Full name Jorge Amaral Rodrigues Years Team Name Jorge Rodrigues | Playing position Role Footballer 1983−1988 Sporting Height 1.77 m | |
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Date of birth (1970-06-01) 1 June 1970 (age 45) | ||
Place of birth Xai-Xai, Mozambique | ||
Jorge Amaral Rodrigues (born 1 June 1970), known as Amaral, is a former Portuguese professional footballer who played as a right winger, and a current manager.
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He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 152 games and nine goals over the course of 12 seasons, in representation of seven clubs including Sporting and Benfica.
Amaral won one FIFA U-20 World Cup with Portugal.
Club career
Born in João Belo, Portuguese Mozambique, Amaral joined Sporting Clube de Portugal's youth system as a 13-year-old. In 1988 he was loaned to fellow Primeira Liga team Académico de Viseu FC, his first game in the competition occurring on 11 September in a 1−1 home draw against C.F. Os Belenenses.
In 1989–90, Amaral first appeared in the league with his main club, starting and playing 59 minutes in a 2–1 home win over F.C. Penafiel on 25 February 1990 courtesy of manager Raul Águas. However, the following season, he suffered a car crash that sidelined him for several months; when he regained full fitness he was used mainly as a substitute, his best input at the Estádio José Alvalade consisting of 13 matches in 1992–93.
In the summer of 1994, Amaral joined S.L. Benfica. He was played sparingly during his spell there, being best remembered for a disallowed goal in the second leg of the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira against FC Porto: Vítor Baía saved a clear shot using his hands well off the penalty area, Amaral managed to insert the ball in the goal but referee Donato Ramos called for offside, in spite of no visible interference from any attacking player.
Subsequently, Amaral went on to represent in quick succession, always in the top division, FC Felgueiras (being managed by Jorge Jesus and being relegated), Belenenses, Vitória F.C. and C.D. Santa Clara. Whilst at the service of the latter side, on 14 May 2000, he scored in a 3–2 win against Vitória de Guimarães after an individual effort.
At the age of 30, Amaral moved straight into the third level, where he appeared for Atlético Clube de Portugal and S.C. Olhanense. After retiring altogether in 2005, he began working as a coach.
International career
Amaral represented Portugal at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring the only goal in the semi-finals against Brazil to help the nation conquer the tournament. All categories comprised, he netted four times in 36 caps.