Petit (Portuguese footballer) explained

Petit
Fullname:Armando Gonçalves Teixeira[1]
Birth Date:25 September 1976
Birth Place:Strasbourg, France
Height:1.76 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Cuiabá (head coach)
Youthyears1:1986–1987
Youthclubs1:Bom Pastor
Youthyears2:1987–1995
Youthclubs2:Boavista
Years1:1995–1996
Caps1:26
Goals1:1
Years2:1996–1997
Caps2:13
Goals2:2
Years3:1997–1998
Caps3:31
Goals3:3
Years4:1998–1999
Caps4:30
Goals4:3
Years5:1999–2000
Caps5:30
Goals5:4
Years6:2000–2002
Caps6:51
Goals6:7
Years7:2002–2008
Caps7:148
Goals7:12
Years8:2008–2012
Caps8:87
Goals8:5
Years9:2012–2013
Caps9:8
Goals9:2
Totalcaps:424
Totalgoals:39
Nationalyears1:2001–2008
Nationalcaps1:57
Nationalgoals1:4
Manageryears1:2012–2015
Managerclubs1:Boavista
Manageryears2:2015–2017
Managerclubs2:Tondela
Manageryears3:2017
Managerclubs3:Moreirense
Manageryears4:2017–2018
Managerclubs4:Paços Ferreira
Manageryears5:2018
Managerclubs5:Moreirense
Manageryears6:2018–2019
Managerclubs6:Marítimo
Manageryears7:2020–2021
Managerclubs7:B-SAD
Manageryears8:2021–2023
Managerclubs8:Boavista
Manageryears9:2024–
Managerclubs9:Cuiabá

Armando Gonçalves Teixeira (pronounced as /pt/; born 25 September 1976), known as Petit, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, currently head coach of Série A club Cuiabá.

He received the moniker Petit because of his small frame, and also because he was born in France. He also became known as Pitbull by supporters because of his fierce approach, in addition to a powerful outside shot.[2]

After helping Boavista win their first and only Primeira Liga championship, he went on to amass more than 200 official appearances for Benfica, winning another three major titles. He also spent several seasons in Germany with 1. FC Köln, but his later years were marred by injury problems.

A Portugal international during the 2000s, Petit represented the nation in two World Cups – finishing fourth in the 2006 edition – and as many European Championships. He started working as a manager in 2012, with Boavista, and led five other top-flight teams.

Club career

Early years and Boavista

Petit was born to Portuguese parents in Strasbourg, France, and moved to his parents' motherland at the age of two, settling in the Bom Pastor area of Paranhos in Porto.[2] After four years with modest clubs, he first established himself at the Primeira Liga with Gil Vicente where he was a key player,[3] helping the Barcelos team to their best-ever first division finish (fifth, narrowly missing out on qualification for the UEFA Cup).

Petit left for Boavista after one season, being instrumental in the side's only league conquest and going on to have his first experience in the UEFA Champions League. He made his debut in the latter competition on 11 September 2001, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 group stage away draw against Liverpool.[4]

Benfica

In July 2002, Petit moved to Benfica on a five-year deal for €3 million, with Boavista retaining half of his economic rights.[5] He became an instant first choice, and in his third year, he scored twice in 29 games as the club ended an 11-year drought and won the national championship.[6]

In June 2005, immediately after winning the league, Petit extended his contract until 2010.[7] He scored his only European goals in 2006–07 as the team reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup; the goals came in wins at the Estádio da Luz over Austria Wien (Champions League third qualifying round)[8] and Paris Saint-Germain (quarter-final second leg).[9]

FC Köln

On 30 July 2008, Petit signed a two-year contract with newly-promoted 1. FC Köln from Germany, with the option of a third; Benfica retained first choice were he to return to his homeland, and would receive €3 million if he chose another Portuguese team.[10] He netted his first goal with his new club on 7 August, against SV Niederauerbach in the first round of the domestic cup.[11] On 1 November, he scored his first in the Bundesliga, a 90th-minute effort against VfB Stuttgart in a 3–1 victory,[12] ending his debut season with 31 matches out of 34 as the team easily retained their status.

The 35-year-old Petit missed the entire 2011–12 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury,[13] [14] and Köln were also relegated. In August 2012, he returned to Boavista, with the club now in the third division.[15]

International career

Petit made his debut for Portugal on 2 June 2001, in a 1–1 draw against Republic of Ireland in Dublin for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[16] He played for the nation in the finals, and was also a member of the team that reached the final at UEFA Euro 2004, held on home soil.

Petit scored from two long free kicks in a 7–1 home drubbing of Russia in the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign,[17] going on to be selected for the final stages in Germany where he netted an own goal in the 61st minute of the third place playoff against the hosts,[18] becoming the fourth player in the tournament to score in that fashion.

