Luís Loureiro
Encyclopedia
Luis Fernando da Graça Loureiro (born 4 December 1976 in Sintra
, Lisbon
) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current coach.
, C.D. Nacional, Gil Vicente FC (making his first division debuts in 2001–02), Sporting de Braga, Sporting Clube de Portugal and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, also serving uneventful abroad stints with FC Dynamo Moscow
in Russia
(February–July 2005) and Cyprus
's Anorthosis Famagusta FC
(August–December 2007).
Arguably, his biggest career moment came with Sporting: a spectacular goal, topping a great game in a 2–1 home win against Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the 2005–06 season. However, he was never more than a utility player there (with only nine league appearances).
On 1 November 2007, Anorthosis coach Temuri Ketsbaia
called him lazy and said that he was 'still on vacation', implying that the midfielder had not yet displayed the calibre of football he was brought to the club for. Eventually, in January 2008, Loureiro and Anorthosis parted ways, and the player returned to Portugal, signing until the end of the season with northern Boavista FC.
In July 2008, after Boavista's relegation, Loureiro also dropped down a level, returning to Algarve's Portimonense, being released at the season's end. After one year out of football, he re-joined first professional team Sintrense, in the fourth division
.
for Portugal
, all in 2003 and as a Gil Vicente player. His first came in the 0–2 loss to Italy
on 12 February, in a friendly match
, and he last played in a 4–0 win over Bolivia
on 10 June, in another exhibition game.
Sintra
Sintra is a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon.In addition to...
, Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
) is a retired Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current coach.
Club career
Having started his footballing career with hometown Sport União Sintrense, Loureiro went on to represent Portimonense SCPortimonense S.C.
Portimonense Sporting Clube is a Portuguese football team based in Portimão. Founded on 14 August 1914, the club is one of the few professional clubs in the Algarve region, and currently plays in second division....
, C.D. Nacional, Gil Vicente FC (making his first division debuts in 2001–02), Sporting de Braga, Sporting Clube de Portugal and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, also serving uneventful abroad stints with FC Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(February–July 2005) and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
's Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
(August–December 2007).
Arguably, his biggest career moment came with Sporting: a spectacular goal, topping a great game in a 2–1 home win against Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the 2005–06 season. However, he was never more than a utility player there (with only nine league appearances).
On 1 November 2007, Anorthosis coach Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri "Temur" Ketsbaia is a Georgian football manager and former player. As a player he represented the Georgian national team and played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Anorthosis Famagusta, AEK, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dundee.Ketsbaia is often regarded as having played a major role...
called him lazy and said that he was 'still on vacation', implying that the midfielder had not yet displayed the calibre of football he was brought to the club for. Eventually, in January 2008, Loureiro and Anorthosis parted ways, and the player returned to Portugal, signing until the end of the season with northern Boavista FC.
In July 2008, after Boavista's relegation, Loureiro also dropped down a level, returning to Algarve's Portimonense, being released at the season's end. After one year out of football, he re-joined first professional team Sintrense, in the fourth division
Portuguese Third Division
The Terceira Divisão Portuguesa is the fourth level of the Portuguese football league system. The Third Division was initially the third level of the Portuguese pyramid but with the creation of the Liga de Honra in 1990–91, it became the fourth level...
.
International career
Loureiro had six capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, all in 2003 and as a Gil Vicente player. His first came in the 0–2 loss to Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on 12 February, in a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
, and he last played in a 4–0 win over Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
on 10 June, in another exhibition game.