Nuno Piloto Explained

Nuno Piloto
Fullname:Nuno Miguel Torres Piloto de Albuquerque
Birth Date:19 March 1982
Birth Place:Tondela, Portugal
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Porto (assistant)
Youthyears1:1994–2000
Youthyears2:2000–2001
Youthclubs1:Repesenses
Youthclubs2:Académica
Years1:2001–2004
Years2:2001–2002
Years3:2003–2009
Years4:2006–2007
Years5:2009–2010
Years6:2010–2013
Years7:2013–2017
Clubs2:Anadia (loan)
Clubs4:Tourizense (loan)
Clubs6:Olhanense
Clubs7:Académica
Caps1:67
Caps2:26
Caps3:90
Caps4:2
Caps5:0
Caps6:41
Caps7:77
Totalcaps:303
Goals1:14
Goals2:4
Goals3:2
Goals4:0
Goals5:0
Goals6:3
Goals7:1
Totalgoals:24
Manageryears1:2017–2018
Manageryears2:2018–2019
Manageryears3:2021–2022
Manageryears4:2024–
Managerclubs1: (assistant)
Managerclubs2:Académica (youth)
Managerclubs3:B-SAD (assistant)
Managerclubs4:Porto (assistant)

Nuno Miguel Torres Piloto de Albuquerque (born 19 March 1982), known as Piloto, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is the current assistant manager of Primeira Liga club Porto.

He totalled 173 appearances and six goals in the Primeira Liga over 12 seasons, with Académica (nine years) and Olhanense (three).

Playing career

Born in Tondela, Viseu District, Piloto was brought up in the youth system of Académica de Coimbra. His first season as a senior would be spent with semi-professional Anadia FC, in 2001–02, after which he played two years with Académica's reserves in the third division; his debut with the first team arrived late into 2002–03.[1]

Piloto was used irregularly in his first years with the main squad (six Primeira Liga appearances, then 25 and nine), definitely becoming an important part in 2007–08 and scoring his first league goals the following campaign in home matches against C.D. Nacional (1–1)[2] and C.F. Os Belenenses (1–0).[3] By this time, he was already team captain.[4]

In June 2009, after rejecting offers for a new deal,[5] Piloto moved abroad and signed a three-year contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. from Greece. At the end of July, during pre-season training, he suffered a tear in the ligaments of his left knee after a strong challenge by Matías Lequi, being sidelined for six months;[6] the surgery took place in his country, being performed by FC Porto's medical staff.[7]

After failing to make a single appearance, Piloto returned to Portugal and signed a two-year deal with top flight club S.C. Olhanense.[8] On 6 September 2013, after three years with little playing time, narrowly avoiding relegation in his last, he rejoined Académica.[9]

On 23 June 2016, in spite of his team's relegation to the Segunda Liga, the 34-year-old Piloto renewed his contract – about to expire – for another year.[10]

Coaching career

After retiring, Piloto worked as assistant manager of amateurs União Futebol Clube[11] and top-tier B-SAD.[12] In between, he acted as head coach to Académica's under-17 side.[13]

Piloto joined newly appointed Vítor Bruno's staff at Porto in June 2024.[14] He had previously been coached as a player by the latter and his predecessor Sérgio Conceição at Olhanense and Académica.[11]

Personal life

Still as a professional footballer, Piloto graduated from the University of Coimbra with a degree in biochemistry, majoring in 2005. This was followed by a master's degree in 2009.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Académica: estreia de Nuno Piloto. Académica: Nuno Piloto debut. TVI 24. Portuguese. 2 November 2002. 25 October 2024.
  2. News: Académica-Nacional, 1–1 (Nuno Piloto 83'; Nené 23'). Record. Portuguese. 5 October 2008. 26 October 2017.
  3. News: Académica-Belenenses, 1–0 (Nuno Piloto 74'). Record. Portuguese. 3 April 2009. 25 October 2024.
  4. News: Nuno Piloto: "Tivemos de sofrer muito". Nuno Piloto: "We had to suffer a lot". Record. Portuguese. 11 April 2009. 26 October 2017.
  5. Web site: Nuno Piloto deixa Académica no final da temporada. Nuno Piloto leaves Académica at the end of the season. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Portuguese. 21 May 2009. 26 October 2017.
  6. Web site: http://www.bluearena.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1681:bluearena-&catid=10:2009-02-17-10-53-05&Itemid=47. el:Σοκ με Πιλότο!. Clash with Piloto. Blue Arena. Greek. 30 July 2009. 2 August 2009.
  7. Web site: http://www.bluearena.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1723:2009-08-03-16-28-19&catid=10:2009-02-17-10-53-05&Itemid=47. el:Σε ανοιχτή γραμμή με τον Πιλότο. Blue Arena. Greek. 3 August 2009. 3 August 2009.
  8. Web site: Nuno Piloto assina pelo Olhanense. Nuno Piloto signs for Olhanense. Mais Futebol. Portuguese. 21 July 2010. 23 September 2015.
  9. Web site: Académica contrata desempregado Nuno Piloto. Académica sign unemployed Nuno Piloto. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Portuguese. 6 September 2013. 23 September 2015.
  10. News: Nuno Piloto renovou por mais uma época. Nuno Piloto renewed for another season. O Jogo. Portuguese. 23 June 2016. 26 October 2017.
  11. Web site: Vítor Bruno revela dois nomes, mas equipa técnica ainda está por completar. Vítor Bruno mentions two names, but coaching staff is not yet complete. Mais Futebol. Sérgio. Pires. Portuguese. 7 June 2024. 25 October 2024.
  12. News: Nuno Piloto é o novo adjunto do Belenenses SAD. Nuno Piloto is the new Belenenses SAD assistant. Record. Portuguese. 22 January 2022. 25 October 2024.
  13. News: O novo adjunto do FC Porto aos olhos de um antigo treinador: "Profissional de topo". FC Porto's new assistant in the eyes of a former manager: "Top professional". A Bola. Eduardo. Pedrosa Marques. Portuguese. 8 June 2024. 25 October 2024.
  14. News: FC Porto: acordo com Vítor Bruno para duas temporadas. FC Porto: two-season agreement for Vítor Bruno. O Jogo. Bruno Filipe. Monteiro. Portuguese. 6 June 2024. 25 October 2024.
  15. Web site: Parabéns "Mestre" Nuno. Congratulations "Master" Nuno!. Académica Coimbra. Portuguese. 5 June 2009. 3 August 2009.
  16. Web site: Os doutores da Académica. Académica's doctors. Sábado. Portuguese. 6 November 2016. 26 October 2017.