Orlando Sá
Encyclopedia
Orlando Carlos Braga de Sá (born 26 May 1988 in Barcelos
) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for Fulham
in England
, as a striker.
(third division
), finishing his first professional season with six goals.
He returned to Braga in 2008, making his top flight debut on 5 January 2009, playing one minute in a 2–0 home win over C.F. Os Belenenses. On 7 March, Sá scored his first goal in the competition, as a late substitute in a 2–2 draw at C.F. Estrela da Amadora.
3 million. Having arrived still injured from Braga, he only made his Porto debut on 2 January 2010, starting in a 2–0 win at U.D. Oliveirense, for the season
's Portuguese Cup
.
Sá spent the 2010–11 season on loan to C.D. Nacional, appearing sparingly due to injury and technical decisions. His highlight was scoring the winner in a 2–1 home win against S.L. Benfica on 21 August 2010, and he finished the campaign with six official goals (plus one for the Portuguese under-23).
, Sá joined Premier League club Fulham
on a free transfer. He made his official debut for his new team in a Football League Cup
tie
against Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge
on 21 September (penalty shootout loss), and first appeared in the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion
three days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 away draw.
caps
, Sá scored a hat-trick
against Spain
, in a 4–1 friendly home win.
Only three months later, he was surprisingly called-up to the senior squad
by coach Carlos Queiroz
, for a friendly against Finland
, and replaced Hugo Almeida
at the hour mark, in a 1–0 home win.
Barcelos, Portugal
Barcelos is a city in Barcelos Municipality in Braga District. The city has a population of 20,625.-History:Originally a Roman settlement, it expanded and became the seat of the First Duke of Bragança in the 15th century...
) is a 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 plays for Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as a striker.
Braga
Sá started his career in the youth ranks of Sporting de Braga, and was promoted to the first team in 2007–08, only to be loaned immediately to lowly S.C. Maria da FonteS.C. Maria da Fonte
Sport Clube Maria da Fonte also known as SC Maria da Fonte is a Portuguese football club from Póvoa de Lanhoso, Braga and founded in 1926. SC Maria da Fonte currently plays in the Portuguese Second Division Serie A and finished 7th in the previous season which was the 2007/08 season...
(third division
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
), finishing his first professional season with six goals.
He returned to Braga in 2008, making his top flight debut on 5 January 2009, playing one minute in a 2–0 home win over C.F. Os Belenenses. On 7 March, Sá scored his first goal in the competition, as a late substitute in a 2–2 draw at C.F. Estrela da Amadora.
Porto
On 1 June, Sá moved to league champions F.C. Porto, for an estimated fee of €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
3 million. Having arrived still injured from Braga, he only made his Porto debut on 2 January 2010, starting in a 2–0 win at U.D. Oliveirense, for the season
2009–10 Taça de Portugal
The 2009–10 Taça de Portugal was the 70th season of the Taça de Portugal. The competition began on 30 August 2009, with the first round matches, and concluded with the final, held on 16 May at the Estádio Nacional, in Oeiras, between defending champions Porto and then Liga de Honra team Chaves...
's Portuguese Cup
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
.
Sá spent the 2010–11 season on loan to C.D. Nacional, appearing sparingly due to injury and technical decisions. His highlight was scoring the winner in a 2–1 home win against S.L. Benfica on 21 August 2010, and he finished the campaign with six official goals (plus one for the Portuguese under-23).
Fulham
At the end of the 2011 transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Sá joined Premier League club Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on a free transfer. He made his official debut for his new team in a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie
2011–12 Football League Cup
The 2011–12 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, is the 52nd season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs...
against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
on 21 September (penalty shootout loss), and first appeared in the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
three days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 away draw.
International career
On 21 November 2008, in one of his first under-21Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
caps
Cap (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...
, Sá scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Spain
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
, in a 4–1 friendly home win.
Only three months later, he was surprisingly called-up to the senior squad
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...
by coach Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Manuel Brito Leal Queiroz ComIH is a Portuguese football manager. He is currently the manager of the Iran national football team. A former manager of Real Madrid, and Portugal national football team, he has also twice been Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at English club Manchester...
, for a friendly against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
, and replaced Hugo Almeida
Hugo Almeida
Hugo Miguel Pereira de Almeida is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Beşiktaş J.K. in Turkey, as a centre forward.After failing to establish himself at F.C...
at the hour mark, in a 1–0 home win.