Irene Gonçalves Explained
| Irene Gonçalves |
| Fullname: | Irene Maria Duarte Gonçalves[1] |
| Birth Date: | 11 December 1984[2] [3] |
| Birth Place: | Luanda, Angola[4] |
| Height: | 1.75 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Clubs1: | Progresso do Sambizanga |
| Nationalteam1: | Angola |
| Nationalgoals1: | 33[5] |
Irene Maria Duarte Gonçalves (born 11 December 1984) is an Angolan retired footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed Diva Demolidora (Destroyer Diva) or simply Demolidora (Destroyer),[6] [3] she is the historical top goalscorer of the Angola women's national team, which she has also captained.
Club career
Gonçalves has captained the women's team of Progresso Associação do Sambizanga.[7] During the 2008 Angolan Women's Football League, she scored 22 goals in a single match,[4] which many people consider a world record in women's football,[5] but it is not internationally recognized.[5]
International career
Gonçalves capped for Angola at senior level during the 2002 African Women's Championship and the 2010 African Women's Championship qualification (preliminary round).[2]
International goals
Scores and results list Angola's goal tally first
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|
| 1< | -- Not necessarily the first time she has scored --> | 8 December 2002 | | | 1–0 | 1–1 | | [8] |
|---|
| 2 | 7 March 2010 | | | 1–2 | | [9] |
| 3 | 21 March 2010 | | 1–1 | [10] |
|
Retirement
In March 2012, Gonçalves announced her retirement from football.[7]
Personal life
Gonçalves is a Catholic.[4]
Notes and References
- Web site: Angola 2008 (Women). RSSSF. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20130701115659/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=197685/index.html. FIFA Player Statistics: Irene GONCALVES. FIFA. 1 July 2013. 29 August 2021.
- Web site: Futebol: "Demolidora" Irene Gonçalves revela-se produto da independência nacional. 11 November 2016. ANGOP. pt. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Irene Gonçalves a melhor da actualidade. Jornal dos Desportos. 30 March 2010. pt. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Irene Gonçalves: The Legend of Diva Demolidora. 24 July 2020. Breaking The Lines. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Independência: Irene Gonçalves, um exemplo de luta da mulher angolana. ANGOP. 11 November 2016. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Irene Gonçalves deixa os relvados. 28 March 2012. Jornal de Angola. pt. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Africa - Women's Championship 2002. RSSSF. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110722235257/http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/11147. Namibia hold slender lead over Angola. 8 March 2010. 22 July 2011. Namibia Sport. 11 September 2020.
- Web site: Angola empata e é eliminada pela Namíbia. 21 March 2010. ANGOP. 11 September 2020.
