José Leal Explained

José Leal
Fullname:José Martins Leal
Birth Date:23 March 1965
Birth Place:Sá da Bandeira, Angola
Height:1.85 m
Position:Left back
Youthyears1:1978–1983
Youthclubs1:Repesenses
Years1:1983–1984
Clubs1:Viseu e Benfica
Years2:1984–1989
Years3:1989–1994
Caps3:118
Goals3:12
Years4:1994–1995
Caps4:17
Goals4:0
Years5:1995–1996
Caps5:32
Goals5:1
Years6:1996–2000
Caps6:108
Goals6:13
Years7:2000–2002
Caps7:25
Goals7:1
Years8:2002–2003
Caps8:33
Goals8:2
Nationalyears1:1989
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1990–1992
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:1
Manageryears1:2003
Managerclubs1:Académico Viseu
Manageryears2:2005–2006
Managerclubs2:Benfica Castelo Branco
Manageryears3:2006–2007
Managerclubs3:Tondela

José Martins Leal (born 23 March 1965) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a left back.

Club career

Leal was born in Sá da Bandeira, Portuguese Angola. During his professional career he represented Académico de Viseu FC (his first and last club, where he retired at age 38 in the third division), Sporting Clube de Portugal, C.F. Os Belenenses, F.C. Felgueiras, C.F. Estrela da Amadora and C.D. Santa Clara.

With the Lisbon club, Leal was first-choice during most of his five-year spell, also scoring regularly for a defensive player, but, in his last season, was demoted to third-string after youth graduate Paulo Torres and newly signed Budimir Vujačić, and left the Lions without any silverware conquered.

International career

Leal earned 15 caps for Portugal – one goal – almost all of them coming during the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying campaign, as the national team did not make it to the final stages in Sweden.

|}