Vítor Pontes Explained

Vítor Pontes
Fullname:Vítor Manuel Pereira Pontes
Birth Date:16 August 1958
Birth Place:Leiria, Portugal
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:1972–1976
Youthclubs1:União Leiria
Years1:1976–1985
Years2:1977–1978
Years3:1985–1987
Years4:1987–1988
Years5:1988–1989
Years6:1989–1992
Years7:1992–1993
Years8:1993–1994
Clubs2:→ Vieirense (loan)
Clubs8:Guarda
Caps3:0
Caps4:5
Caps6:3
Caps7:0
Caps8:14
Goals3:0
Goals4:0
Goals6:0
Goals7:0
Goals8:0
Manageryears1:2002
Manageryears2:2003–2005
Manageryears3:2005–2006
Manageryears4:2007–2009
Manageryears5:2011
Manageryears6:2012–2013
Manageryears7:2014
Manageryears8:2016
Managerclubs4:Portimonense
Managerclubs5:União Leiria
Managerclubs6:Chibuto
Managerclubs7:Ferroviário Maputo
Managerclubs8:Sichuan Longfor

Vítor Manuel Pereira Pontes (born 16 August 1958) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is a manager.

Playing career

Born in Leiria, Pontes started his professional career with local União Desportiva. However, during his 18 years as a senior, he played almost exclusively as a backup, only appearing in seven Primeira Liga matches during his career – five for O Elvas C.A.D. in the 1987–88 season, and two for C.D. Nacional in two years combined.

Coaching career

After retiring in 1994 at age 36 with lowly A.D. Guarda (third division), Pontes began immediately working as a goalkeeper coach with his first club, also going to serve there as an assistant manager.[1] He then coached Leiria's first team for two full seasons after a brief interim spell in 2002, subsequently signing with Vitória S.C. for the 2005–06 campaign and being one of two managers in a season which ended in top level relegation – the other was Jaime Pacheco.

In 2007, Pontes signed with division two side Portimonense SC, and remained there two seasons. On 8 September 2011, after two years out of the managerial scene, he returned to active and União de Leiria, replacing fired Pedro Caixinha.[2] His first game in charge was a 1–0 away win against S.C. Beira-Mar,[3] but he left his post after only one more match, however.[4]

In September 2012, Pontes took over at FC Chibuto in Mozambique.[5] He moved to the China League Two in May 2016, signing with Sichuan Longfor FC.[6]

Other ventures

After leaving Portimonense, Pontes worked as a football pundit for Sport TV, in the channel's domestic and UEFA Champions League coverage.

Notes and References

  1. News: Morreu Fernando Ferreira, treinador dos guarda-redes da União de Leiria. Fernando Ferreira, União de Leiria goalkeeper coach, has died. Público. 25 June 2004. 19 September 2017.
  2. News: Vítor Pontes é o novo treinador. Vítor Pontes is the new manager. A Bola. 8 September 2011. 11 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121005045245/http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=286170. 5 October 2012. dmy-all.
  3. News: Shaffer garante primeira vitória leiriense. Shaffer ensures first leiriense victory. A Bola. 11 September 2011. 11 September 2011.
  4. http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/more-uniao-de-leiria-news/27678-leiria-pontes-out-cajuda-in Uniao de Leiria swap coaches... again
  5. News: Vítor Pontes assume comando do Chibuto. Vítor Pontes takes over at Chibuto. Record. pt. 7 September 2012. 12 October 2012.
  6. Web site: Vítor Pontes assume comando de equipa chinesa. Vítor Pontes takes over at Chinese team. Mais Futebol. 9 May 2016. 19 September 2017.