Pedro Emanuel

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Pedro Emanuel bigraphy, stories - Portuguese football player/manager

Pedro Emanuel : biography

11 February 1975 –

Pedro Emanuel dos Santos Martins Silva (born 11 February 1975 in Luanda, Portuguese Angola), known as Pedro Emanuel, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played mainly as a central defender, and a current coach.

In his 16-year professional career he was closely associated with the two biggest teams in Porto, Boavista – he helped it win its first and only first division title in 2001 – and F.C. Porto, being awarded team captaincy in both at one point.

Over the course of 12 seasons Pedro Emanuel amassed Primeira Liga totals of 268 games and two goals, winning 14 major titles between both his main clubs combined. He subsequently became a manager.

Club career

After three seasons as a professional in Portugal’s secondary leagues, with F.C. Marco, A.D. Ovarense and F.C. Penafiel, Emanuel’s performances caught the eye of scouts from Porto side Boavista FC, where he had already played as a youth. During his six-year stay in the team he played a large part in the defensive wall (with fellow stopper Litos, fullbacks Nuno Frechaut and Erivan and goalkeeper Ricardo) that led Boavista to the historical league title in 2000–01; after Litos left for Málaga CF he captained the team for one season, but a move to a larger club was close.

Prior to the start of 2002–03, S.L. Benfica seemed closer to clinching a deal, but it was F.C. Porto, under the guidance of José Mourinho, who signed Emanuel. Part of a strong defense that included Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Nuno Valente, his always effective style earned him the confidence of his manager, and he played in both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals won by Porto between 2003 and 2004.

In the season following the departure of Mourinho, Emanuel still managed to appear in the spotlight, as in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup win against Once Caldas, where he scored the decisive penalty, becoming the last player to touch the ball in the competition’s history.; BBC Sport, 13 December 2004

In the 2005–06 campaign, following the decision of Dutch coach Co Adriaanse not wanting a goalkeeper captain (Vítor Baía) and sidelining Jorge Costa, Emanuel was chosen as the side’s new captain. He missed the entire 2006–07 due to injury,; UEFA.com, 13 August 2006 but returned to the starting lineups the following season, helping with 19 league appearances as Porto were crowned back-to-back champions.

After only five matches in 2008–09, in a fourth consecutive league accolade, Emanuel retired on 16 June 2009, immediately becoming Porto’s U-17 head coach,; UEFA.com, 17 June 2009 and guiding it to the national championship, after defeating Sporting Clube de Portugal.; Mais Futebol, 26 June 2010

In July 2010 Emanuel returned to Porto’s main squad, being named newly-signed André Villas-Boas assistant manager. In June of the following year he had his first head coach experience, being appointed at Villas Boas’ previous team Académica de Coimbra.

In his first season with the Students, Emanuel narrowly avoided top flight relegation, and also led the club to its first domestic cup since 1939, notably defeating former club Porto 3–0 at home in the fourth round; PortuGOAL, 19 November 2011 and Sporting in the final (1–0).; A Bola, 20 May 2012

Honours

Player

Boavista
  • Portuguese League: 2000–01
  • Portuguese Cup: 1996–97
Porto
  • Portuguese League: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09
  • Portuguese Cup: 2002–03, 2005–06, 2008–09
  • Portuguese Supercup: 2003
  • UEFA Cup: 2002–03
  • UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
  • Intercontinental Cup: 2004

Manager

Académica
  • Portuguese Cup: 2011–12
  • Portuguese Supercup: Runner-up 2012

International career

Although Angolan-born, Emanuel never represented the Palancas Negras internationally. Some interpreted this as a desire to keep alive the possibility of playing for Portugal, the nation he represented at junior levels.

Prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Emanuel accepted a call-up from Angola, but FIFA confirmed that he (and Carlos Chaínho) could not represent other teams than Portugal, because of a new law set-up in 2004 which considered playing for junior sides at international level.; BBC Sport, 1 May 2006