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Fernando Couto

Summary

Fernando Manuel Silva Couto OIH (Portuguese: [fɨɾˈnɐ̃du ˈkotu]; born 2 August 1969) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a centre back.

Fernando Couto
Couto in 2011
Personal information
Full name Fernando Manuel Silva Couto
Date of birth (1969-08-02) 2 August 1969 (age 54)
Place of birth Espinho, Portugal
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1980–1985 Espinho
1985–1986 Lourosa
1986–1988 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988 Porto 1 (0)
1988–1989 Famalicão 17 (1)
1989–1990 Académica 23 (2)
1990–1994 Porto 106 (19)
1994–1996 Parma 39 (4)
1996–1998 Barcelona 44 (0)
1998–2005 Lazio 145 (9)
2005–2008 Parma 63 (1)
Total 438 (36)
International career
1989 Portugal U20 4 (0)
1989–1990 Portugal U21 7 (1)
1990–2004 Portugal 110 (8)
Managerial career
2012–2014 Braga (assistant)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 2004 Portugal
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Belgium-Netherlands
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner 1989 Saudi Arabia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

During a 21-year professional career, he played in a number of top clubs in Portugal, Spain and Italy (12 seasons in the latter country), appearing in nearly 600 competitive matches and winning the double in each country, as well as three UEFA trophies.

At international level, Couto represented the Portugal national team in 110 games, taking part in the 2002 World Cup as well as three European Championships.

Club career edit

Born in Espinho near Porto, Couto joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of 17. On 2 June 1988, he made his first-team – and Primeira Liga – debut, playing 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Académica de Coimbra in what would be his only appearance of the season for the national champions. He was then released, spending one year apiece with F.C. Famalicão and Académica.

Couto returned to Porto in 1990, being an instrumental defensive unit in the conquest of six titles during his four-year spell. He subsequently moved to Italy with Parma AC, scoring a career-best four goals in 27 games in his first season and adding the campaign's UEFA Cup, in a 2–1 aggregate victory over fellow Serie A side Juventus FC[1][2]

In summer 1996, Couto signed a four-year deal with FC Barcelona, moving alongside former Porto teammate Vítor Baía and English manager Bobby Robson as Luís Figo was also playing for the La Liga club.[3] Regularly used during his early stint, he was less played by the next coach Louis van Gaal, but managed to appear in one of the two European finals the Catalans won, the 1996–97 edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.[4]

After two seasons at the Camp Nou, Couto left Barça and joined Rome's SS Lazio in late June 1998 as teammate Iván de la Peña.[5] He appeared in 22 matches in his first year to help his team to the second place in the league, and featured one minute in the final of the last Cup Winners' Cup, in a 2–1 win against RCD Mallorca at the Villa Park in Birmingham.[6]

In 2001, Couto failed a doping test for the steroid nandrolone. He denied having taken forbidden substances, but his "B" test confirmed the finding and he eventually served four months out of a nine-month worldwide ban for the offence.[7] He continued to appear regularly for Lazio in the following seasons.

In 2005, aged 36, Couto returned to Parma after 11 years as Lazio was unable to match his wage demands for a contract renewal. After two seasons of regular use he played just 17 matches in 2007–08, with the Emilia-Romagna side also suffering top-flight relegation; as his contract expired, he decided to retire from football.

In June 2010, two years after his retirement, Couto was named general manager at S.C. Braga.[8] He was appointed the club's assistant manager for the 2012–13 campaign,[9] leaving in February 2014.[10]

International career edit

As a member of Famalicão in the third division, Couto appeared in four matches as Portugal won the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship,[11] being part of a group of players dubbed the "Golden Generation" of Portuguese football. He made his debut for the senior team on 19 December 1990, in a friendly with the United States played in Maia (1–0 win).

Always as first choice, Couto represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1996[12]– scoring the game's only goal for the eventual quarter-finalists in a group stage fixture against Turkey[13]– Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, partnering former Porto teammate Jorge Costa in the last two tournaments, the latter of which ended in group stage exit.

Couto became the first Portuguese player to reach 100 caps (in a total of 110) on 11 October 2003, in a 5–3 friendly defeat of Albania.[14] He was selected as captain for Euro 2004, which was played on home soil,[15] starting in the first game against Greece but eventually being relegated to the bench by Ricardo Carvalho;[16][17] Portugal went on to reach the final of the tournament, in which the team suffered a defeat against the same opponent.[18]

Style of play edit

Considered as one of the greatest Portuguese defenders ever, Couto usually played as a centre-back in zonal-marking system during his time with Porto, where he earned a reputation for being a tough and physical defender, with an aggressive and hard-tackling playing style. He was also known for his ability in the air, as well as his capacity to start quick attacking plays after winning back the ball. During his time in Italy, he also adapted himself to different tactical systems; under his Parma manager Nevio Scala, he featured as a man-marking centre-back – or stopper – on occasion, or even as a sweeper behind the back-line.[19][20]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

