José Sá Explained

José Sá
Full Name:José Pedro Malheiro de Sá[1]
Birth Date:17 January 1993
Birth Place:Braga, Portugal[2]
Height:1.92 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Clubnumber:1
Youthyears1:2002–2009
Youthclubs1:Palmeiras Braga
Youthyears2:2009–2010
Youthclubs2:Merelinense
Youthyears3:2011
Youthclubs3:Benfica
Youthyears4:2011–2012
Youthclubs4:Marítimo
Years1:2012–2015
Clubs1:Marítimo B
Caps1:74
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2016
Clubs2:Marítimo
Caps2:16
Goals2:0
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Porto B
Caps3:16
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–2019
Clubs4:Porto
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Olympiacos (loan)
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2021
Clubs6:Olympiacos
Caps6:62
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–
Clubs7:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps7:108
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2012–2013
Nationalteam1:Portugal U20
Nationalcaps1:14
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013–2015
Nationalteam2:Portugal U21
Nationalcaps2:16
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2016
Nationalteam3:Portugal U23
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:Portugal
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:17:41, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:4 June 2024

José Pedro Malheiro de Sá (pronounced as /pt/; born 17 January 1993) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Portugal national team.

He started his career with Marítimo B, making his debut with the first team in 2013, before signing for FC Porto in 2016. Sá was loaned for one year to Super League Greece side Olympiacos in 2018, in a deal which was made permanent at the end of the season. With Olympiacos, he won two Super League Greece titles and the Greek Football Cup, including a domestic double in 2020. In 2021, he signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Sá is a former Portuguese under-21 international, reaching the European Championship final in 2015. He was part of the full squad that finished third at the 2017 Confederations Cup and won the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil, and was also chosen for the 2022 World Cup. The following year, he made his senior international debut.

Club career

Marítimo

Born in Braga, Sá went from Merelinense to the youth ranks of Benfica in January 2011, and moved six months later to Madeira's Marítimo to finish his development at the age of 18.[3] On 23 January 2013 he made his professional debut with the B team, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Oliveirense in the Segunda Liga championship.[4]

In the 2013 off-season, Sá was promoted to the main squad by manager Pedro Martins.[5] He played his first game in the Primeira Liga on 18 August in a 2–1 home win over Benfica,[6] and kept his position for the following matchday, a 3–0 loss at Porto.[7]

During his tenure in Funchal, Sá acted as understudy to Frenchman Romain Salin.[8]

Porto

On 25 January 2016, both Sá and teammate Moussa Marega joined Porto on four-and-a-half-year contracts, with the services of the former being acquired for 1.5 million.[9] During his early spell, he was second choice to Spain international Iker Casillas.[10] [11]

Sá made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on 17 October 2017, starting in a 3–2 loss for the group stage away to RB Leipzig and committing a blunder in the eighth minute which resulted in the opposition's first goal.[12] He became the starter from that point onwards but, following a 5–0 home defeat against Liverpool in the same competition, lost his place again.[13]

Olympiacos

On 31 August 2018, deemed surplus to requirements by manager Sérgio Conceição,[14] Sá joined Olympiacos on a season-long loan.[15] He became first choice over Andreas Gianniotis shortly after arriving, as the team was coached by his compatriot and former Marítimo boss Martins.[16]

On 15 May 2019, Sá agreed to a permanent four-year deal.[17] During the campaign, he kept a total of 18 clean sheets[18] as the team from Piraeus won the double, though he missed the Cup final through injury.[19]

Sá was again a league winner in 2020–21.[20] However, his team were beaten to the Cup by PAOK.[21]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 15 July 2021, Sá joined English club Wolverhampton Wanderers for a €8 million transfer fee, on a five-year deal;[22] he was signed to replace his experienced compatriot Rui Patrício who had joined Roma, and he was handed the number 1 jersey that had not been worn at the Molineux club since Carl Ikeme retired due to his leukaemia diagnosis in 2018.[23]