Prior to the start of Euro 2008, Petit announced that he would retire from international football at 31.[19] In total, he won 57 caps and scored four goals.[20]

Coaching career

Boavista

In October 2012, Petit was appointed player-coach of Boavista,[21] becoming the full-time manager in the following season. The club returned to the top flight for administrative reasons in 2014, and on his professional managerial debut he lost 1–0 at home to Benfica on 24 August.[22]

On 28 November 2015, Petit left the hotseat at the Estádio do Bessa for personal motives.[23]

Tondela

Eleven days after leaving Boavista, Petit was appointed at Tondela for their first top-division campaign.[24] He was the last of three coaches in charge, as the team avoided relegation in the last matchday.[25]

Subsequently, Petit signed a new deal to last until 2018, but left on 8 January 2017 after a 1–2 home loss to Arouca.[26]

Four appointments in two years

In March 2017, Petit was hired at Moreirense with the goal of keeping them in the main division, and left two months later by mutual consent when that was achieved.[27] On 23 October, Paços de Ferreira hired him in an attempt to preserve their place in the top tier,[28] and he left by his own accord the following January.[29]

Petit returned to Moreirense in February 2018 as their third manager of the season,[30] and left again after keeping them up.[31] He was appointed manager of Marítimo on 27 November, on a contract lasting until the end of the campaign.[32] He left the Madeiran club at its conclusion, as it did not exercise the option of another year.[33]

B-SAD

On 15 January 2020, Petit was hired by his sixth Portuguese top-division side, becoming the third coach of B-SAD's campaign as they were one point above the relegation zone.[34] He reached the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal in his one complete season, being eliminated 3–0 at Benfica.[35] On 19 October 2021, having needed a goal in the last minute of extra time to defeat minnows Berço in the cup, he resigned with eight months of his contract remaining; the team had earned four points and no wins in the first eight games of the league campaign.[36]

Return to Boavista

Petit returned to Boavista on 2 December 2021, on a deal until 2023.[37] Two weeks later, he took the club to the Taça da Liga semi-finals for the first time following a 5–1 home rout of Braga;[38] on 5 February, his contract was extended for another year.[39]

At the end of a 1–1 home draw with Marítimo on 9 October 2022, Petit was sent off for insults towards the refereeing team and fined €1,632.[40] He was suspended for the following game, a 1–0 loss in the third round of the cup away to fourth-tier Machico.[41]

Petit resigned on 11 December 2023, following a 3–1 league loss at Estrela da Amadora that was his side's fifth in a row; it was accepted the following day.[42] [43]

Cuiabá

On 1 May 2024, Petit took over as coach of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Cuiabá.[44]

Career statistics

Club

Sources:[45] [46]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Esposende1995–96Segunda Divisão26100261
Gondomar1996–97Segunda Divisão13200132
União Lamas1997–98Segunda Liga31320333
Esposende1998–99Segunda Liga30341344
Gil Vicente1999–00Primeira Liga30420324
Boavista2000–01Primeira Liga2634030333
2001–02Primeira Liga2542190365
Total5176100120698
Benfica2002–03Primeira Liga25210262
2003–04Primeira Liga2303090350
2004–05Primeira Liga2925080422
2005–06Primeira Liga3032090413
2006–07Primeira Liga24420142406
2007–08Primeira Liga171000070241
Total148121300047220814
1. FC Köln2008–09Bundesliga31321334
2009–10Bundesliga32140361
2010–11Bundesliga24100241
2011–12Bundesliga000000
Total875610!000936
Career total416373330059250842

International

Source:[47]

Portugal
YearAppsGoals
200170
200290
200300
2004102
200571
2006121
200770
200850
Total574

International goals

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Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
Boavista8 October 201228 November 2015
Tondela9 December 20159 January 2017
Moreirense20 March 201726 May 2017
Paços de Ferreira23 October 20178 January 2018
Moreirense14 February 201820 May 2018
Marítimo27 November 20184 June 2019
B-SAD15 January 202019 October 2021
Boavista30 November 202111 December 2023
Cuiabá1 May 2024present
Total

Honours

Player

Boavista

2000–01[48]

Benfica

2003–04[50]

2005[51]

Portugal

Individual

2001[53]

2006[53]

