Gonçalo Santos Explained

Gonçalo Santos
Fullname:Gonçalo José Gonçalves dos Santos[1]
Birth Date:15 November 1986
Birth Place:Lamego, Portugal
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Fulham (assistant)
Youthyears1:1996–2002
Youthclubs1:Cracks Lamego
Youthyears2:2002–2005
Youthclubs2:Académica
Years1:2005–2011
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2009
Clubs2:Tourizense (loan)
Caps2:84
Goals2:3
Years3:2009–2010
Clubs3:Santa Clara (loan)
Caps3:11
Goals3:0
Years4:2010–2011
Clubs4:Aves (loan)
Caps4:14
Goals4:0
Years5:2011–2014
Caps5:83
Goals5:2
Years6:2014–2017
Caps6:40
Goals6:0
Years7:2015–2017
Caps7:40
Goals7:0
Years8:2017–2018
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2018–2020
Caps9:51
Goals9:1
Years10:2020–2021
Caps10:8
Goals10:1
Years11:2021
Caps11:13
Goals11:0
Totalcaps:350
Totalgoals:7
Manageryears1:2022
Managerclubs1:Real Massamá (assistant)
Manageryears2:2022–2023
Managerclubs2:Estoril (youth)
Manageryears3:2023–2024
Managerclubs3:Casa Pia (assistant)
Manageryears4:2024
Managerclubs4:Casa Pia
Manageryears5:2024–
Managerclubs5:Fulham (assistant)

Gonçalo José Gonçalves dos Santos (born 15 November 1986) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He is currently assistant manager at Premier League club Fulham.

He spent most of his career in two spells at Estoril, making 72 Primeira Liga appearances for that club, Académica and Aves. He added 106 in the second tier for four teams, winning the 2012 title with Estoril. Abroad, he won two consecutive league and cup doubles with Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.

Playing career

Early years

Born in Lamego, Viseu District, Santos completed his development at Académica de Coimbra, where he made three Primeira Liga appearances in February 2009. He also had loans at G.D. Tourizense in the third division and C.D. Santa Clara and C.D. Aves of the second.[2]

Santos joined G.D. Estoril Praia in July 2011.[3] He played 28 matches – all starts – as they won the second tier,[4] scoring once for the game's only at U.D. Oliveirense on 26 February 2012.[5] The following 6 January, he scored his only goal in his country's top flight, consolation in a 1–3 home loss against S.L. Benfica.[6]

Dinamo Zagreb

On 23 June 2014, Santos signed a three-year contract at GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Football League.[7] He made his debut on 11 July in the Super Cup, a 2–1 defeat to HNK Rijeka in which he was substituted at half-time for Marcelo Brozović;[8] he won the league and cup double in each of his first two seasons, but played in neither cup final.[9] [10]

Return to Portugal

In June 2017, Santos returned to his country's top flight with Aves.[11] The following 27 January, after only four competitive appearances, he went back to Estoril.[12] Having been relegated in his first season back, he scored his first goal in over six years on 29 January 2019, opening a 2–1 win over S.C. Braga B at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota;[13] he served as club captain.[14]

After a brief spell at Ethnikos Achna FC of the Cypriot First Division, Santos returned to Portugal's second tier on 27 January 2021, signing an 18-month deal at U.D. Vilafranquense.[15] He retired at the end of the campaign, however, aged 34.[16]

Coaching career

Santos started working as an assistant manager at Liga 3 club Real SC.[17] He returned to Estoril in summer 2022, taking charge of their under-19 side.[18]

For 2023–24, Santos joined top-division Casa Pia A.C. as an assistant. On 16 February 2024, following the sacking of Pedro Moreira, he was appointed their head coach as they sat 16th in the league table.[19] Three months later, having finally finished ninth, he announced his decision to leave.[20]

In July 2024, Santos reunited with his former Estoril boss Marco Silva at Premier League side Fulham, as assistant.[21] [22]

Honours

Estoril

2011–12[4]

Dinamo Zagreb

2014–15,[9] 2015–16[10]