Sá made his Premier League debut on 14 August 2021 in a 1–0 loss away to Leicester City.[24] In September, he provided an assist for Raúl Jiménez against Southampton in their 1–0 win, making him the first Wolves goalkeeper to do so in the Premier League since Wayne Hennessey in October 2009.[25] His string of good all-round performances, including his distribution and shot stopping helped Wolves to a run of three clean sheets, earning the club's Player of the Month, with former Manchester United player Gary Neville praising Sá as the signing of the season.[26] On 11 November, despite losing 1–0 to Manchester City, Sá received several praises for his performance, making several vital saves, despite Wolves being reduced to 10 men just before half-time, only failing to defend a penalty.[26] On 15 May 2022, Sá won both Wolves's Fans' Player of the 2021–22 Season, and the Players' Player of the 2021–22 Season awards.[27]

On 14 October 2022 it was revealed that Sá had been playing for two months with a fractured wrist sustained during a 0–0 home draw with Fulham in the second match of the season, a game in which he saved a penalty from Aleksandar Mitrović – the first penalty save he had made in a Wolves shirt since joining the club.[28] The following day, he saved another penalty from Brennan Johnson in a 1–0 home win against Nottingham Forest, with ten minutes remaining.[29]

Sà made his 100th competitive appearance for Wolves in a 4–2 win away to Chelsea in the Premier League on 4 February 2024.[30]

International career

Youth

Sá represented Portugal at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played all the matches and minutes in Turkey, in an eventual round-of-16 exit.

On 6 August 2013, Sá received his first call-up to the under-21 team, for a friendly game with Switzerland.[31] He featured in the second half of the 5–2 win, on the 14th.[32] Sá was first choice at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, keeping clean sheets in all games but one as the national side finished in second place in the Czech Republic; in the final, he saved from Sweden's Abdul Khalili in the penalty shootout following a goalless draw at the Eden Arena.[33] [34] [35] [36]

Senior

On 25 May 2017, Sá was called to the full side for the first time, being named by manager Fernando Santos in a provisional 24-man squad for that year's FIFA Confederations Cup.[37] Still uncapped, he was part of the squad that won the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil in June but did not make an appearance.[38]

Sá was chosen for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[39]

On 16 November 2023, Sá made his debut for Portugal's senior team, starting in a 2–0 away victory over Liechtenstein in a qualifying match for UEFA Euro 2024.[40]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Marítimo B2012–13[41] Segunda Liga180180
2013–14Segunda Liga180180
2014–15Segunda Liga380380
Total740740
Marítimo2012–13Primeira Liga0000000000
2013–14Primeira Liga801020110
2014–15Primeira Liga 30001040
2015–16[42] Primeira Liga 50202090
Total160305000240
Porto B2015–16LigaPro160160
Porto2015–16Primeira Liga0000000000
2016–17Primeira Liga1020300060
2017–18Primeira Liga 140101050210
Total150304050270
Olympiacos2018–19Super League Greece2103070310
2019–20Super League Greece 33000150480
2020–21Super League Greece 29020120430
Total830503401220
Wolverhampton Wanderers2021–22Premier League3700000370
2022–23Premier League3601020390
2023–24Premier League3505000400
Total10806020001160
Career total31201701103903790

International

[43]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Portugal202310
202410
Total20

Honours

Porto B

2015–16[44]

Porto

2017–18[45]

Olympiacos

2019–20,[46] 2020–21[20]

2019–20[19]

Portugal

2018–19[47]