Manager

Boavista

Orders

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Petit. Mais Futebol. pt. 30 December 2021.
  2. News: Petit. Diário de Notícias. Sílvia. Freches. pt. 16 June 2006. 13 August 2019.
  3. News: Gil Vicente: Um grande Petit. Gil Vicente: Big Petit. Record. pt. 29 November 1999. 6 January 2018.
  4. Web site: Liverpool held by Boavista. BBC Sport. 11 September 2001. 23 October 2017.
  5. News: Boavista continua a deter 50 por cento do passe de Petit. Boavista keep 50 per cent of Petit's value. Record. pt. 20 July 2002. 22 May 2023.
  6. News: Campeões, onze anos depois. Champions, eleven years later. Diário de Notícias. António Pedro. Pereira. pt. 23 May 2005. 14 January 2021.
  7. News: futebol Petit renova com Benfica até 2010. football Petit renews with Benfica until 2010. Diário de Notícias. pt. 23 June 2005. 22 May 2023.
  8. News: Magia de Rui Costa abriu as portas da Champions. Rui Costa's magic opened the doors to the Champions League. Diário de Notícias. Elisabete. Silva. pt. 23 August 2006. 22 May 2023.
  9. Web site: PSG pay penalty as Benfica prosper. UEFA. 15 March 2007. 22 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Petit leaves Benfica for Köln. UEFA. 30 July 2008. 5 December 2021.
  11. Web site: Petit zeigt seine Klasse. Petit shows his class. Kicker. de. 7 August 2008. 5 December 2021.
  12. Web site: VfB Stuttgart 1–3 1. FC Köln. https://archive.today/20130102200711/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252684?cc=5739. dead. 2 January 2013. ESPN Soccernet. 1 November 2008. 7 August 2012.
  13. Web site: Kölns Petit fällt ein halbes Jahr aus. Köln's Petit to miss half a year. Focus. de. 15 May 2011. 7 August 2012.
  14. Web site: Petit wieder auf dem Platz. Petit returns. 1. FC Köln. de. 29 September 2011. 7 August 2012.
  15. Web site: Surpresa: Petit regressa para jogar no Boavista. Surprise: Petit returns to play in Boavista. Mais Futebol. pt. 16 August 2012. 5 December 2021.
  16. News: Caprichos de um vento errante. Whims of a wandering wind. Público. Fernando. Marques. pt. 3 June 2001. 23 October 2017.
  17. Web site: Ronaldo leads Portugal procession. UEFA. 13 October 2004. 13 May 2011.
  18. Web site: Schweinsteiger starts German party. UEFA. 8 July 2006. 5 December 2021.
  19. News: Petit despede-se da selecção portuguesa de futebol no Euro 2008. Petit says goodbye to Portugal national team in Euro 2008. Público. pt. 22 May 2008. 23 October 2017.
  20. Web site: Raul Meireles atinge a meia centena. Raul Meireles reaches half a century. SAPO. pt. 7 October 2011. 23 October 2017.
  21. News: Petit passa a treinador-jogador. Petit is now a player-coach. O Jogo. pt. 9 October 2012. 21 October 2014.
  22. Web site: Eliseu cannonball wrecks Boavista return. PortuGOAL. Stephen. Gillett. 27 August 2014. 17 December 2021.
  23. News: Petit já tinha tomado a decisão de abandonar o Boavista. Petit had already decided to leave Boavista. Correio da Manhã. pt. 28 November 2015. 27 February 2016.
  24. Web site: Petit é o novo treinador do Tondela. Petit is the new manager of Tondela. SAPO. pt. 9 December 2015. 27 February 2016.
  25. Web site: Rio Ave na Europa, Tondela assegura permanência. Rio Ave in Europe, Tondela confirm survival. Rádio Renascença. pt. 14 May 2016. 15 May 2016.
  26. Web site: Petit deixa de ser treinador do Tondela. Petit stops being manager of Tondela. TSF. pt. 9 January 2017. 13 January 2017.
  27. News: Oficial: Petit de saída do Moreirense. Official: Petit exits Moreirense. O Jogo. pt. 26 May 2017. 27 August 2018.
  28. News: Petit é o novo treinador do Paços de Ferreira. Petit is the new manager of Paços de Ferreira. Observador. pt. 23 October 2017. 24 February 2018.
  29. News: Petit abandona o cargo de treinador. Petit abandons managerial post. Diário de Notícias. pt. 8 January 2018. 24 February 2018.
  30. News: Petit é o novo treinador do Moreirense. Petit is the new manager of Moreirense. Observador. pt. 14 February 2018. 24 February 2018.
  31. Web site: Moreirense: Petit não continua no comando técnico. Moreirense: Petit will not remain in charge. Mais Futebol. Bruno José. Ferreira. pt. 24 May 2018. 24 July 2019.
  32. News: Petit é o novo treinador do Marítimo. Petit is the new manager of Marítimo. Record. Gonçalo. Vasconcelos. pt. 27 November 2018. 24 July 2019.
