Bruno Aguiar
Encyclopedia
Bruno João Morais Aguiar (born 24 February 1981) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for AC Omonia
in Cyprus
, as a central midfielder.
After an unsuccessful spell with Benfica, although he contributed to the team's first Primeira Liga title in over one decade, he left the club in 2005, going on to play professionally in three other countries, namely Scotland
and Cyprus
.
, Aguiar grew in local S.L. Benfica's youth system, but spent the vast majority of his spell as a senior with the B side. Additionally, he also served two loans, at Gil Vicente FC (six months) and F.C. Alverca
, helping former Benfica farm team
return to the top level in the second of his two full seasons, after which he returned to his alma mater
.
Under Giovanni Trapattoni
, hired for the 2004–05 season, Aguiar would make all the appearances for Benfica's main squad, his first being a UEFA Champions League
third qualifying round against R.S.C. Anderlecht
, on August 10, 2004 (1–0 home win, 1–3 aggregate loss); he also contributed with 18 matches (840 minutes) as the Reds won the domestic league for the first time since 1994. However, after the Italian
was replaced by Ronald Koeman
, he fell out of favour and was released from contract.
, who then immediately loaned him to Heart of Midlothian
, both clubs being owned by Vladimir Romanov
. He made his club debut in a 2–1 defeat by Aberdeen
in February, and made a further 11 appearances before the end of the season, helping the side finish in second place in the Scottish Premier League
, with the addition of the Scottish Cup
.
2006–07 did not start so well for Aguiar, as he was sent off
in the first leg of Hearts' Champions League third round qualifier against AEK Athens, after receiving a second yellow card for throwing the ball away, when his team was leading 1–0. The Greek
utilised their subsequent one-man advantage to win it 2–1.
A lengthy eighteen-month injury layoff soon followed for Aguiar, and he made his return to first team action in October 2008, in the Edinburgh Derby
where he scored a free-kick to earn Hearts a draw. On 9 December, he was awarded the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month award for the previous month, and ended the 2008–09 season as Hearts' top goal scorer, with seven goals.
On 1 June 2009, Hearts confirmed Aguiar's departure following the expiration of his contract, leaving him free to sign with another club. He stated that he had enjoyed his time at the Tynecastle club, with the Scottish Cup
victory and second-place finish in the league in 2006 being personal highlights, as well as wishing them the best for the future.
that finished third at the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship
, and qualified for the Athens Olympics
, along with several future full internationals, such as Raul Meireles, Bruno Alves
, José Bosingwa
, Hugo Viana
, Hugo Almeida
and Danny; he did not make however, the final cut for the latter competition.
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 plays for AC Omonia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, as a central midfielder.
After an unsuccessful spell with Benfica, although he contributed to the team's first Primeira Liga title in over one decade, he left the club in 2005, going on to play professionally in three other countries, namely Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
Benfica
Born in LisbonLisbon
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...
, Aguiar grew in local S.L. Benfica's youth system, but spent the vast majority of his spell as a senior with the B side. Additionally, he also served two loans, at Gil Vicente FC (six months) and F.C. Alverca
F.C. Alverca
Futebol Clube de Alverca is a Portuguese football club based in Alverca do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon. Founded on 1 September 1939, it currently plays in the Lisbon District Championships.-History:...
, helping former Benfica farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
return to the top level in the second of his two full seasons, after which he returned to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
.
Under Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
, hired for the 2004–05 season, Aguiar would make all the appearances for Benfica's main squad, his first being a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
third qualifying round against R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, on August 10, 2004 (1–0 home win, 1–3 aggregate loss); he also contributed with 18 matches (840 minutes) as the Reds won the domestic league for the first time since 1994. However, after the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
was replaced by Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
, he fell out of favour and was released from contract.
Hearts
In January 2006, Aguiar signed for FBK KaunasFBK Kaunas
Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas, that currently plays in the A Lyga, the top level of Lithuanian football.- History :...
, who then immediately loaned him to Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, both clubs being owned by Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov ; born 1947 in Tver Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR) is an ethnic Russian businessman who also holds Lithuanian citizenship following that country's independence from the Soviet Union. He is chairman of UBIG Investments which is the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier...
. He made his club debut in a 2–1 defeat by Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in February, and made a further 11 appearances before the end of the season, helping the side finish in second place in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, with the addition of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
.
2006–07 did not start so well for Aguiar, as he was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
in the first leg of Hearts' Champions League third round qualifier against AEK Athens, after receiving a second yellow card for throwing the ball away, when his team was leading 1–0. The Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
utilised their subsequent one-man advantage to win it 2–1.
A lengthy eighteen-month injury layoff soon followed for Aguiar, and he made his return to first team action in October 2008, in the Edinburgh Derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
where he scored a free-kick to earn Hearts a draw. On 9 December, he was awarded the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Player of the Month award for the previous month, and ended the 2008–09 season as Hearts' top goal scorer, with seven goals.
On 1 June 2009, Hearts confirmed Aguiar's departure following the expiration of his contract, leaving him free to sign with another club. He stated that he had enjoyed his time at the Tynecastle club, with the Scottish Cup
2006 Scottish Cup Final
The 2006 Scottish Cup Final was played on 13 May 2006 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 120th Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Heart of Midlothian , who beat Hibernian 4–0 in the semi-final, and Gretna, who beat Dundee 3–0....
victory and second-place finish in the league in 2006 being personal highlights, as well as wishing them the best for the future.
International career
Aguiar was a member of the Portugal under-21 teamPortugal 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...
that finished third at the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship
2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2004 was the 14th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Germany between 27 May and 8 June 2004.Italy U-21s won the competition for the fifth time...
, and qualified for the Athens Olympics
Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...
, along with several future full internationals, such as Raul Meireles, Bruno Alves
Bruno Alves
Bruno Eduardo Regufe Alves is a Portuguese footballer who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia and the Portuguese national team, as a central defender....
, José Bosingwa
José Bosingwa
José Bosingwa da Silva , known as Bosingwa, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, as a right defender.-Early years:...
, Hugo Viana
Hugo Viana
Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Sporting de Braga as a central midfielder.His main assets are good set-pieces and passing skills...
, Hugo Almeida
Hugo Almeida
Hugo Miguel Pereira de Almeida is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Beşiktaş J.K. in Turkey, as a centre forward.After failing to establish himself at F.C...
and Danny; he did not make however, the final cut for the latter competition.
Club
- Portuguese League: 2004–05
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: 2005–06 - Cypriot LeagueCypriot First DivisionThe Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
: 2009–102009–10 Cypriot First DivisionCypriot First Division 2009–10 will be the 72nd season of the Cypriot top-level football league. It started on 29 August 2009. The defending champions are APOEL.-Competition modus:Fourteen teams will participate in the competition... - Cypriot Cup: 2010–112010–11 Cypriot CupThe 2010–11 Cypriot Cup is the 69th edition and started on November 10, 2010.-Bracket:-First round:The first legs were played on November 10, 2010...
- Cypriot Supercup: 2010