. pt. 18 February 2004. 27 October 2021.