António Pacheco (footballer, born 1966) explained

António Pacheco
Full Name:António Manuel Pacheco Domingos
Birth Date:1 December 1966
Birth Place:Portimão, Portugal
Death Place:Faro, Portugal
Height:1.74 m
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:1979–1980
Youthclubs1:Torralta
Youthyears2:1980–1981
Youthclubs2:Portimonense
Youthyears3:1981–1985
Youthclubs3:Torralta
Years1:1985–1986
Caps1:31
Goals1:8
Years2:1986–1987
Caps2:23
Goals2:0
Years3:1987–1993
Caps3:162
Goals3:30
Years4:1993–1995
Caps4:22
Goals4:2
Years5:1995–1996
Caps5:6
Goals5:0
Years6:1996–1998
Caps6:14
Goals6:1
Years7:1998
Caps7:8
Goals7:0
Years8:1999
Caps8:16
Goals8:5
Years9:1999–2000
Caps9:27
Goals9:4
Years10:2000–2001
Caps10:8
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:317
Totalgoals:50
Nationalyears1:1985
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1986–1987
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:1989–1991
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:2001
Managerclubs1:Atlético
Manageryears2:2004–2005
Managerclubs2:Portimonense

António Manuel Pacheco Domingos (1 December 1966 – 20 March 2024), known as Pacheco, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a winger.

Club career

Born in Portimão, Algarve, Pacheco started playing with local sides Torralta and Portimonense, making his debut in the Primeira Liga with the latter in the 1986–87 season.[1] Subsequently, aged just 20, he signed for Benfica, going on to remain with the club for the next six years and help in the conquest of four major titles.[2] [3]

Pacheco contributed five goals in 26 matches in the 1988–89 campaign, as the Lisbon team won the national championship.[4] He was also in the starting XI when they lost two European Cup finals in three years, in 1988[5] and 1990.[6]

Pacheco joined neighbouring Sporting CP in summer 1993, alongside teammate Paulo Sousa.[7] From there onwards, however, he received little continuity due to injuries as well as a run-in with Sporting manager Carlos Queiroz, and totalled only 50 league appearances in five years,[8] also representing Belenenses, Reggiana of the Italian Serie A and Santa Clara; he retired in 2001 at the age of 34, after three seasons in the lower leagues.[9]

In 1996, Pacheco went on trial with Premier League club Sunderland, but was not offered a permanent contract.[10] He amassed Portuguese top-division totals of 213 games and 32 goals over one decade, and later worked as a manager at Atlético Clube de Portugal (third tier)[11] and Portimonense (Segunda Liga).[12] [13]

International career

Pacheco earned six caps for Portugal in two years, all as a Benfica player.[14] His first appearance was on 15 February 1989, as he came on as a 60th-minute substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Belgium for the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers;[15] in the process, he became the first footballer born in Portimão to represent the national team.[1]

Style of play

Pacheco distinguished himself for the quality of his wide dribbling, fast progression on the field and accurate left-footed crosses.[16] The Portuguese Football Federation remembered him as a virtuoso of football.[17]

Personal life and death

After retiring, Pacheco ran a bar in Lagos.[18] He died in Faro on 20 March 2024, aged 57. He was firstly taken to Portimão hospital but later was transported to Faro by helicopter as he needed cardiology care and this was not available in the former city. He had fallen ill the previous week during a bowling game he attended with friends in Praia da Rocha, he lost consciousness after suffering a cardiac arrest; despite recovery efforts, he never regained consciousness and was declared brain dead the following day.[19]

Honours

Benfica

1988–89, 1990–91[15]

1992–93[15]

1989[15]

Sporting CP

Notes and References

  1. News: Pacheco, o portimonense que torce pela vitória do Benfica. Pacheco, the Portimão native who roots for Benfica's win. Diário de Notícias. Carlos. Nogueira. pt. 10 February 2018. 22 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Portimonense-Benfica: "Ligaram-me da Luz para a praia: 'queres vir?'". Portimonense-Benfica: "I got a call from the Luz to the beach: 'do you want to come?'". Mais Futebol. Pedro Jorge. Cunha. João Tiago. Figueiredo. pt. 8 February 2018. 11 November 2021.
  3. News: António Pacheco antevê "Benfica com medo" em Portimão. António Pacheco thinks "Benfica will be scared" in Portimão. Record. Armando. Alves. pt. 7 June 2020. 11 November 2021.
  4. Web site: Esquadrão Imortal – Benfica 1987–1991. Immortal Squad – Benfica 1987–1991. Imortais do Futebol. pt. 3 September 2023. 22 March 2024.
  5. News: PSV-Benfica, 0–0 (6–5 g.p.): Penáltis da desgraça. PSV-Benfica, 0–0 (6–5 p.k.): Penalties of doom. Record. pt. 13 May 2013. 6 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Champions' Cup 1989–90. RSSSF. James. M. Ross. 4 September 2015.
  7. News: Quando Sousa Cintra levou Paulo Sousa e Pacheco. When Sousa Cintra took Paulo Sousa and Pacheco. Record. pt. 5 June 2018. 19 December 2018.
  8. News: Pacheco, pé esquerdo desconcertante e um inesquecível 'verão quente'. Pacheco, unsettling left foot and an unforgettable 'hot summer'. Record. pt. 20 March 2024. 21 March 2024.
  9. News: "O que se passa agora não é rivalidade, é estupidez pura". Pacheco, o algarvio que jogou no Benfica e no Sporting. "What's happening now is not rivalry, it's sheer stupidity". Pacheco, the Algarvean who played for Benfica and Sporting. Observador. Mariana. Fernandes. pt. 3 August 2019. 6 December 2023.
  10. News: Reid is keen on Stelea. Sunderland Echo. 15 July 1996. 16 June 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140822010818/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/reid-is-keen-on-stelea-1-1101513. 22 August 2014.
  11. Web site: Pacheco, o início de uma nova etapa. Pacheco, the beginning of a new spell. TVI 24. pt. 18 February 2001. 21 March 2024.
  12. News: António Pacheco deve continuar. António Pacheco likely to continue. Record. pt. 11 May 2004. 21 March 2024.
  13. News: Diamantino é aposta. They bet on Diamantino. Record. pt. 20 April 2005. 21 March 2024.
  14. Web site: Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses. Complete list of Portuguese internationals. Mais Futebol. pt. 18 February 2004. 11 November 2021.
  15. Web site: Morreu Pacheco. Pacheco has died. SAPO. Francisco. Chaveiro Reis. pt. 21 March 2024. 21 March 2024.
  16. News: 100 anos: António Pacheco. 100 years: António Pacheco. Record. pt. 23 January 2004. 21 March 2024.
  17. Web site: FPF lembra Pacheco: «Um virtuoso do futebol, deixa-nos demasiado cedo». PFF remembers Pacheco: "A football virtuoso, he leaves us too soon". Mais Futebol. pt. 20 March 2024. 21 March 2024.
  18. News: Ex-jogador do Benfica e Sporting António Pacheco internado após sentir-se mal. Former Benfica and Sporting player António Pacheco admitted after feeling indisposed. Jornal de Notícias. pt. 13 March 2024. 21 March 2024.
  19. Web site: Morreu António Pacheco, ex-Sporting e Benfica, aos 57 anos. Death of António Pacheco, formerly of Sporting and Benfica, aged 57. Notícias ao Minuto. pt. 20 March 2024. 20 March 2024.