Nuno Mendes (footballer, born 1978)

Nuno Alexandre Pereira Mendes (born 7 April 1978) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who could play in defence and midfield.

He began his career with Vitória Guimarães and made his first team debut during the 1996–97 Primeira Liga season. Mendes spent three seasons in Liga de Honra, playing for Aves, Felgueiras and Chaves respectively before moving to France to join Division 1 club Strasbourg in 2000. He returned to Portugal a year later to play for União Leiria, managed by José Mourinho, before spending a brief period with Braga in 2002. Mendes spent 18 months with Moreirense and then dropped down a division to play for Santa Clara in 2004.

A year later, Mendes played in England for Championship club Plymouth Argyle before returning to France with Créteil of Ligue 2. Having spent a brief spell with Penafiel in 2007, he returned to Aves, where he played for two seasons in Liga de Honra. He dropped down to the Portuguese third division in 2009 to play for Moreirense before spending a season with Trofense. Mendes retired in 2011 after a year with third division side Gondomar. He represented Portugal at under-21 level.

Club career Mendes was born in Guimarães. He joined his home town club, Vitória Guimarães, at an early age and progressed through their youth system."Lesão afasta Nuno Mendes" (in Portuguese). Record. 4 January 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2011. He made his first team debut in a 4–1 win against Chaves on 23 February 1997. He made 5 more appearances that season, including a 1–0 defeat to Marítimo on 2 May 1997, which was his last for Vitória. Mendes joined Liga de Honra side Aves on loan for the 1997–98 season."Nuno Mendes confirmado" (in Portuguese). Record. 18 January 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2011. He scored four goals in 27 league appearances for the club as they finished 15th in the table."Portugal 1997/98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 6 August 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2011. The following season, he joined Felgueiras on loan. They finished 5th in Liga de Honra and Mendes was a first team regular."Portugal 1998/99". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Alcino Pascoal. 6 August 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2011. He made 28 league appearances and scored two goals. Mendes had his contract with Vitória Guimarães terminated in June 1999, allowing him to sign a two-year deal with Chaves."Nuno Mendes reforça defesa do D. Chaves" (in Portuguese). Record. 29 June 1999. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

He made 27 league appearances in his only season with the club, scoring twice,"Nuno Mendes" (in Portuguese). Futebol365. Retrieved 5 February 2011. as they finished 12th in Liga de Honra."Portugal 1999/2000". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Alcino Pascoal. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2011. He moved to France in June 2000 to play for Division 1 club Strasbourg."Estrasburgo contrata Nuno Mendes ao Desp. Chaves" (in Portuguese). Record. 9 June 2000. Retrieved 6 February 2011. Having signed a four-year contract,"Nuno Mendes vai para o Estrasburgo" (in Portuguese). Record. 9 June 2000. Retrieved 6 February 2011. he made his debut in a 1–1 draw at Lille on 29 November 2000."LOSC Lille Métropole 1–1 RC Strasbourg" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 6 February 2011. He found first team opportunities limited during the 2000–01 season, making six more league appearances as the club were relegated to Division 2."2000/2001 classements" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 6 February 2011. However, the season did end well for Mendes as he won his first trophy as a professional, the Coupe de France."Coupe de France: Saison 2000–2001" (in French). French Football Federation. Retrieved 6 February 2011. He made two appearances in the competition, but did not play in the final where Strasbourg defeated Amiens on penalties."France 2000/01". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Frédéric Pauron and Karel Stokkermans. 6 October 2001. Retrieved 21 March 2011."Nuno Mendes: Ganhar Taça de França já pesa no currículo" (in Portuguese). Record. 29 May 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

Mendes returned to Portugal ahead of the 2001–02 season, joining Primeira Liga club União Leiria on a season-long loan."Nuno Mendes reforça equipa na próxima temporada" (in Portuguese). Record. 8 May 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2011. Reflecting on his time in France, he said "I never hid my desire to return to Portugal, but now I can not say anything more.""Nuno Mendes reforça leirienses" (in Portuguese). Record. 9 May 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2011. He made his debut on 11 August 2001 in a 0–0 draw at Braga. Mendes played regularly under the management of José Mourinho prior to his departure to Porto,"Nuno Mendes abandona equipa" (in Portuguese). Record. 25 April 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2011. but fell out of favour under his replacement, Vítor Pontes. He made 16 league appearances for Leiria, helping the club finish 7th in the Primeira Liga,"Portugal 2001/02". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Alcino Pascoal, José Batalha, Dalencia Garcia and Jan Schoenmakers. 12 September 2002. Retrieved 21 March 2011. before returning to Strasbourg. Upon his departure, Mendes was critical of the club's president João Bartolomeu, who he believed created instability at the club. "The Union of Leiria is a complicated club at senior management level, especially the president, who sees things where they do not exist and it creates instability in the squad," said Mendes who "leaves great friends in Leiria"."Nuno Mendes critica presidente na hora do abandono" (in Portuguese). Record. 29 April 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

