Ricardo Sá Pinto
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Manuel Andrade e Silva Sá Pinto (born 10 October 1972) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a forward.
He was known for his fighting spirit, best displayed in his Sporting stints - he was dubbed by the club's fans "Ricardo Lion Heart". In a career which was cut short by injury and suspension, he appeared in 230 Portuguese top division games (scoring 51 goals), also playing abroad in Spain
for two years.
Sá Pinto appeared with the Portuguese national team
in two European Championships
, finishing third at Euro 2000.
, Sá Pinto made is professional debuts with local S.C. Salgueiros, and soon represented the Portuguese under-21s
, helping the side reach the 1994 UEFA European Football Championship
final.
In 1994–95, Pinto joined first division powerhouse Sporting Clube de Portugal. After some solid performances, he attracted the attention of La Liga
side Real Sociedad
. He scored in his first match for his new club, a 3–3 home draw against Real Oviedo
, on 30 August 1998.
After 70 matches and six goals (only two seasons of action due to international suspension) in Spain
, Sá Pinto returned to Sporting, where he played six further seasons, troubled by many injuries, although he eventually gained club captaincy. In 2006–07, he joined fellow Portuguese international Sérgio Conceição
at Standard Liège
(with Jorge Costa
having retired at the club in the summer) in the Belgian first division, and retired at almost 35.
In early November 2009, Sá Pinto returned to Sporting, replacing former teammate Pedro Barbosa
as director of football
, as coach Paulo Bento
was sacked following a string of poor performances/results. On 21 January 2010, following a physical confrontation with club player Liédson
in the team's locker room, after the 4–3 home win against C.D. Mafra
for the season
's Portuguese Cup
, he immediately presented his resignation.
In 2010, Sá Pinto had his first coaching experience, being named assistant manager at União de Leiria, under Pedro Caixinha.
for Portugal
, 25 with Sporting and 20 for Real Sociedad, scoring nine goals. His first game was on 7 September 1994 in Belfast
, a 2–1 win over Northern Ireland
, in which he scored the second goal. He played at UEFA Euro 1996, scoring the equalizing goal against Denmark
(1–1) in the first game, and Euro 2000.
On 26 March 1997, Sá Pinto assaulted then national team coach Artur Jorge, upon hearing the news of not having been picked up for a match. The player travelled to Estádio Nacional
in Lisbon
, where the team was practicing, and punched Jorge in the face, being banned for one year from all national and international competitions.
Pinto's last game was in the 6–0 win over Cyprus
, on 6 June 2001. An injury prevented him from being present at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
finals.
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 forward.
He was known for his fighting spirit, best displayed in his Sporting stints - he was dubbed by the club's fans "Ricardo Lion Heart". In a career which was cut short by injury and suspension, he appeared in 230 Portuguese top division games (scoring 51 goals), also playing abroad in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for two years.
Sá Pinto appeared with the Portuguese 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...
in two European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, finishing third at Euro 2000.
Club career
Born in PortoPorto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Sá Pinto made is professional debuts with local S.C. Salgueiros, and soon represented the Portuguese under-21s
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...
, helping the side reach the 1994 UEFA European Football Championship
1994 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1994, which spanned two years , had 32 entrants. After the quarter-finals stage, France were chosen as the first hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
final.
In 1994–95, Pinto joined first division powerhouse Sporting Clube de Portugal. After some solid performances, he attracted the attention of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
. He scored in his first match for his new club, a 3–3 home draw against Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, on 30 August 1998.
After 70 matches and six goals (only two seasons of action due to international suspension) in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Sá Pinto returned to Sporting, where he played six further seasons, troubled by many injuries, although he eventually gained club captaincy. In 2006–07, he joined fellow Portuguese international Sérgio Conceição
Sérgio Conceição
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a right winger.Known for his speed and strength, combined with his good dribbling and crossing skills, and fairly accurate shooting. During his extensive career, he played for ten different teams, in five...
at Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
(with Jorge Costa
Jorge Costa
Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida , known as Costa, is a retired Portuguese professional footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager....
having retired at the club in the summer) in the Belgian first division, and retired at almost 35.
In early November 2009, Sá Pinto returned to Sporting, replacing former teammate Pedro Barbosa
Pedro Barbosa
Pedro Alexandre dos Santos Barbosa is a retired Portuguese professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder....
as director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
, as coach Paulo Bento
Paulo Bento
Paulo Jorge Gomes Bento is a retired Portuguese footballer, and the current manager of Portugal.A defensive midfielder with tackling ability and workrate as his main assets, he played for two of the major three teams in his country, also playing four years in Spain...
was sacked following a string of poor performances/results. On 21 January 2010, following a physical confrontation with club player Liédson
Liédson
Liédson da Silva Muniz , simply Liédson, is a Brazilian-born Portuguese footballer who plays for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista as a striker....
in the team's locker room, after the 4–3 home win against C.D. Mafra
C.D. Mafra
Clube Desportivo Mafra is a football club currently playing in the Portuguese Second Division. They are based in the town of Mafra and play in the Campo Doutor Mário Silveira stadium...
for the season
2009–10 Taça de Portugal
The 2009–10 Taça de Portugal was the 70th season of the Taça de Portugal. The competition began on 30 August 2009, with the first round matches, and concluded with the final, held on 16 May at the Estádio Nacional, in Oeiras, between defending champions Porto and then Liga de Honra team Chaves...
's Portuguese Cup
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
, he immediately presented his resignation.
In 2010, Sá Pinto had his first coaching experience, being named assistant manager at União de Leiria, under Pedro Caixinha.
International career
Sá Pinto received 45 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Portugal
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...
, 25 with Sporting and 20 for Real Sociedad, scoring nine goals. His first game was on 7 September 1994 in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, a 2–1 win over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
, in which he scored the second goal. He played at UEFA Euro 1996, scoring the equalizing goal against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
(1–1) in the first game, and Euro 2000.
On 26 March 1997, Sá Pinto assaulted then national team coach Artur Jorge, upon hearing the news of not having been picked up for a match. The player travelled to Estádio Nacional
Estádio Nacional
The Estádio Nacional , also known as Estádio do Jamor, is the Portuguese national football ground. It is located in the Jamor sports complex, in Oeiras, near Lisbon. It was designed by Jacobetty Rosa and the building works started in 1939, with its inauguration happening on 10 June 1944 by the...
in Lisbon
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...
, where the team was practicing, and punched Jorge in the face, being banned for one year from all national and international competitions.
Pinto's last game was in the 6–0 win over Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
, on 6 June 2001. An injury prevented him from being present at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
finals.
Club
- Portuguese League: 2001–02
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 1994–95, 2001–02 - Portuguese Supercup: 2000, 2002
Country
- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: Runner-up 19941994 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-21 Championship 1994, which spanned two years , had 32 entrants. After the quarter-finals stage, France were chosen as the first hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....