Lito Vidigal Explained

Lito Vidigal
Fullname:José Carlos Fernandes Vidigal
Birth Date:11 July 1969
Birth Place:Luanda, Angola
Height:1.780NaN0
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Feirense (manager)
Youthyears1:1983–1987
Years1:1987–1988
Clubs1:Fronteirense
Years2:1988–1989
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:1989–1991
Clubs3:Estrela Portalegre
Years4:1991–1995
Caps4:95
Goals4:5
Years5:1995–2002
Caps5:144
Goals5:3
Years6:2002–2003
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2003–2004
Nationalyears1:1996–2001
Nationalcaps1:17
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2004–2007
Managerclubs1:Pontassolense
Manageryears2:2007–2008
Managerclubs2:Ribeirão
Manageryears3:2008
Managerclubs3:Estrela Amadora
Manageryears4:2009
Managerclubs4:Portimonense
Manageryears5:2009–2010
Managerclubs5:União Leiria
Manageryears6:2011–2012
Managerclubs6:Angola
Manageryears7:2012–2013
Managerclubs7:Al-Ittihad
Manageryears8:2013
Managerclubs8:AEL Limassol
Manageryears9:2014–2015
Manageryears10:2015–2017
Manageryears11:2017
Manageryears12:2017–2018
Managerclubs12:Aves
Manageryears13:2018–2019
Managerclubs13:Vitória Setúbal
Manageryears14:2019
Managerclubs14:Boavista
Manageryears15:2020
Managerclubs15:Vitória Setúbal
Manageryears16:2020
Managerclubs16:Marítimo
Manageryears17:2021
Managerclubs17:Moreirense
Manageryears18:2024–
Managerclubs18:Feirense

José Carlos Fernandes Vidigal (born 11 July 1969), commonly known as Lito, is an Angolan professional football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the manager of Liga Portugal 2 club Feirense.

He spent his entire playing career in Portugal, mainly with Belenenses in the Primeira Liga. An Angola international for five years, he was part of the squad at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations.

Vidigal managed eight clubs in Portugal's top flight, including Belenenses. He also led his nation at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Playing career

Born in Luanda, Portuguese Angola, Vidigal spent his entire career in Portugal, representing at the professional level O Elvas CAD, S.C. Campomaiorense, C.F. Os Belenenses and C.D. Santa Clara and retiring in 2004 at the age of 35, totalling 214 matches between the Primeira Liga and the Segunda Liga.[1]

Internationally, Vidigal played with Angola at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, earning 17 caps.[2]

Coaching career

Vidigal took up coaching immediately after retiring, starting with lowly A.D. Pontassolense and G.D. Ribeirão. In 2008, he moved to C.F. Estrela da Amadora – coaching his younger brother Luís after he returned from a lengthy spell in Italy – and joined second-tier Portimonense S.C. in February of the following year.[3]

In late October 2009, as Manuel Fernandes bought out his contract at U.D. Leiria to return to his favourite club Vitória de Setúbal, Vidigal was named his successor.[4] On 8 January 2011, he was appointed coach of the Angola national side.[5] The Black Antelopes qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in October,[6] and were eliminated at the group stage of the final tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.[7]

With the stated aim of winning titles abroad rather than avoiding relegation in Portugal, Vidigal remained in Africa and signed with Libya's Al-Ittihad Club from December 2012.[8] In April in 2013, he left Tripoli due to political instability.[9]

Dismissed by AEL Limassol of the Cypriot First Division at the start of the season,[10] Vidigal returned to Belenenses late into 2013–14, replacing Marco Paulo at the helm of the bottom-placed team and becoming their third coach of the season.[11] Even though he did not finish the following campaign, being replaced by Jorge Simão with nine matches to go, the side eventually qualified for the UEFA Europa League after finishing sixth.[12]

Vidigal repeated the feat in 2015–16 after leading F.C. Arouca to a best-ever classification of fifth, in only the club's third year in the top flight.[13] Previously, in March 2016, he renewed his contract for two years.[14]

