Vítor Lima Explained

Vítor Lima
Fullname:Vítor Manuel Lima Santos[1]
Birth Date:10 August 1981
Birth Place:Guimarães, Portugal
Height:1.80 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1991–2000
Youthclubs1:Vitória Guimarães
Years1:2000–2001
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2000–2001
Clubs2:Zamora (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2001–2004
Caps3:101
Goals3:17
Years4:2004–2005
Caps4:35
Goals4:1
Years5:2005–2007
Caps5:36
Goals5:0
Years6:2007–2009
Caps6:57
Goals6:3
Years7:2009–2010
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Years8:2010–2012
Caps8:55
Goals8:2
Years9:2012–2013
Caps9:9
Goals9:0
Years10:2013–2014
Caps10:28
Goals10:0
Years11:2014–2018
Caps11:129
Goals11:8
Totalcaps:479
Totalgoals:31
Nationalyears1:1996–1997
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:4
Nationalyears2:1997–1998
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1998–1999
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1999
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0

Vítor Manuel Lima Santos (born 10 August 1981) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Early years

Aged 19, Guimarães-born Lima left his country and joined UD Salamanca in Spain. He would never appear officially for the first team, also being loaned to modest Zamora CF, and left the Castile and León club in 2001.[2]

In the following four seasons, Lima played in the Portuguese third division with Clube Caçadores das Taipas – three years – and Académico de Viseu FC.[2]

Falkirk

On 15 June 2005, free agent Lima signed for Falkirk alongside compatriot Tiago Jonas, being discovered by the team's player-coach Russell Latapy who had spent several seasons in Portugal as a player.[3] He made his Scottish Premier League debut on 6 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win against Livingston.[4]

On 28 April 2006, Lima extended his contract with the Bairns for a further season.[5] He left the club in summer 2007 after making 42 competitive appearances (30 starts), hoping to "return to Portugal".[6]

Greece, return to Scotland

Lima joined Greek second tier club Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. in June 2007. He often started during his tenure.

On 30 July 2009, Lima returned to Falkirk on a one-year deal.[7] He missed several games during the campaign due to a knee injury,[8] with the side eventually being relegated from the top flight after ranking 12th and last, following which he was released.[9]

Later career

Lima return to Greece and its division two for 2010–11, helping Doxa Drama F.C. to promote to the Super League. In the 2012 off-season he moved to neighbouring Cyprus, signing with Ethnikos Achna FC.[10]

On 12 July 2013, Lima moved to Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. of the Greek second division.[11] On 7 June of the following year he was supposed to sign for another team in the country, Agrotikos Asteras FC,[12] but the deal eventually fell through.

Lima retired in July 2018 at the age of 37 after four seasons with F.C. Famalicão (where he often acted as captain), the last three spent in the Portuguese second tier. He immediately joined their coaching staff.[13] [14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vitor Lima. Mais Futebol. pt. 3 May 2022.
  2. Web site: Vítor Lima: uma carreira longe de Portugal desde 2005. Vítor Lima: Career away from Portugal since 2005. Mais Futebol. pt. 16 May 2014. 3 May 2022.
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/4095878.stm Falkirk move for Portuguese pair
  4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4748397.stm Livingston 0–2 Falkirk
  5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/4957068.stm Midfield duo extend Bairns stay
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/6728839.stm Lima latest to depart from Bairns
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/8175743.stm Lima completes return to Falkirk
  8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/8582129.stm Vitor Lima injury fears allayed at Falkirk
  9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/8680244.stm Falkirk release eight players after relegation
  10. News: "Cheguei a ver um polícia a andar de mota, sem capacete e a mandar mensagens". "I went as far as seeing a policeman riding his motorbike, with no helmet and texting". O Jogo. João. Maia. pt. 28 July 2018. 3 May 2022.
  11. Web site: Υπέγραψε ο Vítor Lima. Vítor Lima signed. Iraklis F.C. el. 12 July 2013. 26 July 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130715192243/http://www.fciraklis.gr/nea/press/item/571-%CF%85%CF%80%CE%AD%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%88%CE%B5-%CE%BF-v%C3%ADtor-lima. 15 July 2013.
  12. Web site: Πρώτη μεταγραφή ο Vitor Lima. Vítor Lima the first transfer. Agrotikos Asteras F.C. el. 7 June 2014. 12 July 2014.
  13. Web site: Vítor Lima agradece apoio a adeptos do Famalicão. Vítor Lima thanks Famalicão fans for their support. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 16 November 2017. 3 May 2022.
  14. News: O adeus de Vítor Lima. Vítor Lima's farewell. Record. João. Baptista Seixas. pt. 30 July 2018. 3 May 2022.