Jorge Couto Explained

Jorge Couto
Fullname:Jorge António Pinto do Couto
Birth Date:1 July 1970
Birth Place:Argoncilhe, Portugal
Height:1.70 m
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:1984–1985
Youthclubs1:Argoncilhe
Youthyears2:1985–1986
Youthclubs2:Lusitânia
Youthyears3:1986–1988
Youthclubs3:Porto
Years1:1988–1996
Caps1:130
Goals1:11
Years2:1988–1989
Clubs2:Gil Vicente (loan)
Caps2:26
Goals2:5
Years3:1996–2003
Caps3:157
Goals3:16
Totalcaps:313
Totalgoals:32
Nationalyears1:1989
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:1989–1991
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:1990–1998
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:2015–2017
Managerclubs1:Boavista (assistant)
Manageryears2:2017–2019
Managerclubs2:Boavista B
Manageryears3:2019
Managerclubs3:Boavista (caretaker)
Manageryears4:2019–2024
Managerclubs4:Boavista (assistant)
Manageryears5:2023
Managerclubs5:Boavista (caretaker)

Jorge António Pinto do Couto (born 1 July 1970) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a right winger.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 287 matches and 27 goals over 14 seasons, representing in the competition Porto and Boavista and winning 13 major titles between both clubs.

From 2015 he worked as a coach, in different roles at Boavista.

Playing career

Club

Couto was born in Argoncilhe, Santa Maria da Feira. During his career he played professionally for FC Porto, Gil Vicente FC (on loan from his alma mater) and Boavista FC.[1] [2] With the first club he was used regularly in his early years, mainly from the bench but was a fringe player subsequently.

With Boavista from 1996 until his retirement, Couto had his best years, helping to the side's Primeira Liga and European consolidation although he was already slowing down as they won their only first division title in 2001, being barred by younger Martelinho but still contributing 17 matches and three goals to the feat.[3]

International

Couto scored one of the two goals for the Portugal under-20 team in the 2–0 final win against Nigeria, as the nation won the first of its two consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups.[4]

He won six caps at full international level, mostly while at Porto, the first arriving at age 20.[2] He was not related to club and national teammate Fernando Couto.

Coaching career

In July 2015, Couto returned to Boavista as assistant to former teammate and new coach Petit.[5] Two years later, he was put in charge of the Estádio do Bessa club's new reserve team.

Couto became caretaker manager of the first team on 26 January 2019 after the dismissal of Jorge Simão.[6] In his one game three days later, the team lost 5–1 at S.L. Benfica before Lito Vidigal was installed.[7]

Having already been suspended for ten days and fined €1,913 by the Portuguese Football Federation in October 2016 for insulting the refereeing team,[8] Couto was suspended for 15 days and fined €3,507 in April 2021 by the same body for the same offence.[9] In December 2023, he went back into interim charge after Petit's resignation, and drew 1–1 on his debut at home to Vitória de Guimarães;[10] following Ricardo Paiva's appointment later that month, he returned to assistant duties.[11]

Honours

Porto

1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96[2]

1990–91, 1993–94[2]

1990, 1991, 1993

Boavista

Portugal

1989[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: Jorge Couto rompeu relações. Jorge Couto broke relations. Record. pt. 8 May 2001. 26 January 2023.
  2. News: 30 anos de Riade. O percurso e o que fazem agora os campeões do mundo. 30 years of Riyadh. The career and what are the world champions doing now. Diário de Notícias. Rui. Salvador. pt. 3 March 2019. 26 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Lembra-se deles? Há 15 anos o Boavista foi campeão nacional. Remember them? Boavista were national champions 15 years ago. TSF. Joana. Carvalho Reis. pt. 18 May 2016. 5 November 2018.
  4. Web site: Riade, 25 anos: como foi e onde estão os campeões. Riyadh, 25 years: how did it go and where are the champions. Mais Futebol. Vítor Hugo. Alvarenga. pt. 3 March 2014. 31 March 2017.
  5. News: Fary a diretor desportivo e Jorge Couto como adjunto. Fary to sporting director and Jorge Couto as assistant. Record. pt. 2 July 2015. 24 December 2023.
  6. News: Jorge Simão deixa comando técnico do Boavista. Jorge Simão leaves the helm of Boavista. Diário de Notícias. pt. 26 January 2019. 24 December 2023.
  7. News: Um Benfica goleador à prova de pequenas crises. A goalscoring Benfica resistant to small crises. Público. Marco. Vaza. pt. 29 January 2019. 24 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Treinador adjunto e director do Boavista suspensos. Boavista assistant manager and director suspended. Rádio Renascença. pt. 5 October 2016. 24 December 2023.
  9. News: Fary, Jorge Couto e Miguel Cardoso suspensos após a confusão no Boavista-Rio Ave. Fary, Jorge Couto and Miguel Cardoso suspended after the Boavista-Rio Ave scuffle. Record. pt. 13 April 2021. 24 December 2023.
  10. News: Jorge Couto: «É um ponto muito saboroso, do acreditar do início ao fim». Jorge Couto: "It's a very tasty point, one from believing from the start to the end". Record. Pedro. Marques dos Santos. pt. 16 December 2023. 24 December 2023.
  11. Web site: Ricardo Paiva assume comando técnico do Boavista FC. Ricardo Paiva takes over technical command of Boavista FC. Boavista F.C.. pt. 29 December 2023. 3 January 2024.