Individual

2019–20

2019–20[51]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of players: Portugal. FIFA. 7. 20 March 2018. 29 March 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170724170755/http://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FCC/2017/PDF/FCC_2017_SQUADLISTS.PDF. 24 July 2017.
  2. Web site: José Sá. Mais Futebol. pt. 23 August 2021.
  3. Web site: "Só cheguei a um grande aos 23 anos". José Sá deixa provocação ao Benfica. "I only arrived at a big team when I was 23". José Sá leaves a provocation to Benfica. Bancada. pt. 24 April 2021. 17 January 2023.
  4. News: Marítimo B-Oliveirense, 0–0: Pouca ambição resulta em nulo. Marítimo B-Oliveirense, 0–0: Little ambition has zero as result. Record. pt. 23 January 2013. 17 October 2017.
  5. News: Pedro Martins chamou apenas dois reforços. Pedro Martins called only two additions. O Jogo. pt. 17 August 2013. 16 March 2018.
  6. News: Exibição paupérrima e opções de Jesus mantêm a má tradição do Benfica. Awful display and Jesus choices keep Benfica's bad tradition. Público. David. Andrade. pt. 18 August 2013. 26 February 2016.
  7. Web site: Porto 3–0 Marítimo, 2.ª jornada da I Liga. Porto 3–0 Marítimo, League I 2nd matchday. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 25 August 2013. 17 October 2017.
  8. News: Guarda-redes José Sá desperta cobiça lá fora. Goalkeeper José Sá is coveted outside. Record. pt. 24 June 2015. 17 October 2017.
  9. News: FC Porto paga cinco milhões e desvia Marega e José Sá de Alvalade. FC Porto pay five million and hijack Marega and José Sá from Alvalade. Diário de Notícias. João. Ruela. Nuno. Fernandes. pt. 26 January 2016. 26 February 2016.
  10. Web site: José Sá quer sentar Iker Casillas. José Sá wants to seat Iker Casillas. SAPO. pt. 3 February 2017. 17 October 2017.
  11. Web site: José Sá por Casillas e mais cinco surpresas na baliza do FC Porto. José Sá for Casillas and another five surprises in goal of FC Porto. TVI 24. João Tiago. Figueiredo. Sérgio. Pires. pt. 19 October 2017. 15 January 2018.
  12. Web site: Leipzig 3–2 Porto. UEFA. 17 October 2017. 18 October 2017.
  13. News: "José Sá? A responsabilidade não é só dele". "José Sá? He's not the only one to blame". O Jogo. pt. 16 February 2018. 13 March 2018.
  14. News: José Sá deixou estágio para tratar do futuro. José Sá left training camp to take care of future. A Bola. pt. 23 July 2018. 2 September 2018.
  15. Web site: http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/article/1265431/o-zoze-sa-gia-ta-gkolpost-toy-olympiakoy. el:Ο Ζοζέ Σα για τα γκολπόστ του Ολυμπιακού. José Sá an Olympiacos goalkeeper. Gazzetta. el. 31 August 2018. 1 September 2018.
  16. Web site: https://www.onsports.gr/podosfairo/superleague/story/618203/olympiakos-energopoiei-ti-ritra-gia-sa?v8. el:Ολυμπιακός: Ενεργοποιεί τη ρήτρα για Σα. Olympiacos: Sá clause activated. Onsports. el. 3 January 2019. 4 January 2019.
  17. Web site: OFFICIAL: Sa signs Olympiacos contract until 2023. Agona Sport. Shaun. Nicolaides. 15 May 2019. 16 May 2019.
  18. Web site: SLGR regular season review: Five solid shot-stoppers. Agona Sport. Shaun. Nicolaides. 23 March 2020. 24 March 2020.
  19. News: Pedro Martins: "Conquistar a dobradinha é sempre especial". Pedro Martins: "Winning the double is always special". Record. pt. 12 September 2020. 11 June 2021.
  20. News: Olympiacos, de Pedro Martins, revalida título de campeão na Grécia. Olympiacos, of Pedro Martins, renew champions title in Greece. O Jogo. pt. 11 April 2021. 12 April 2021.
  21. Web site: VÍDEO: Vieirinha marca e PAOK bate Olympiakos na final da Taça da Grécia. VIDEO: Vieirinha scores and PAOK beat Olympiakos in the Greek Cup final. Mais Futebol. pt. 22 May 2021. 11 June 2021.
  22. Web site: Wolves confirm Sa signing. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. 15 July 2021. 15 July 2021.
  23. News: Jose Sa reveals what Rui Patricio told him before Wolves transfer. Birmingham Mail. Alex. Dicken. 22 July 2021. 14 August 2021.
