Nuno Piloto

Nuno Miguel Torres Piloto de Albuquerque (born 19 March 1982), known as Piloto, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a central midfielder.

Nuno Piloto
Personal information
Full name Nuno Miguel Torres Piloto de Albuquerque
Date of birth (1982-03-19) 19 March 1982
Place of birth Tondela, Portugal
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1994–2000 Repesenses
2000–2001 Académica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Académica B 67 (14)
2001–2002 → Anadia (loan) 26 (4)
2003–2009 Académica 90 (2)
2006–2007 → Tourizense (loan) 2 (0)
2009–2010 Iraklis 0 (0)
2010–2013 Olhanense 41 (3)
2013–2017 Académica 77 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2017

Club 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.

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 in the following campaign in home matches against C.D. Nacional (1–1)[1] and C.F. Os Belenenses (1–0).[2] By this time, he was already team captain.[3]

In June 2009, after rejecting offers for a new deal,[4] Piloto moved abroad and signed a three-year contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. in Greece. In 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.[5] The surgery took place in his country, on 10 August, being performed by FC Porto's medical staff.[6]

After failing to make a single appearance, Piloto returned to Portugal and signed a two-year deal with top flight club S.C. Olhanense.[7] On 6 September 2013, after three years with little playing time, narrowly avoiding relegation in his last, he rejoined Académica.[8]

On 23 June 2016, in spite of his team's relegation to the Segunda Liga, 34-year-old Piloto renewed his contract – about to expire – for another year.[9]

Academic career

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.[10][11]

References
  1. "Académica-Nacional, 1–1 (Nuno Piloto 83'; Nené 23')". Record (in Portuguese). 5 October 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. "Académica 1–0 Belenenses" (in Portuguese). SAPO. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  3. "Nuno Piloto: "Tivemos de sofrer muito"" [Nuno Piloto: «We had to suffer a lot»]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 April 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. "Nuno Piloto deixa Académica no final da temporada" [Nuno Piloto leaves Académica at the end of the season] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  5. Σοκ με Πιλότο! [Clash with Piloto] (in Greek). Blue Arena. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  6. Σε ανοιχτή γραμμή με τον Πιλότο (in Greek). Blue Arena. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  7. "Nuno Piloto assina pelo Olhanense" [Nuno Piloto signs for Olhanense] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  8. "Académica contrata desempregado Nuno Piloto" [Académica sign unemployed Nuno Piloto] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  9. "Nuno Piloto renovou por mais uma época" [Nuno Piloto renewed for another season]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 23 June 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  10. "Parabéns "Mestre" Nuno" [Congratulations "Master" Nuno!] (in Portuguese). Académica Coimbra. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  11. "Os doutores da Académica" [Académica's doctors] (in Portuguese). Sábado. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
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