Fernando Cruz (footballer)

For the Colombian Olympic cyclist, see Fernando Cruz (cyclist).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is da Conceição and the second or paternal family name is Cruz.
Fernando Cruz
Cruz with Benfica in 1965
Personal information
Full name Fernando da Conceição Cruz
Date of birth (1940-08-12) 12 August 1940 (age 84)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
1956–1959 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1970 Benfica 227 (0)
1970–1971 Paris Saint-Germain 24 (0)
Total 251 (0)
International career
1961–1968 Portugal 11 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
FIFA World Cup
Third place 1966 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fernando da Conceição Cruz (born 12 August 1940) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Club career

Born in Lisbon, Cruz was already first choice with Benfica at the age of 20, going on to win eight Primeira Liga championships with the club as well as four Portuguese Cups. He played in all five European Cup finals the side reached in the 60s, winning the 1961 and 1962 editions and appearing in 346 official games during his 11-year stint (one goal).[1]

Cruz ended his professional career in June 1971, after one year with newly-formed Paris Saint-Germain.[2] After leaving France he headed to South America, and later to the United States, working as a manager in the latter nation.[3]

International career

Cruz played 11 matches for Portugal,[4] his first appearance being on 21 May 1961 in a 1–1 friendly draw with England.[5] He was included in Otto Glória's squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup finals, failing to make an appearance for the third-placed nation.[6]

Personal life

Cruz was a supporter of Benfica. In 2008, he was honoured by the club for his achievements, in the presence of his friend and well-known footballer Eusébio.[7]

On 23 September 2012, Cruz acted as "honour guest" of Benfica's supporters association in Canas de Senhorim in the Central Region of Portugal.[7]

Honours

Benfica

Paris Saint-Germain

Portugal

References

  1. ^ "Fernando Cruz – Futebolista" [Fernando Cruz – Footballer] (in Portuguese). Bairro da Liberdade. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  2. ^ Crépin, Timothé (26 January 2017). "Mercato, Ligue 1: Ces Portugais passés par le PSG" [Market, League 1: Portuguese men with spells at PSG] (in French). France Football. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  3. ^ "CRUZ" (in French). PSG 70. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Results – 1960 to 1965". England FC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  6. ^ a b Paixão, Paulo; Castanheira, José Pedro (13 July 2016). "A lenda dos Magriços começou há 50 anos" [The legend of the Magriços started 50 years ago]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Cruz Fernando" (in French). Paris Canal Historique. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Especial 'Tetra'" ['Tetra' special edition]. Mística (in Portuguese). No. 33. Portugal: Impresa Publishing. April–June 2017. p. 74. ISSN 3846-0823.
  9. ^ a b "Bicampeões para a história" [Back-to-back champions for the ages]. Visão (in Portuguese). Portugal: Impresa Publishing. May 2015. p. 47. ISSN 0872-3540.
  10. ^ "Intercontinental Cup 1961". FIFA. 7 May 2007. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Fernando CRUZ" (in French). Histoire du PSG. Retrieved 11 March 2021.