Name Antonio Pimparel Number 13 Role Footballer Weight 81 kg Salary 519,600 EUR (2013) | Playing position 1992–1995 Ponte Frielas Height 1.81 m Career start 2001 | |
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Full name Antonio Alberto Bastos Pimparel Date of birth (1982-05-01) 1 May 1982 (age 33) Similar People Vitolo, Unai Emery, Stephane Mbia, Carlos Bacca, Jose Antonio Reyes Profiles | ||
António Alberto Bastos Pimparel (born 1 May 1982), known as Beto, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Sporting Clube de Portugal as a goalkeeper.
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He made a name for himself at Leixões before transferring to Porto in 2009, being a backup during two seasons. After one season in Romania with CFR Cluj he joined Sevilla in January 2013, going on appear in 87 competitive games and win two Europa League trophies.
Beto earned 11 caps for Portugal, being part of the squads in two World Cups and Euro 2012.
Club career
Beto was born in Lisbon. After unsuccessfully developing in local Sporting Clube de Portugal's youth system (he only played one season with the first team, being third-choice), he played one season on loan to neighbours Casa Pia AC, being released in June 2004.
After one year each with G.D. Chaves and F.C. Marco, both in the second division, Beto joined Leixões S.C. for the 2006–07 campaign, helping the Matosinhos club return to the Primeira Liga and only missing seven games in his three seasons combined.
In March 2009, before 2008–09 ended, Beto agreed to a move to FC Porto, in a four-year deal worth €750.000 effective as of June. During his two-season spell he acted almost exclusively as backup to Brazilian Helton, being mostly restricted to Taça de Portugal matches; on 22 May 2011, with the score at 2–2, he stopped a penalty kick in the domestic cup final, with his team eventually winning 6–2 in Lisbon.
For 2011–12, Beto was loaned to Romanian side CFR Cluj, only missing seven Liga I contests during the season for the eventual champions. Released by Porto he returned to his country in the following summer, signing for two years with S.C. Braga; however, late into the following transfer window, he moved to Sevilla FC as the Spaniards were looking to strengthen the position following the departure of Diego López to Real Madrid – the loan was arranged until June, with the possibility of a permanent transfer afterwards.
Profitting from injury to Andrés Palop, Beto made his debut with the Andalusians one day after arriving, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Atlético Madrid for the season's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, with his team playing the last eight minutes with only nine players. His first La Liga match came on 3 February 2013, in a 2–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano.
Beto was subsequently signed on a permanent basis, being first-choice for coach Unai Emery. He contributed with 43 appearances all competitions comprised in the 2013–14 campaign, including ten in the team's victorious run in the UEFA Europa League, where he saved two penalties from Óscar Cardozo and Rodrigo in the final's shootout against S.L. Benfica.
Beto spent several months of 2014–15 on the sidelines, due to injury: first, a shoulder dislocation after a collision with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, followed by an ailment to his left leg. After finishing the season as backup to Sergio Rico, he was reinstated by Emery for the 2015 UEFA Super Cup, performing well overall but conceding five goals in the 4–5 loss to FC Barcelona.
Following the emergence of David Soria also from the club's youth system, Beto was demoted to third-choice. On 6 August 2016, the free agent signed a two-year contract with former team Sporting.
Beto made his debut in competitive games for his first club on 13 October 2016, at the age of 34 years and five months, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 away win against F.C. Famalicão for the Portuguese Cup. He dedicated the performance to his late father.
International career
Beto made his debut for Portugal on 10 June 2009, in a 0–0 friendly match in Estonia. After finishing 2009–10 in Porto's starting XI, he was named by manager Carlos Queiroz in a provisional 24-player list for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, making the final cut for the finals in South Africa where he did not leave the bench. He was also an unused part of the squad at UEFA Euro 2012.
Beto was also selected four years later for the tournament in Brazil, making his debut in the tournament on 22 June against the United States in the second group stage match, after starter Rui Patrício was injured in the first encounter against Germany.