In February 2017, Vidigal left Arouca for Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. on an 18-month contract with the option of a further year.[15] Despite leading the team to the runners-up position behind Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC, he was relieved of his duties by director Jordi Cruyff at the end of the season.[16]

Vidigal returned to Portugal's top flight in October 2017 when he was hired by C.D. Aves,[17] but left shortly after following disputes with the board.[18] Ahead of the following campaign, he signed a two-year deal at Vitória de Setúbal, and again parted before its conclusion.[19] Days later, he replaced the sacked Jorge Simão at struggling Boavista FC.[20]

On 17 December 2019, having taken 18 points from 14 league fixtures, Vidigal was dismissed.[21] He returned to Setúbal in July 2020, three points above the drop zone with four games to play.[22] Having succeeded in that task, he moved on to C.S. Marítimo to replace José Gomes.[23]

On 4 December 2020, with the Madeiran club in 15th place, Vidigal was replaced by under-23 manager Milton Mendes.[24] He took over from João Henriques at Moreirense F.C. on 29 November of the following year,[25] but left after only one month.[26]

Vidigal returned to active on 3 April 2024, on a deal at second-division side C.D. Feirense.[27]

Personal life

Vidigal had 12 brothers and sisters, four of his male siblings being footballers: Beto, Luís (who played for Sporting CP and in the Serie A, represented Portugal and was coached in the 2008–09 campaign by Lito), Toni and Jorge.[28] [29] [30] His nephew, André, was also involved in the sport professionally.[31] [32]

Managerial statistics

[33] [34]

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
União Leiria23 October 20091 July 2010
Angola10 January 201112 April 2012
AEL Limassol1 July 201322 October 2013
Belenenses20 March 201417 March 2015
Arouca1 June 201511 February 2017
Maccabi Tel Aviv11 February 201730 June 2017
Aves2 October 201722 January 2018
Vitória Setúbal30 June 201825 January 2019
Bovista27 January 201917 December 2019
Vitória Setúbal7 July 202031 July 2020
Marítimo3 August 20204 December 2020
Moreirense30 November 20215 January 2022
Career totals