2014–15,[9] 2015–16[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gonçalo. Mais Futebol. pt. 19 January 2021.
  2. News: "Um dia, o Vítor Pereira deu-me umas fotocópias de uma entrevista ao Piqué e só me disse: 'Ando a dizer-te isto há um ano'". "One day, Vítor Pereira gave me some copies of an interview to Piqué and told me only this: 'I've been telling you this since last year'". Expresso. Alexandra. Simões de Abreu. pt. 30 April 2022. 26 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Bruno di Paula é o novo reforço. Bruno di Paula is the new addition. SAPO. pt. 21 July 2011. 9 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Estoril ganha e antecipa festa de subida à I Liga. Estoril win and celebrate promoting to I League sooner than expected. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 6 May 2012. 26 October 2022.
  5. Web site: Honra: super-Estoril já tem onze pontos de vantagem. Honour: super-Estoril already eleven points ahead. Mais Futebol. pt. 26 February 2012. 26 October 2022.
  6. News: Um Marco, cinco jogos e só dois pontos contra o Benfica. One Marco, five games and only two points against Benfica. Observador. Diogo. Pombo. pt. 7 February 2015. 9 October 2022.
  7. Web site: OFICIAL: Gonçalo troca o Estoril pelo D. Zagreb. OFFICIAL: Gonçalo swaps Estoril for D. Zagreb. Mais Futebol. pt. 23 June 2014. 9 October 2022.
  8. News: Dínamo de Zagreb de Eduardo derrotado na Supertaça. Eduardo's Dinamo Zagreb defeated in the Supercup. O Jogo. pt. 11 July 2014. 9 October 2022.
  9. Web site: Dínamo Zagreb garante "dobradinha" com a Taça da Croácia. Dinamo Zagreb guarantee "double" with the Croatian Cup. UEFA. Elvir. Islamović. pt. 21 May 2015. 9 October 2022.
  10. Web site: Portugueses do Dínamo Zagreb fazem a "dobradinha". Dinamo Zagreb's Portuguese do the "double". Rádio Renascença. pt. 10 May 2016. 9 October 2022.
  11. News: Washington assinou pelo Aves, segue-se Vítor Gomes. Washington signed for Aves, Vítor Gomes follows him. O Jogo. João. Maia. Miguel. Gouveia Pereira. pt. 22 June 2017. 9 October 2022.
  12. News: Oficial: Estoril confirma regresso de Gonçalo Santos. Official: Estoril confirm return of Gonçalo Santos. O Jogo. pt. 27 January 2018. 9 October 2022.
  13. Web site: Estoril-Praia SAD 2–1 SC Braga B: A subida ainda é um sonho!. Estoril-Praia SAD 2–1 SC Braga B: Promotion is still a dream!. Bola na Rede. pt. 29 January 2019. 9 October 2022.
  14. News: Gonçalo Santos já se despediu. Gonçalo Santos already said goodbye. Record. pt. 1 June 2020. 9 October 2022.
  15. News: Gonçalo Santos regressa a Portugal para jogar no Vilafranquense. Gonçalo Santos returns to Portugal to play for Vilafranquense. Record. Flávio Miguel. Silva. pt. 27 January 2021. 9 October 2022.
  16. Web site: Gonçalo Santos. Cracks Lamego. pt. 17 February 2024.
  17. News: "Apanhei uma bactéria, fiquei 20 dias internado, fiz três cirurgias para limpar o joelho, perdi 12 kg e estive em risco de ficar sem perna". "I caught a bacteria, was in hospital for 20 days, had three surgeries to clean up the knee, lost 12 kg and nearly lost my leg". Expresso. Alexandra. Simões de Abreu. pt. 1 May 2022. 26 October 2022.
  18. News: A Linha de formação que continua a dar cartas: Gonçalo Santos é o novo 'ás' dos canarinhos. The development Line that's still kicking: Gonçalo Santos is the canaries' new 'ace'. Record. Bruno. Fernandes. pt. 28 February 2023. 17 February 2024.
  19. Web site: Gonçalo Santos é o novo treinador do Casa Pia. Gonçalo Santos is the new manager of Casa Pia. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Mário. Aleixo. pt. 16 February 2024. 17 February 2024.
  20. Web site: Gonçalo Santos deixa Casa Pia. “Foi uma decisão difícil, mas necessária para o meu desenvolvimento”. Gonçalo Santos leaves Casa Pia. "It was a difficult decision, but needed for my development". Rádio Renascença. pt. 22 May 2024. 19 June 2024.
  21. News: Marco Silva interested in appointing Goncalo Santos as Fulham assistant coach. The New York Times. Peter. Rutzler. 10 May 2024. 26 July 2024.
  22. Web site: First Interview: Gonçalo Santos. Fulham F.C.. 24 July 2024. 24 July 2024.
  23. Web site: Casa Pia AC: Matches. Soccerway. 21 February 2024.