António Simões
Encyclopedia
António José Simões da Costa (ɐ̃ˈtɔniu siˈmõȷ̃ʃ); born Corroios
, 14 December 1943) is a Portuguese
footballer and a current coach. He played as a left winger for Benfica, from 1961/62 to 1974/75. With only 1.58 m of height, he is seen as the first "Giant Gnome" of Portuguese football, before Rui Barros
. He is the current assistant manager of the Iran national football team
.
, aged only 18.
Simões missed the team that reached the Independence Brazil Cup
final, in 1972, because of an injury, and had his last game, at 13 October 1973, in a 2–2 draw with Bulgaria
, in the World Cup qualifyings. He left Benfica in 1975, moving to the U.S.
, where he signed with the Boston Minutemen
of the North American Soccer League
. He spent two seasons in Boston before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes
in 1976. He also played for during the 1975-1976 season. He finished the 1977 season in San Jose, then played for the Dallas Tornado
in 1979.http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Simoes.Antonio.htm
In 1979, he signed with the Detroit Lightning
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
. After one season, he moved to the Chicago Horizon
before finishing his career with the Kansas City Comets
.
, in a friendly match in Sao Paulo
. He was a member of the "Magriços
" side that reached third place in the 1966 World Cup in England
. He earned forty-six caps, scoring three goals. His last international match was on October 13, 1973 against Bulgaria
.
of the MISL. The Pride fired him March 1984 and replaced him with Ted Podleski. He was then hired as an assistant coach to Alan Mayer
. When the Americans fired Mayer in January 1985, Simoes was also let go. In 1989, he was the SISL indoor season Coach of the Year with the Austin Sockadillos. He coached the team until 1991. Simoes agreed to coach the Iranian National Football Team
as an assistant coach to Carlos Queiroz
in April 2011.
Corroios
Corroios is a Portuguese town and parish, located in the municipality of Seixal. It has a 2001 population of 46,475 inhabitants and a total area of 16.92 km² and the density is 2,746.9/km². Corroios remains as the second most populous town in Portugal, after Algueirão-Mem Martins...
, 14 December 1943) is a 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 and a current coach. He played as a left winger for Benfica, from 1961/62 to 1974/75. With only 1.58 m of height, he is seen as the first "Giant Gnome" of Portuguese football, before Rui Barros
Rui Barros
Rui Gil Soares de Barros is a retired Portuguese footballer.A diminutive attacking midfielder, Barros played with success in his country Rui Gil Soares de Barros (born 24 November 1965) is a retired Portuguese footballer.A diminutive attacking midfielder, Barros played with success in his country...
. He is the current assistant manager of the Iran national football team
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
.
Player
He won the titles of National Champion for Benfica, in 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1970/71, 1971/72, 1972/73 and 1974/75, and the Cup of Portugal, in 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Simões was European Champion for S.L. Benfica, in 1962, at the 5–3 win over Real MadridReal Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, aged only 18.
Simões missed the team that reached the Independence Brazil Cup
Independence Brazil Cup
The Brazil Independence Cup was a 20-team, international football tournament held in Brazil, from 11 June to 9 July 1972, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Brazilian Declaration of Independence. It was called the Minicopa by the Brazilians and the final was between Brazil and Portugal, in...
final, in 1972, because of an injury, and had his last game, at 13 October 1973, in a 2–2 draw with Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, in the World Cup qualifyings. He left Benfica in 1975, moving to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he signed with the Boston Minutemen
Boston Minutemen
The Boston Minutemen were a soccer team based out of Boston that played in the NASL. They played from 1974 to 1976. Their home fields included Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy and Sargent Field in New Bedford.Portuguese legend...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He spent two seasons in Boston before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
in 1976. He also played for during the 1975-1976 season. He finished the 1977 season in San Jose, then played for the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
in 1979.http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Simoes.Antonio.htm
In 1979, he signed with the Detroit Lightning
Detroit Lightning
The Detroit Lightning was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1979-1980. The Lightning finished that season at 15-17...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. After one season, he moved to the Chicago Horizon
Chicago Horizon
The Chicago Horizons was a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League for only the 1980–81 season. It was the first of two franchises that represented Chicago in the circuit's history. It was the first professional sports team that played its home matches at the Rosemont Horizon, which also...
before finishing his career with the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
.
International
Simões was called for the national team for the first time on May 6, 1962 in a 1–2 defeat with BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in a friendly match in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. He was a member of the "Magriços
Magriços
Os Magriços was the nickname of the Portugal national football team which reached third place in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England.It was based on the Benfica team that won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962, and included Mário Coluna, Eusébio, José Augusto, José Augusto Torres, and António Simões...
" side that reached third place in the 1966 World Cup in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He earned forty-six caps, scoring three goals. His last international match was on October 13, 1973 against Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
Coach
He has been, since then, a football manager and the female National Team coach. In 1982, he was hired as coach of the Phoenix InfernoPhoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
of the MISL. The Pride fired him March 1984 and replaced him with Ted Podleski. He was then hired as an assistant coach to Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer, a native of Islip, New York is a retired soccer goalkeeper from the United States. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team....
. When the Americans fired Mayer in January 1985, Simoes was also let go. In 1989, he was the SISL indoor season Coach of the Year with the Austin Sockadillos. He coached the team until 1991. Simoes agreed to coach the Iranian National Football Team
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
as an assistant coach to Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Manuel Brito Leal Queiroz ComIH is a Portuguese football manager. He is currently the manager of the Iran national football team. A former manager of Real Madrid, and Portugal national football team, he has also twice been Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at English club Manchester...
in April 2011.