  33. News: Petit apresentou-se ao serviço do Marítimo... apesar de haver outro treinador. Petit presented himself in service of Marítimo... despite them having another manager. Diário de Notícias. Isaura. Almeida. pt. 1 July 2019. 24 July 2019.
  34. News: Petit no Belenenses SAD. Metade dos clubes já mudou de treinador esta época. Petit to Belenenses SAD. Half of clubs have already changed managers this season. Diário de Notícias. Isaura. Almeida. pt. 15 January 2020. 27 January 2020.
  35. News: Benfica vence Belenenses SAD por três a zero e segue em frente nas 'meias' da Taça de Portugal. Benfica defeat Belenenses SAD by three goals to nil and advance to the 'semis' of the Portuguese Cup. Correio da Manhã. pt. 28 January 2021. 22 October 2021.
  36. News: Filipe Cândido a caminho do Belenenses SAD para render Petit. Filipe Cândido heading to Belenenses SAD to relieve Petit. Record. pt. 19 October 2021. 22 October 2021.
  37. Web site: Petit regressa ao Boavista até 2023. Petit returns to Boavista until 2023. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 2 December 2021. 5 December 2021.
  38. Web site: Boavista na "final four" da Taça da Liga pela primeira vez. Boavista in the final four of the League Cup for the first time. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 16 December 2021. 17 December 2021.
  39. News: Petit renova com Boavista até 2024. "Sou uma pessoa da casa". Petit renews contract with Boavista until 2024. "I'm one of your own". Diário de Notícias. pt. 5 February 2022. 22 May 2023.
  40. Web site: Petit não vai orientar o Boavista na deslocação a Machico. Petit will not manage Boavista on the trip to Machico. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 11 October 2022. 22 May 2023.
  41. Web site: Taça: Machico-Boavista, 1–0 (crónica). Cup: Machico-Boavista, 1–0 (report). Televisão Independente. Diogo. Gaudêncio. pt. 16 October 2022. 22 May 2023.
  42. News: Petit deixa o comando técnico do Boavista. Petit no longer at the helm of Boavista. Jornal de Notícias. Arnaldo. Martins. pt. 11 December 2023. 11 December 2023.
  43. Web site: Comunicado da Boavista Futebol Clube, Futebol SAD e de Armando Teixeira. Announcement by Boavista Futebol Clube, Futebol SAD and Armando Teixeira. Boavista F.C.. pt. 12 December 2023. 12 December 2023.
  44. Web site: Cuiabá surpreende e anuncia português que já disputou Copa do Mundo como jogador para ser novo técnico. Cuiabá surprise and announce Portuguese who already took part in World Cup as player to be the new manager. ESPN Brazil. pt. 1 May 2024. 2 May 2024.
  45. Web site: Petit. Futebol 365. pt. 13 May 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110816220401/http://futebol365.pt/jogadores/info_jogador.asp?id=1401&edicao=2007. 16 August 2011.
  46. Web site: Armando Petit. Footballdatabase. pt. 18 May 2015.
  47. Web site: Petit. European Football. 27 August 2018.
  48. Web site: Petit e o Boavista: "Vieram-me as lágrimas aos olhos". Petit and Boavista: "Tears came to my eyes". Mais Futebol. pt. 15 May 2008. 5 December 2021.
  49. News: Campeões, onze anos depois. Champions, eleven years after. Diário de Notícias. António Pedro. Pereira. pt. 23 May 2005. 20 September 2014.
  50. News: Benfica vence Taça de Portugal (2–1). Benfica win Portuguese Cup (2–1). Público. pt. 16 May 2004. 20 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150217200710/http://www.publico.pt/noticia/benfica-vence-taca-de-portugal-21-1193962. 17 February 2015.
  51. News: Benfica vence Supertaça frente ao Setúbal. Benfica win Supercup against Setúbal. Público. pt. 13 August 2005. 20 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150217190656/http://www.publico.pt/noticia/benfica-vence-supertaca-frente-ao-setubal-1230521. 17 February 2015.
  52. Web site: Moreira e Maniche convocados. Moreira and Maniche called. TSF. pt. 18 May 2004. 20 September 2014.
  53. Web site: Portugal – Footballer of the Year. RSSSF. Rui Manuel. Conceição Silva. 20 September 2014.
  54. Web site: Petit distinguido com o Prémio Vítor Oliveira – Treinador do Mês na Liga Portugal Betclic. Petit distinguished with Vítor Oliveira Award – Manager of the Month in Liga Portugal Betclic. Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. pt. 14 September 2023. 15 September 2023.
  55. Web site: Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança. National team honoured by Duke of Bragança. Cristiano Ronaldo News. pt. 30 August 2006. 30 August 2006.