Vítor Damas
Encyclopedia
Vítor Manuel Afonso Damas de Oliveira (born 8 October 1947 in Lisbon
- died 10 September 2003 in Lisbon
), known as Damas, was a Portuguese
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
During a 23-year professional career, he was mainly linked with hometown's Sporting, but he also played for three other teams, including Racing de Santander
in La Liga
.
A Portuguese international
for 17 years, he represented the country in one
World Cup
and one European Championship
, both in his mid-to-late 30's.
side's undisputed starter, winning two leagues and three cups
, including the double in 1973–74.
In 1976, Damas moved to Spain
, playing four years at Racing de Santander
. He was also first-choice at the Cantabria
ns, spending his last season in the second division
.
Aged nearly 33, Damas returned to Portugal, spending four years (two apiece) with Vitória de Guimarães and Portimonense SC
, after which he returned to Sporting. Damas still produced five more respectable seasons, only losing his status in his final year, to Uruguay
an Rodolfo Rodríguez
.
Following his retirement at nearly 42, Damas remained at Sporting, as goalkeepers' coach. He died aged 55 from cancer
.
for the Portuguese national team
, from 6 April 1969 to 11 July 1986. He was second-choice at both UEFA Euro 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup
, backing up S.L. Benfica's Manuel Bento; however, in the latter, the starter suffered a serious fibula injury in training, and he took the pitch for group stage losses against Poland
(0–1) and Morocco
(1–3).
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...
- died 10 September 2003 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...
), known as Damas, was 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 who played as a goalkeeper.
During a 23-year professional career, he was mainly linked with hometown's Sporting, but he also played for three other teams, including Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
in 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...
.
A Portuguese international
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...
for 17 years, he represented the country in one
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and one European Championship
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...
, both in his mid-to-late 30's.
Club career
Damas made his professional debuts with Sporting Clube de Portugal aged 19. After two years as a backup, he became the capitalLisbon
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...
side's undisputed starter, winning two leagues and three cups
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...
, including the double in 1973–74.
In 1976, Damas moved to 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...
, playing four years at Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
. He was also first-choice at the Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
ns, spending his last season in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
.
Aged nearly 33, Damas returned to Portugal, spending four years (two apiece) with Vitória de Guimarães and Portimonense SC
Portimonense S.C.
Portimonense Sporting Clube is a Portuguese football team based in Portimão. Founded on 14 August 1914, the club is one of the few professional clubs in the Algarve region, and currently plays in second division....
, after which he returned to Sporting. Damas still produced five more respectable seasons, only losing his status in his final year, to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an Rodolfo Rodríguez
Rodolfo Rodríguez
Rodolfo Sergio Rodríguez Rodríguez is a retired Uruguayan football goalkeeper. He is the second most capped player in the history of the Uruguayan national team with 78 appearances between 1976 and 1986...
.
Following his retirement at nearly 42, Damas remained at Sporting, as goalkeepers' coach. He died aged 55 from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
International career
Damas collected 29 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 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...
, from 6 April 1969 to 11 July 1986. He was second-choice at both UEFA Euro 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
, backing up S.L. Benfica's Manuel Bento; however, in the latter, the starter suffered a serious fibula injury in training, and he took the pitch for group stage losses against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
(0–1) and Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
(1–3).
Honours
- Portuguese League: 1969–70, 1973–74
- 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...
: 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74 - Portuguese Supercup: 1987