Vítor Manuel Pereira Pontes
Encyclopedia
Vítor Manuel Pereira Pontes (born 16 August 1958) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current manager
.
, Pontes started his professional career with local União Desportiva. However, during his 18 years as a senior, he played almost exclusively as a backup, only appearing in seven first division matches during his career: five for O Elvas Clube Alentejano de Desportos
in the 1987–88 season, and two for C.D. Nacional in two years combined.
After retiring in 1994 at age 36, with lowly A.D. Guarda (third level
) Pontes began immediately working as a goalkeeper coach with his first club, also going to serve there as an assistant manager.
He then coached Leiria's first team for two full seasons, after a brief interim spell in 2002, subsequently signing with Vitória de Guimarães for 2005–06, and being one of two managers in a season which ended in top division relegation – the other was Jaime Pacheco
.
In 2007, Pontes signed with second level
side Portimonense SC
and remained there two seasons; subsequently, he worked as a football pundit for Sport TV
, in their domestic and UEFA Champions League
coverage.
On 8 September 2011, after two years out of the managerial scene, Pontes returned to active and União de Leiria, replacing fired Pedro Caixinha. His first game in charge was a 1–0 away win against S.C. Beira-Mar. He left his post after only one more match, however.
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, and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Football career
Born in LeiriaLeiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
, Pontes started his professional career with local União Desportiva. However, during his 18 years as a senior, he played almost exclusively as a backup, only appearing in seven first division matches during his career: five for O Elvas Clube Alentejano de Desportos
O Elvas C.A.D.
O Elvas Clube Alentejano de Desportos is a football club based in Portalegre, Alentejo. It was founded in 1947 when the team S.L. Elvas and S.C. Elvas fused. Sport Lisboa e Elvas and O Elvas C.A.D. spent several years in the Portuguese Liga, the main tier in the Portuguese football league system...
in the 1987–88 season, and two for C.D. Nacional in two years combined.
After retiring in 1994 at age 36, with lowly A.D. Guarda (third level
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
) Pontes began immediately working as a goalkeeper coach with his first club, also going to serve there as an assistant manager.
He then coached Leiria's first team for two full seasons, after a brief interim spell in 2002, subsequently signing with Vitória de Guimarães for 2005–06, and being one of two managers in a season which ended in top division relegation – the other was Jaime Pacheco
Jaime Pacheco
Jaime Moreira Pacheco is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a current manager.During his career he played, among others, for F.C. Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal...
.
In 2007, Pontes signed with second level
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
side 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....
and remained there two seasons; subsequently, he worked as a football pundit for Sport TV
Sport TV
SportTV is the brand name for a group of seven Portuguese sports-oriented television channels. SportTV is the dominant subscription television sports brand in Portugal. The first channel, then known as only SportTV, was launched on 16 September 1998 and is produced by ZON Multimédia and...
, in their domestic and 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...
coverage.
On 8 September 2011, after two years out of the managerial scene, Pontes returned to active and União de Leiria, replacing fired Pedro Caixinha. His first game in charge was a 1–0 away win against S.C. Beira-Mar. He left his post after only one more match, however.