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sob a cruz da luta pela permanência. Under the sign of the cross of fighting for survival. CA Notícias. Luís. Santos. pt. 12 August 2014. 4 January 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104121709/https://canoticias.pt/cruz-luta-permanencia/. 4 January 2022.
  2. Web site: African Nations Cup 1998 – Final Tournament Details. RSSSF. Barrie. Courtney. 22 May 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115941/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/98a-det.html. 4 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Portimonense – Lito Vidigal foi apresentado e pediu "muita solidariedade". Portimonense – Lito Vidigal was presented and asked for "lots of solidarity". Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 10 February 2009. 6 July 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706133543/https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/portimonense-lito-vidigal-foi-apresentado-e-pediu-muita-solidariedade_d262510. 6 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Lito Vidigal vê na U. Leiria um "desafio aliciante". Lito Vidigal sees "exciting challenge" in U. Leiria. Mais Futebol. Francisco. Frederico. pt. 22 October 2009. 20 March 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140320220227/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/uniao-leiria-liga-lito-vidigal-vidigal-leiria-futebol/520b4c8e3004bc615fd1c61d.html. 20 March 2014.
  5. Web site: Lito Vidigal is named as new Angola coach. BBC Sport. 9 January 2011. 31 May 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140320220227/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/9352102.stm. 20 March 2014.
  6. News: Angola está no Campeonato Africano das Nações. Angola are in the Africa Cup of Nations. Jornal de Angola. Anaximandro. Magalhães. pt. 9 October 2011. 14 February 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050356/http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/desporto/futebol/angola_esta_no_campeonato_africano_das_nacoes. 15 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Africa Cup of Nations: Ivorians send Angolans packing. BBC Sport. Piers. Edwards. 30 January 2012. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233944/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16781103. 14 February 2019.
  8. Web site: Lito Vidigal vai treinar Al-Ittihad Club. Lito Vidigal will manage Al-Ittihad Club. Sábado. pt. 13 December 2012. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050546/https://www.sabado.pt/ultima-hora/detalhe/Lito-Vidigal-vai-treinar-Al-Ittihad-Club. 15 February 2019.
  9. Web site: Lito Vidigal deixa Al Ittihad. Lito Vidigal leaves Al-Ittihad. Mais Futebol. pt. 30 April 2013. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214234903/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/lito-vidigal-deixa-al-ittihad. 14 February 2019.
  10. Web site: Coach who was chased out by hooligans named AEL Limassol boss. Eurosport. 25 October 2013. 14 February 2019.
  11. News: Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador. Lito Vidigal is the new manager. Record. Alexandre. Moita. pt. 20 March 2014. 20 March 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140320202119/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Belenenses/interior.aspx?content_id=873804. 20 March 2014.
  12. News: Melhor participação fica para a história do Belenenses. Best participation enters Belenenses' history books. Record. pt. 25 December 2015. 14 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160711183857/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/detalhe/melhor-participacao-fica-para-a-historia-do-belenenses.html. 11 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Europeu Arouca fecha jornada com outro candidato à UEFA. European Arouca close round with another UEFA candidate. Rádio Renascença. pt. 9 May 2016. 14 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101247/https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/53703/europeu_arouca_fecha_jornada_com_outro_candidato_a_uefa. 12 November 2018.
  14. Web site: Mais dois anos de contrato para Lito no Arouca. Another two-year contract for Lito at Arouca. Rádio Renascença. pt. 17 March 2016. 14 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923232958/http://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/49564/mais_dois_anos_de_contrato_para_lito_no_arouca. 23 September 2016.
  15. Web site: Lito Vidigal to be appointed as Maccabi coach. Maccabi Tel-Aviv F.C.. 11 February 2017. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050323/https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/2017/02/lito-vidigal-appointed-maccabi-coach/. 15 February 2019.
  16. Web site: OFICIAL: Lito Vidigal já não é o treinador do Maccabi Tel-Aviv. OFFICIAL: Lito Vidigal no longer manager of Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Be Soccer. João. Sampaio. pt. 14 June 2017. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233956/https://pt.besoccer.com/noticia/oficial-lito-vidigal-ja-nao-e-o-treinador-do-maccabi-tel-aviv. 14 February 2019.
  17. Web site: Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador do Aves. Lito Vidigal is the new manager of Aves. SAPO. pt. 2 October 2017. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190215050339/https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/lito-vidigal-e-o-novo-treinador-do-aves. 15 February 2019.
