João Domingos da Silva Pinto (born 21 November 1961) is a Portuguese former footballer and manager. He spent his entire professional career with Porto (16 years, winning a total of 24 major titles, including nine Primeira Liga and the 1987 European Cup).

Pinto represented the Portugal national team for more than one decade, appearing with them in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Playing career Pinto was born in Oliveira do Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District. A FC Porto trainee, it did not take him long to establish himself in the side's starting XI. When Fernando Gomes broke his leg before the 1986–87 European Cup final against FC Bayern Munich, he was picked as the captain, and reportedly only released the cup on Portuguese soil after the 2–1 win in Vienna.

Always an undisputed starter, Pinto retired after the 1996–97 season after 16 years as a professional, helping the northerners to their first three Primeira Liga titles in a row (in total, he won nine national championships and four Taça de Portugal, and was part of the treble-winning squad which won the Champions Cup, the European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup). Given his devotion and long service to the club, he was subsequently given a place coaching its youth teams.

Pinto totalled 70 caps with one goal for Portugal, being selected as captain on 42 occasions. After seeing the nation's 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes squashed following a 1–0 away loss against Italy he left the field in tears, further enhancing his nickname, Capitão; he played internationally in UEFA Euro 1984 and at the 1986 World Cup – Bobby Robson, who coached Porto, once remarked of him: "He has two hearts and four legs. It's extremely difficult to find a player like him."

In September 2023, Pinto was given the One-Club Man Award by Athletic Bilbao, a Spanish club renowned for its youth system policies.

Coaching career Pinto began working as a head coach in the Segunda Liga. He started with S.C. Covilhã, moving in January 2013 to G.D. Chaves and helping the latter side to promote to that level in his only season.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPorto1981–82Primeira Divisão702000201101982–83Primeira Divisão2306120—3111983–84Primeira Divisão2609090204601984–85Primeira Divisão3007020404301985–86Primeira Divisão1813040202711986–87Primeira Divisão2935090204531987–88Primeira Divisão3417040304811988–89Primeira Divisão3514030204411989–90Primeira Divisão3003060—3901990–91Primeira Divisão3005150204211991–92Primeira Divisão3386040104481992–93Primeira Divisão2522080313831993–94Primeira Divisão31160100204911994–95Primeira Divisão3102040304001995–96Primeira Divisão1306040002301996–97Primeira Divisão130202000170Career Total4081775276028158720

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsPortugal19834019841001985701986101987201989111199030199190199280199370199450199520199610Total701

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pinto goal. + List of international goals scored by João PintoNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 26 April 1989 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal 1–0 3–1 1990 World Cup qualification

Honours Player Porto Primeira Divisão: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 Taça de Portugal: 1983–84, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1993–94 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 European Cup: 1986–87 European Super Cup: 1987 Intercontinental Cup: 1987

Individual UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1984 One Club Award: 2023

Manager Chaves Segunda Divisão: 2012–13

See also List of one-club men

References

External links