José Coelho (footballer, born 1961)

José Coelho
Personal information
Full name José da Silva Coelho
Date of birth (1961-08-05) 5 August 1961 (age 63)
Place of birth Penafiel, Portugal
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1978–1980 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1981 Porto 5 (0)
1981–1988 Boavista 157 (33)
1988–1989 Estrela Amadora 24 (1)
1989–1990 Penafiel 32 (10)
1990–1991 Chaves 34 (10)
1991–1992 Boavista 15 (0)
1992–1993 Penafiel 32 (8)
1993–1995 Felgueiras 50 (25)
1995–1996 Lixa 20 (5)
1996–1997 Sanjoanense 18 (4)
Total 407 (96)
International career
1981–1982 Portugal U21 11 (3)
1986–1987 Portugal 8 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José da Siva Coelho (born 5 August 1961) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Penafiel, Coelho made his professional – and Primeira Liga – debut in 1980–81 with FC Porto. Barred by the likes of English Mickey Walsh he hardly ever got ever a game, and moved after one sole season to Boavista FC, also in Porto.

During seven top flight campaigns, Coelho contributed to the Checquereds' domestic and European consolidation, being regularly used either as a starter or from the bench and helping the team to three UEFA Cup participations. In 1988, he signed for another club in the top division, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, spending the following two years with as many teams still in that tier, and reaching double digits for both F.C. Penafiel and G.D. Chaves.

After an unassuming 1991–92 with former side Boavista, which nonetheless brought him the only major honour of his career, the Portuguese Cup, 31-year-old Coelho moved to the second level and joined another former club, Penafiel, after which he signed for F.C. Felgueiras, scoring 11 goals in 21 matches in his second year en route to top flight promotion. He closed out his career in 1997, after one year apiece with lowly F.C. Lixa and A.D. Sanjoanense.

International career

After the defection of practically all of the Portugal team following the infamous Saltillo Affair at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Coelho benefitted from the situation and went on to earn eight caps in the following two years. He appeared for the nation during the unsuccessful UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying campaign, scoring in one of his first games, a 1–1 home draw against Sweden.

José Coelho: International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 October 1986 Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal  Sweden 1–1 1–1 Euro 1988 qualifying
2 7 January 1987 Estádio Municipal de Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal  Greece 1–0 1–1 Friendly

Honours