Messias Timula

Messias
Messias (third from right) in 1972
Personal information
Full name Messias Júlio Timula[1]
Date of birth (1948-12-18)18 December 1948[1]
Place of birth Maputo, Mozambique[1]
Date of death 18 February 1998(1998-02-18) (aged 49)[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1977 Benfica 89 (1)
1977 Rochester Lancers 15 (0)
1977–1978 Riopele 4 (0)
Total 108 (1)
International career
1972 Portugal 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Messias Júlio Timula (18 December 1948 – 18 February 1998), known simply as Messias, was a Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Maputo, Portuguese Mozambique, Messias arrived at S.L. Benfica in 1967 as a 19-year old.[2] Facing competition from Raúl Machado, Zeca and Humberto Coelho, he spent his first two seasons in the reserve team.[2]

On 21 November 1969, Messias made his first appearance for the main squad, replacing Coelho in the 53rd minute of a 1–0 away loss to Vitória de Setúbal.[3] He would play two more games in the same season – a European Cup match against Celtic on 26 November[4] and a league one with U.F.C.I. Tomar on 1 December.[5]

After remaining a backup player in 1970–71,[6] Messias had his breakthrough the following campaign, playing 26 matches in all competitions and winning the Primeira Liga title, the Portuguese Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup.[7][8] Due to strong competition from Amândio Malta da Silva and Rui Rodrigues, his playing time in 1972–73 and 1973–74 dropped;[9][10] after his competition either left or lost influence, he regained a pivotal role alongside Coelho and won three more league titles, the first two as starter.[11][12][13]

In 1977, after 123 overall appearances, Messias left Benfica and followed many teammates to the North American Soccer League.[14] He took part in 15 games during his spell, reaching the Conference Championship final.[15] He then returned to Portugal, playing for G.D. Riopele in their debut season in the top flight and retiring immediately after.[16]

International career

Messias received his first call up to the Portugal national team when they were selected to appear in the Brazil Independence Cup in 1972. After solid performances at club level, he made his debut on 18 June of that year against Chile, playing all of the remaining games in the tournament including the lost final to Brazil,[17] which would be his last cap.[18]

Honours

Benfica

References

General

  • Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica. Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d e Messias Timula at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b c d Malheiro, João (July 2006). Memorial Benfica 100 Glórias [Benfica Memorial, 100 glories] (in Portuguese) (Third ed.). QuidNovi. p. 97. ISBN 978-972-8998-26-4.
  3. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 351.
  4. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 355.
  5. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 356.
  6. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 364.
  7. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 365.
  8. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 371.
  9. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 377.
  10. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 383.
  11. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 390.
  12. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 396.
  13. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 402.
  14. ^ "States". Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). No. 19298. 10 March 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Messias Timula". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Messias voltou" [Messias returned]. Diário de Lisboa (in Portuguese). No. 19428. 12 August 1977. p. 17. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  17. ^ Reyes, Macario. "Brazil Independence Cup 1972". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 16 August 2022.