  18. Web site: Desp. Aves: Lito Vidigal de saída do comando técnico. Desp. Aves: Lito Vidigal leaving managerial helm. Mais Futebol. Ricardo Jorge. Castro. pt. 24 January 2018. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190215114957/https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/24-01-2018/desp-aves-lito-vidigal-de-saida-do-comando-tecnico. 15 February 2019.
  19. News: Lito Vidigal já não é treinador do Vitória de Setúbal. Lito Vidigal no longer manager of Vitória de Setúbal. Jornal de Notícias. pt. 25 January 2019. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233431/https://www.jn.pt/desporto/interior/lito-vidigal-ja-nao-e-treinador-do-vitoria-de-setubal-10488403.html. 14 February 2019.
  20. News: Lito Vidigal ruma ao Boavista. Lito Vidigal heading to Boavista. Correio da Manhã. pt. 27 January 2019. 14 February 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190214234539/https://www.cmjornal.pt/desporto/detalhe/lito-vidigal-ruma-ao-boavista. 14 February 2019.
  21. News: Daniel Ramos rende Lito Vidigal no Boavista. Daniel Ramos in for Lito Vidigal at Boavista. Público. pt. 18 December 2019. 24 December 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191224150245/https://www.publico.pt/2019/12/18/desporto/noticia/daniel-ramos-rende-lito-vidigal-boavista-1897882. 24 December 2019.
  22. Web site: Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador do V. Setúbal. Lito Vidigal is the new manager of V. Setúbal. TVI 24. pt. 6 July 2020. 6 July 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200706142629/https://tvi24.iol.pt/vitoria-setubal/tecnico/lito-vidigal-e-o-novo-treinador-do-v-setubal. 6 July 2020.
  23. News: Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador do Marítimo. Lito Vidigal is the new manager of Marítimo. Observador. pt. 30 July 2020. 31 July 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123204425/https://observador.pt/2020/07/30/lito-vidigal-e-o-novo-treinador-do-maritimo/. 23 November 2020.
  24. News: Lito Vidigal já não é treinador do Marítimo. Lito Vidigal no longer manager of Marítimo. Record. Gonçalo. Vasconcelos. pt. 4 December 2020. 15 December 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204160052/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/maritimo/detalhe/lito-vidigal-pode-estar-de-saida-do-maritimo. 4 December 2020.
  25. News: João Henriques a sair e Lito Vidigal a chegar. João Henriques leaving and Lito Vidigal coming. Record. Bruno. Freitas. pt. 29 November 2021. 30 November 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130085637/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/moreirense/detalhe/joao-henriques-a-sair-e-lito-vidigal-a-chegar?ref=Futebol%20Nacional_DestaquesPrincipais. 30 November 2021.
  26. Web site: Lito Vidigal deixa o Moreirense um mês depois da chegada. Lito Vidigal leaves Moreirense one month after arriving. SAPO. pt. 5 January 2022. 5 January 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220105173303/https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/lito-vidigal-deixa-o-moreirense-um-mes-depois-da-chegada. 5 January 2022.
  27. Web site: Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador do Feirense. Lito Vidigal is the new manager of Feirense. Rádio Renascença. pt. 3 April 2024. 3 April 2024.
  28. News: Irmãos Vidigal ignoram os genes para manterem o Estrela da Amadora no topo. Brothers Vidigal ignore genes to leave Estrela on top. Público. Victor. Ferreira. pt. 13 October 2008. 7 January 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170108003353/https://www.publico.pt/desporto/jornal/irmaos-vidigal-ignoram-os-genes-para--manterem-o-estrela-da-amadora-no-topo-279612. 8 January 2017.
  29. News: One family, two nations: Brothers who have played for different international teams. Daily Mirror. 22 June 2010. 31 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130518080333/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/One-family-two-nations-Jerome-and-Kevin-Prince-Boateng-and-10-other-brothers-who-have-played-for-different-international-teams-article486903.html. 18 May 2013.
  30. Web site: Luís Vidigal: "O Sporting é paixão, é acreditar". Luís Vidigal: "Sporting is about passion, believing". Sporting CP. pt. 26 December 2011. 31 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185709/http://www.sporting.pt/Noticias/Futebol/Fut_Prof/notfutprof_futentvidigal_261211_85764.asp. 20 March 2014.
  31. Web site: Sobrinho de Luís e Lito Vidigal comprado pelo Fortuna Sittard. Nephew of Luís and Lito Vidigal bought by Fortuna Sittard. Rádio Renascença. pt. 20 December 2017. 9 January 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101339/https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/101173/sobrinho-de-luis-e-lito-vidigal-comprado-pelo-fortuna-sittard. 12 November 2018.
  32. Web site: André Vidigal. Jupiler League. nl. 2 January 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072840/https://www.jupilerleague.nl/uitgelichte-speler/fortuna-sittard-aanvaller-andre-vidigal/. 3 January 2018.
  33. Web site: Lito VIDIGAL. Footballdatabase. 2 January 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102052109/https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/27100-lito-vidigal. 2 January 2022.
  34. Web site: Lito Vidigal. Sofa Score. 2 January 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220102052109/https://www.sofascore.com/manager/lito-vidigal/78204. 2 January 2022.

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