In May 2002, he signed a two-year contract with Braga."Telmo e Nuno Mendes juntam-se a Wender" (in Portuguese). Record. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2011."Nuno Mendes assina hoje... Arthur será o próximo" (in Portuguese). Record. 8 May 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2011. He made his debut in a 3–2 defeat at Belenenses on 5 October 2002. In a season disrupted by injuries,"Nuno Mendes apto a retomar treino de grupo" (in Portuguese). Record. 26 November 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2011. Mendes only played in one more match for Braga, against his old club Vitória Guimarães. He had his contract cancelled in January 2003,"Nuno Mendes por horas" (in Portuguese). Record. 15 January 2003. Retrieved 6 February 2011. which allowed him to join Moreirense. He made his debut on 3 February 2003 in a 1–1 draw at Benfica. He made two more appearances that season as the club finished 12th in the table. Having fractured his foot in July 2003,"Nuno Mendes obrigado a parar" (in Portuguese). Record. 26 July 2003. Retrieved 6 February 2011. he was used sparingly during the 2003–04 season by manager Manuel Machado. He made four league appearances in an injury-plagued season,"Nuno Mendes reavaliado" (in Portuguese). Record. 30 March 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2011. as the club finished 9th in the Primeira Liga. Mendes dropped down a division in June 2004 after signing a one-year contract with Santa Clara."Nuno Mendes assina por uma temporada" (in Portuguese). Record. 26 June 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2011. "This project is attractive," he said. "The coach, Jose Morais, spoke to me and showed willingness in me to go to the Azores and that's important. I know that Santa Clara is going through some difficulties, but the Department intends to make a financial recovery in time and maybe next season bet on rising."

He made his debut on 29 August 2004 in a 3–1 defeat against Feirense and was sent off for two bookable offences."Sta. Clara 1–3 Feirense" (in Portuguese). Portuguese League for Professional Football. Retrieved 7 February 2011. The club finished 15th in Liga de Honra in the 2004–05 season,"2004–2005: Classificação detalhada (Jornada nº 34)" (in Portuguese). Portuguese League for Professional Football. Retrieved 7 February 2011. with Mendes making 17 league appearances. He scored his first goal for the club in his final game, a 4–0 win against Naval on 22 May 2005."Sta. Clara 4–0 Naval" (in Portuguese). Portuguese League for Professional Football. Retrieved 7 February 2011. After his contract with Santa Clara expired, he joined English Championship club Plymouth Argyle on their pre-season tour of Sweden in July 2005."Sweden 2005". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 7 February 2011. Having appeared in friendlies against Betsele and Umeå, he signed a permanent contract with the club."Mendes becomes sixth new signing". BBC Sport. 19 July 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2011."Nuno Mendes". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 9 February 2011. "I am delighted to have got him," said manager Bobby Williamson of his new signing. "It's a great opportunity that I could not miss," Mendes said in an interview with Portuguese newspaper Record. "It is valid for two seasons, with a few perks that are unheard of in Portugal. Essentially, the level of premiums for targets, as is normal in English football.""Nuno Mendes assinou finalmente pelo Plymouth" (in Portuguese). Record. 20 July 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2011.

Mendes made his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Crystal Palace on 20 August 2005."Crystal Palace 1–0 Plymouth". Plymouth Argyle. 20 August 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2011. He made two more appearances, including one in a 2–1 League Cup win against Peterborough United,"Plymouth 2–1 Peterborough". Plymouth Argyle. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2011. before losing his place in the squad when Bobby Williamson was replaced by Tony Pulis as manager."Pulis confirmed as Plymouth boss". BBC Sport. 23 September 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2011. He had a trial with Major League Soccer club New York Metrostars in January 2006 before his contract with Plymouth Argyle was cancelled by mutual consent."Mendes completes Argyle departure". BBC Sport. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2011. In June 2006, he returned to France where he signed a two-year contract with Créteil of Ligue 2."Nuno Mendes à Créteil" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2011."Nuno Mendes a signé" (in French). Foot National. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2011. He made his debut on 28 July 2006 in a 0–0 draw with Guingamp."US Créteil 0–0 EA Guingamp". Ligue de Football Professionnel. Retrieved 7 February 2011. Mendes made six more appearances for the club, before being released from his contract in December 2006."Nuno Mendes quitte Créteil" (in French). Ligue de Football Professionnel. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2011. A month later, he returned to Portugal where he signed a short-term contract with Liga de Honra club Penafiel."Nuno Mendes está por horas" (in Portuguese). Record. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2011. He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rio Ave on 4 February 2007,"Rio Ave 1–0 Penafiel" (in Portuguese). Portuguese League for Professional Football. Retrieved 7 February 2011. and made 5 more appearances during the 2006–07 season as Penafiel finished 8th in the table. Having reached the end of his contract with the club, Mendes returned to Aves ahead of the new season.