Sources:[21][22][23]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Porto 1987–88 Primeira Divisão 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Famalicão 1988–89 — —
Académica 1989–90 Segunda Divisão 23 2 1 0 — — 24 2
Porto 1990–91 Primeira Divisão 24 3 6 0 4 0 0 0 34 3
1991–92 32 2 5 0 4 0 3 0 44 2
1992–93 26 4 3 0 7 2 2 0 38 6
1993–94 23 1 5 0 9 0 2 0 39 1
Total 105 10 19 0 24 2 7 0 155 12
Parma 1994–95 Serie A 27 4 9 2 8 1 — 44 7
1995–96 12 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 15 0
Total 39 4 9 2 10 1 1 0 59 7
Barcelona 1996–97 La Liga 26 0 5 1 4 1 0 0 35 2
1997–98 18 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 25 0
Total 44 0 7 1 9 1 0 0 60 2
Lazio 1998–99 Serie A 22 2 5 0 8 0 1 0 36 2
1999–00 14 0 5 0 7 0 0 0 26 0
2000–01 18 0 4 0 8 0 0 0 30 0
2001–02 29 1 2 0 4 0 — 35 1
2002–03 15 0 4 0 12 1 — 31 1
2003–04 23 3 4 1 4 0 — 41 3
2004–05 24 3 0 0 3 0 1 0 28 3
Total 145 9 24 1 46 1 2 0 217 11
Parma 2005–06 Serie A 23 0 1 0 — — 24 0
2006–07 23 1 1 0 2 0 — 26 1
2007–08 17 0 1 0 — — 18 0
Total 63 1 3 0 2 0 — 68 1
Career total 420 26 62 4 91 5 10 0 583 35
  1. ^ Includes the Supercoppa Italiana, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira and UEFA Super Cup

International edit

Source:[24]
Portugal
Year Apps Goals
1990 1 0
1991 5 0
1992 6 0
1993 8 1
1994 2 1
1995 7 0
1996 11 3
1997 6 0
1998 5 1
1999 7 0
2000 14 0
2001 6 0
2002 11 0
2003 12 1
2004 7 1
Total 110 8

International goals edit

Source:[24]
List of international goals scored by Fernando Couto
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 24 February 1993 Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal   Italy 1–2 1–3 1994 World Cup qualification
2 18 December 1994 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal   Liechtenstein 5–0 8–0 Euro 1996 qualifying
3 24 January 1996 Parc des Princes, Paris, France   France 0–1 3–2 Friendly
4 14 June 1996 City Ground, Nottingham, England   Turkey 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 1996
5 9 November 1996 Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal   Ukraine 1–0 1–0 1998 World Cup qualification
6 18 November 1998 Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal, Portugal   Israel 1–0 2–0 Friendly
7 10 June 2003 Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal   Bolivia 2–0 4–0 Friendly
8 5 June 2004 Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal, Portugal   Lithuania 1–0 4–1 Friendly

Honours edit

Porto

Parma

Barcelona

Lazio

Portugal U20

Portugal

Orders edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Mocciaro, Gaetano (17 May 2018). "17 maggio 1995, il Parma vince la Coppa UEFA battendo in finale la Juve" [17 May 1995, Parma win UEFA Cup beating Juve in the final] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  2. ^ Ruggiero, Michele (18 May 1995). "Il Parma si rifà in Europa" [Parma redeem themselves in Europe]. L'Unità (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2002.
  3. ^ "El Barça ficha al defensa portugués Fernando Couto por cuatro años" [Barça sign Portuguese defender Fernando Couto for four years]. El País (in Spanish). 23 August 1996. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. ^ Campos, Ciro (10 April 2013). "Depois de 16 anos, PSG tem chance de revanche contra o" [16 years later, PSG have a chance at revenge against Barcelona]. O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Lazio: presi De la Pena e Couto. Inter: Torricelli e' vicino" [Lazio: De la Pena and Couto acquired. Inter: Torricelli almost done]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 25 June 1998. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  6. ^ Segurola, Santiago (20 May 1999). "El Mallorca pierde con orgullo" [Mallorca lose proudly]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Davids and Couto hit with FIFA bans". The Daily Telegraph. 31 May 2001. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  8. ^ "Fernando Couto é manager do SC Braga" [Fernando Couto is SC Braga manager] (in Portuguese). SC Braga. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Fernando Couto adjunto de Peseiro" [Fernando Couto Peseiro's assistant]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Sp. Braga confirma nova equipa técnica sem Fernando Couto" [Sp. Braga confirm new technical staff without Fernando Couto] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  11. ^ a b Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (3 March 2014). "Riade, 25 anos: como foi e onde estão os campeões" [Riyadh, 25 years ago: how did it go and where are the champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  12. ^ Hodgson, Guy (1 June 1996). "The rising force in Europe counting on their foreign legion; CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN: No 9 Portugal". The Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Portugal get just reward against Turkey". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  14. ^ Breda, Rui (13 October 2003). "Century and counting for Couto". UEFA. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  15. ^ a b Fernandes, Nuno (11 June 2019). "15 anos depois do Euro2004 Ronaldo continua em grande. E os outros 22 onde param?" [15 years after Euro2004 Ronaldo is still at the top. And what of the other 22?]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  16. ^ Pierrend, José Luis. "Fernando Manuel Silva Couto – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Chelsea land Carvalho". BBC Sport. 28 July 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  18. ^ Szreter, Adam (4 July 2004). "Greece kings of Europe". UEFA. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Couto a testa alta 'Mi rispetterete'" [Couto with his head held up high 'You will respect me']. La Repubblica (in Italian). 27 July 1994. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  20. ^ Egidio, Giovanni (14 February 1995). "Grun o Brolin | Se la classe è penalizzata" [Grun or Brolin | If class is penalised]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  21. ^ Fernando Couto at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  22. ^ "Fernando Couto". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Fernando Manuel Silva Couto" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Fernando Couto". European Football. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

External links edit

  • Fernando Couto at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  • PortuGOAL profile Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  • Fernando Couto at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
  • Fernando Couto at BDFutbol
  • Fernando Couto national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
  • Fernando Couto at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Fernando Couto – FIFA competition record (archived)
  • Parma official profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-05-30)

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