Germano
Encyclopedia
Germano Luís de Figueiredo (23 December 1932 — 14 July 2004), commonly known by just Germano (ʒɨɾˈmɐnu), was a Portuguese central defender
, considered by many one of the best Portuguese football players of all time. He was born in Lisbon.
He started his career with Atlético CP
and debuted for the National Team on 29 November 1953, in a 0-0 draw with Austria, for the World Cup qualifyings. He had 7 caps for Atlético, before moving to Benfica in 1960/61, where he added 17 more.
He reached stardom at Benfica, where he played from 1960/61 to 1965/66, winning the titles of National Champion for the 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, and 1964/65 seasons, as well as the Cup of Portugal, in 1962 and 1964. He played his final season, 1966/67, at Salgueiros.
Germano was a leading figure at the Benfica team that was twice European Champion, in 1961 and 1962. He was also considered the best central defender of the 1961 European Champions competition and was, perhaps, the best player of the final, when Benfica won 3-2 against Barcelona. After the final whistle, he said that "I only gonna believe in this, next week". He was also present at the 1963 and 1965 finals.
For the National Team, he was its captain during the 1966 World Cup qualifyings, and could have been a leading figure of the "Magriços
" squad at the finals, had he not had an injury during his only game, on 16 July 1966, a 3-0 win over Bulgaria, that prevented him from playing for the rest of the competition. That would be also his 24th and final cap for the National Team.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, considered by many one of the best Portuguese football players of all time. He was born in Lisbon.
He started his career with Atlético CP
Atlético Clube de Portugal
Atlético Clube de Portugal is a Portuguese football team from Alcântara, Lisbon, founded on 18 September 1942. The club was formed with the union of two clubs – Carcavelinhos Football Clube and União Foot-ball Lisboa. They currently play in the Liga de Honra after gaining promotion in the 2010-11...
and debuted for the National Team on 29 November 1953, in a 0-0 draw with Austria, for the World Cup qualifyings. He had 7 caps for Atlético, before moving to Benfica in 1960/61, where he added 17 more.
He reached stardom at Benfica, where he played from 1960/61 to 1965/66, winning the titles of National Champion for the 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, and 1964/65 seasons, as well as the Cup of Portugal, in 1962 and 1964. He played his final season, 1966/67, at Salgueiros.
Germano was a leading figure at the Benfica team that was twice European Champion, in 1961 and 1962. He was also considered the best central defender of the 1961 European Champions competition and was, perhaps, the best player of the final, when Benfica won 3-2 against Barcelona. After the final whistle, he said that "I only gonna believe in this, next week". He was also present at the 1963 and 1965 finals.
For the National Team, he was its captain during the 1966 World Cup qualifyings, and could have been a leading figure 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...
" squad at the finals, had he not had an injury during his only game, on 16 July 1966, a 3-0 win over Bulgaria, that prevented him from playing for the rest of the competition. That would be also his 24th and final cap for the National Team.