Fernando Mendes (footballer, born 1966)

Fernando Manuel Antunes Mendes (born 5 November 1966) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left-back. He is the only player to have represented the five Portuguese clubs who have won a league title (in order, Sporting, Benfica, Boavista, Belenenses, and Porto)[1].

Not to be confused with Fernando Mendes (footballer, born 1937).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Antunes and the second or paternal family name is Mendes.
Fernando Mendes
Personal information
Full name Fernando Manuel Antunes Mendes
Date of birth (1966-11-05) 5 November 1966
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
1979–1980 Montijo
1980–1985 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1989 Sporting CP 94 (1)
1989–1991 Benfica 15 (0)
1991–1992 Boavista 32 (0)
1992–1993 Benfica 13 (1)
1993–1994 Estrela Amadora 18 (0)
1994–1995 Boavista 13 (0)
1995–1996 Belenenses 31 (3)
1996–1999 Porto 61 (5)
1999–2000 Belenenses 22 (2)
2000–2002 Vitória Setúbal 51 (10)
2004–2005 Montijo
2005–2008 São Marcos
2008–2009 Olímpico Montijo
Total 350 (22)
International career
1986 Portugal U21 3 (0)
1986–1996 Portugal 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Mendes was born in Setúbal. Having been brought up at Sporting CP's youth system at the same time as Paulo Futre, he made his first-team debut in 1984–85 aged 18, and reached the Portugal national team shortly after. In the following seasons he started regularly for the Lions, but they only won one trophy.

In summer 1989, Mendes joined Sporting's rivals S.L. Benfica, being sparingly used over three years – in between, he spent one season at Boavista F.C. – winning the Taça de Portugal in his last, where he teamed up with Futre. Released by Benfica, he appeared for three teams in as many years before joining the last of the Big Three, FC Porto, thus representing all the major clubs in his country as Futre.[2]

Mendes won his first Primeira Liga championship with the northern side in 1996–97 (the second overall), contributing 22 matches and three goals to the feat. In the following two campaigns, which ended in the same fashion, he was also regularly played.[3]

Aged nearly 33, Mendes left for another spell at Belenenses, then joined hometown's Vitória F.C. for his first season in the Segunda Liga, which ended in promotion.[4][5] After helping the Sadinos to retain their league status, he retired from professional football with top-division totals of 321 games and 12 goals.

International career

Mendes earned 11 full caps in one decade, but did not attend any major international tournament.[6]

Honours

Sporting CP

Benfica

Boavista

  • Taça de Portugal: 1991–92[4]

Porto

  • Primeira Liga: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99[4]
  • Taça de Portugal: 1997–98[4]
  • Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1996, 1998; Runner-up 1997[4]

References
  1. Palma, Tiago. "Fernando Mendes: "Se há coisa de que me arrependo foi de ter trocado o Sporting pelo Benfica"". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. Cruz Martins, André (28 April 2016). "Entre o prestígio e o orgulho ou entregar o título ao Benfica" [Between prestige and pride or handing out title to Benfica]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  3. Palma, Tiago (6 August 2017). "Fernando Mendes: "Se há coisa de que me arrependo foi de ter trocado o Sporting pelo Benfica"" [Fernando Mendes: "If I have one regret it would be swapping Sporting for Benfica"]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. "Fernando Mendes: «Fui o único que jogou nos cinco campeões»" [Fernando Mendes: "I was the only one that played for the five champions"]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 July 2001. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  5. Magalhães, Magda (5 November 2001). "Fernando Mendes (V. Setúbal): sucesso movido pela paixão pelo futebol" [Fernando Mendes (V. Setúbal): success fuelled by passion for football] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  6. "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
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