Fernando Mendes (footballer, born 1966)


Fernando Manuel Antunes Mendes is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left back.

Club career

Mendes was born in Setúbal. Having been brought up at Sporting CP's youth system at the same time as Paulo Futre, he made his first-team debut in 1984–85 aged 18, and reached the Portugal national team shortly after. In the following seasons he started regularly for the Lions, but they only won one trophy.
In 1989, Mendes joined Sporting's rivals S.L. Benfica, being sparingly used over three years – in between, he played one season at Boavista F.C. – winning the Taça de Portugal in his last one, where he teamed up with Futre. Released by Benfica, he appeared for three teams in as many years before joining the last of the Big Three, FC Porto, thus representing all the major clubs in his country as Futre.
With the northern side, Mendes won his second Primeira Liga championship, to which he contributed with 22 matches and three goals. In the following two campaigns, which ended in the same fashion, he was also regularly played.
Aged nearly 33, Mendes left for another spell at Belenenses, then joined hometown's Vitória F.C. for his first season in the second division, which ended in promotion. After helping the Sadinos to retain their league status, he retired from professional football with top division totals of 321 games and 12 goals.

International career

Mendes earned 11 full caps in one decade, but did not attend any major international tournament.

Honours

Sporting
Benfica
Boavista
Porto