  24. Web site: Leicester 1–0 Wolves: Jamie Vardy is the hero again as Foxes seal opening day Premier League win. Sky Sports. Adam. Bate. 14 August 2021. 14 August 2021.
  25. Web site: Premier League XI with most number of assists so far this season - February 2022. Sport Skeeda. 20 February 2022. 21 March 2022.
  26. Web site: In Safe Hands: The Numbers Behind José Sá's Season So Far. Próxima Jornada. Aaron. Barton. 6 January 2022. 24 March 2022.
  27. Web site: Sa voted Supporters Player of the Season. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.. 15 May 2022. 16 May 2022.
  28. Web site: Jose Sa: Wolves goalkeeper has played with broken wrist for almost entire season. BBC Sport. 14 October 2022. 20 October 2022.
  29. Web site: Wolves 1–0 Nottingham Forest: Ruben Neves scores penalty and Brennan Johnson misses penalty. BBC Sport. Stone. Simon. 15 October 2022. 20 October 2022.
  30. Web site: Chelsea 2-4 Wolves. Poole. Harry. BBC Sport. 4 February 2024. 4 February 2024.
  31. Web site: Sub-21 convocados. Under-21 list. Portuguese Football Federation. pt. 6 August 2013. 6 August 2013.
  32. Web site: Sub-21: Portugal–Suíça, 5–2 (crónica). Under-21: Portugal–Switzerland, 5–2 (match report). Mais Futebol. pt. 14 August 2013. 14 August 2013. 20 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020085844/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/seleccao/portugal-suica-sub-21-golos-cronica/1480060-1194.html. dead.
  33. Web site: England U21 0–1 Portugal U21. BBC Sport. Jonathan. Jurejko. 18 June 2015. 24 June 2015.
  34. Web site: Improved Italy fail to break Portugal down. UEFA. Kevin. Ashby. 21 June 2015. 24 June 2015.
  35. Web site: Five-goal Portugal stun Germany in semi-finals. UEFA. Simon. Hart. 27 June 2015. 28 June 2015.
  36. Web site: Spot-on Sweden beat Portugal to win U21 EURO. UEFA. Tom. Kell. 30 June 2015. 30 June 2015.
  37. Web site: Seleção: Renato Sanches e Éder de fora da Taça das Confederações. National team: Renato Sanches and Éder out of Confederations Cup. Mais Futebol. Ricardo. Gouveia. pt. 25 May 2017. 26 May 2017.
  38. News: Ronaldo heads Portugal squad for Nations League . 16 August 2019 . Reuters . 23 May 2019.
  39. News: Alex. Dicken. Julen Lopetegui must make four January signings to save Wolves from relegation . 13 November 2022 . Birmingham Mail . 13 November 2022.
  40. Web site: 16 November 2023 . José Sá e a estreia: "Vou levar esta noite para toda a vida. Incrível" . José Sá and the debut: "I'll carry this night with me for all me life. Incredible" . 16 November 2023. O Jogo . pt.
  41. Web site: José Sá. Soccerway. Perform Group. 27 November 2019.
  42. Web site: José Sá. ForaDeJogo. 27 November 2019.
  43. Web site: José Sá. EU-Football.info. 4 June 2024.
  44. News: Equipa B entrega troféu da 2.ª Liga a Pinto da Costa. B team give 2nd League trophy to Pinto da Costa. Record. André. Monteiro. pt. 12 May 2016. 23 August 2021.
  45. Web site: FC Porto é campeão nacional 2017/2018. FC Porto are 2017/2018 national champions. Mais Futebol. pt. 5 May 2018. 26 July 2018.
  46. Web site: Olympiacos win their 45th Greek Super League title. Greek City Times. 29 June 2020. 30 June 2020.
  47. Web site: Portugal regressa ao topo da Europa. Liga das Nações fica em casa. Portugal return to the top of Europe. Nations League stays home. SAPO. pt. 9 June 2019. 10 June 2019.
  48. Web site: "Portugal fez uma prova excelente", diz Fernando Santos. "Portugal had an excellent tournament", Fernando Santos says. TSF. pt. 2 July 2017. 26 July 2018.
  49. Web site: The official Under-21 Team of the Tournament. UEFA. 1 July 2015. 10 August 2017.
  50. Web site: Jonas e Rui Costa eleitos "Jogador do Mês" de dezembro . 2023-01-07 . Liga Portugal.
  51. Web site: Super League Interwetten: Η καλύτερη ενδεκάδα της σεζόν 2019–20. Super League Interwetten: 2019–20 season All-Star XI. Sport 24. Petros. Papamakarios. el. 15 February 2021. 5 February 2022.