1974–1976 Oliveira Douro Role Footballer 1976–1981 Porto Height 1.73 m | Years Team Name Joao Pinto | |
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Full name Joao Domingos da Silva Pinto Date of birth (1961-11-21) 21 November 1961 (age 54) Place of birth Oliveira do Douro, Portugal | ||
João Domingos da Silva Pinto (born 21 November 1961) is a former Portuguese footballer and a current manager.
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Having spent his entire professional career with Porto (16 years, winning a total of 25 major titles, namely nine leagues and the 1987 European Cup), he is regarded as one of the greatest Portuguese right backs of all-time.
Pinto represented the Portugal national team during more than one decade, appearing with it in one World Cup and one European Championship.
Playing career
Pinto was born in Oliveira do Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto. An FC Porto trainee, it did not take him long to establish himself as a renowned defensive element in the legendary 1980s Porto side and the Portuguese national team. When Fernando Gomes broke his leg before the 1986–87 European Cup final against FC Bayern Munich, he was picked as the captain, and reportedly only released the cup on Portuguese soil, after the 2–1 win in Vienna.
Always an undisputed starter, Pinto retired after the 1996–97 season after 16 years as a professional, helping the northerners to their first three-leagues-in-a-row accolade (in total he won nine national championships, four cups, and was part of the treble team which won the Champions Cup, the European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup). Given his devotion and long service to the club, he was subsequently given a place coaching its youth teams.
Pinto totalled 70 caps with one goal for Portugal, being selected as national captain on 42 occasions. After seeing the nation's 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes squashed after a 0–1 away loss against Italy he left the field in tears, further enhancing his nickname, Capitão; he played internationally in UEFA Euro 1984 and at the 1986 World Cup – Bobby Robson, who coached Porto, once remarked of him: "He has two hearts and four legs. It's extremely difficult to find a player like him."
Managerial career
Pinto began working as a head coach in the Portuguese second division. He started with S.C. Covilhã, moving in January 2013 to G.D. Chaves.