Afonso Martins
Encyclopedia
Afonso Paulo Martins da Agra (born 11 April 1973 in Póvoa de Varzim
), known as Martins, is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a midfielder
.
when he was very young, and he first played professionally with AS Nancy-Lorraine
, during three seasons. In 1995–96 he returned to Portugal
, signing with league powerhouse Sporting Clube de Portugal.
His tenure with the capital
outfit was an inconsistent one: he was a starter during his first seasons but, towards the end, was often demoted to the B team, and participated very little in the side's 2000 and 2002 (no games whatsoever in the latter, as he was left without a place in the squad and only trained separately).
Martins finished his career in June 2007, after spells with Moreirense FC (2002–03, 2004–05), Vitória de Guimarães (2003–04) and lowly F.C. Lixa
(he did not have a club in 2005–06). He played for the national team
at under-21 level
, also appearing at the 1996 Olympic Games
in Atlanta, and scored both goals in the 2–0 win over Tunisia
, in the first game, as Portugal finished fourth
.
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
), known as Martins, is a retired Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Football career
Martins family emigrated to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
when he was very young, and he first played professionally with AS Nancy-Lorraine
AS Nancy
Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine is a French association football club based in Nancy. The club was founded in 1967 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Nancy plays its home matches at the Stade Marcel Picot in Tomblaine, a commune located in the Arrondissement of...
, during three seasons. In 1995–96 he returned to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, signing with league powerhouse Sporting Clube de Portugal.
His tenure with the capital
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
outfit was an inconsistent one: he was a starter during his first seasons but, towards the end, was often demoted to the B team, and participated very little in the side's 2000 and 2002 (no games whatsoever in the latter, as he was left without a place in the squad and only trained separately).
Martins finished his career in June 2007, after spells with Moreirense FC (2002–03, 2004–05), Vitória de Guimarães (2003–04) and lowly F.C. Lixa
F.C. Lixa
Futebol Clube da Lixa known as FC Lixa is a Portuguese football club from Porto which was founded in 1934. They currently play in the Portuguese Second Division Serie A and last season they finished 14th place 2007/08. They currently play their home games in Senhor do Amparo with a capacity of 6,000...
(he did not have a club in 2005–06). He played for the national team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
at under-21 level
Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
, also appearing at the 1996 Olympic Games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, and scored both goals in the 2–0 win over Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
, in the first game, as Portugal finished fourth
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
.