António Semedo
Encyclopedia
António Paulo Sanches Semedo (born 1 June 1979 in Lisbon
) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for FK Khazar Lankaran in Azerbaijan
. Operating on the left or right wings or behind the striker, he is nicknamed "The Black Panther
".
area with modest Casa Pia AC
, Semedo moved to C.F. Estrela da Amadora in 2000. He went on to establish himself as an important offensive element, whether as a starter or from the bench. In his last season, he scored six goals in 32 matches, helping the capital side to finish 9th after having promoted
the previous season.
In 2006–07, Semedo joined Romania
's CFR Cluj
, as the first division
side was filled with Portuguese players. After good displays during two seasons, and a double
in his last, he moved to the most successful club in the country, FC Steaua Bucureşti.
On 13 September 2008, Semedo scored from a corner kick
on his debut, as Steaua won 4–1 against FC Farul Constanţa
. The following week, he scored a brace in the 4–0 victory against CS Gaz Metan Mediaş
.
In 2009–10, Semedo was demoted to the B squad
. Several weeks later, his contract was terminated, but he stayed in the country, signing with FC Unirea Urziceni.
at the 2002 European Championship
, as the nation finished third in its group.
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 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 FK Khazar Lankaran in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. Operating on the left or right wings or behind the striker, he is nicknamed "The Black Panther
Black panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
".
Club career
After beginning his professional career in the LisbonLisbon
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...
area with modest Casa Pia AC
Casa Pia A.C.
Casa Pia Atlético Clube is a sports association founded in 1920 and based in Lisbon, Portugal. The club is named after Casa Pia, a Portuguese children's charity, and many of its athletes come from that institution...
, Semedo moved to C.F. Estrela da Amadora in 2000. He went on to establish himself as an important offensive element, whether as a starter or from the bench. In his last season, he scored six goals in 32 matches, helping the capital side to finish 9th after having promoted
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
the previous season.
In 2006–07, Semedo joined Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002...
, as the first division
Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
side was filled with Portuguese players. After good displays during two seasons, and a double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
in his last, he moved to the most successful club in the country, FC Steaua Bucureşti.
On 13 September 2008, Semedo scored from a corner kick
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
on his debut, as Steaua won 4–1 against FC Farul Constanţa
FC Farul Constanta
FC Farul Constanţa is a professional football club from Constanţa, Romania. Established in 1949, Farul is currently competing in Liga II ,after being relegated at the end of Liga I 2008-09. The club has yet to win a Romanian title...
. The following week, he scored a brace in the 4–0 victory against CS Gaz Metan Mediaş
CS Gaz Metan Medias
Clubul Sportiv Gaz Metan Mediaș is a Romanian professional football club from Mediaș, Sibiu county, founded in 1945, and currently playing in the Romanian first division.- First promotion in Divizia A :...
.
In 2009–10, Semedo was demoted to the B squad
FC Steaua II Bucuresti
FC Steaua II Bucureşti was a Romanian professional football club from Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2004 and dissolved in 2011. It was the reserve team of Steaua Bucureşti.-Honours:Liga III:*Winners : 2008-09...
. Several weeks later, his contract was terminated, but he stayed in the country, signing with FC Unirea Urziceni.
International career
Semedo played for Portugal U-21sPortugal 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...
at the 2002 European Championship
2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2002 was the 13th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Switzerland between 16 and 28 May 2002.Czech Republic U-21s won the competition for the first time.-Qualification:...
, as the nation finished third in its group.
Honours
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 |  Kingdom of Romania ClujCFR Cluj CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002... |
Romanian League Liga I Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"... |
| 2007–08 | Kingdom of Romania Cluj CFR Cluj CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002... |
Romanian Cup |