Armando Sá
Encyclopedia
Armando Miguel Correia de Sá (born 16 September 1975) is a retired Mozambican
footballer who played usually a right defender.
He also holds a Portuguese
passport
, and played professionally in four different countries in a 16-year professional career: Portugal
(six teams, namely enjoying a two 1/2-year spell with Benfica), Spain
, England
(five months with Leeds United
) and Iran
.
. After playing for most of his early career with very modest Portuguese
sides, he joined Rio Ave FC in 1998–99, and his performances there attracted attention from Sporting Clube de Braga.
In December 2001, after having played with the Minho club for only four months he, alongside teammates Ricardo Rocha
and Tiago
, left for first division powerhouse S.L. Benfica.
Though not an undisputed starter at Benfica, Sá still managed to appear in a good number of games, subsequently moving to La Liga
outfit Villarreal CF
in 2004–05
and helping it finish third, and then to fellow top-divisioner RCD Espanyol
, appearing in 40 league games combined, although he finished 2006–07 on loan with England second division
's Leeds United
, which ranked last. He made his debut for the Yorkshire
club as a substitute, in a 1–3 away loss against West Bromwich Albion
, in the FA Cup, and ended up playing in several positions: right back, left back, and also in midfield
.
In July 2007, Sá signed for Foolad FC, who then competed in Iran's second level, by then newly installed Portuguese coach Augusto Inácio
, his father-in-law
. Achieving promotion in his first season, he switched to another club in the country, Sepahan FC.
23 times for the Mozambique national football team
.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
footballer who played usually a right defender.
He also holds 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...
passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
, and played professionally in four different countries in a 16-year professional career: Portugal
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...
(six teams, namely enjoying a two 1/2-year spell with Benfica), Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 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...
(five months with Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
) and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Club career
Sá was born in MaputoMaputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
. After playing for most of his early career with very modest 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...
sides, he joined Rio Ave FC in 1998–99, and his performances there attracted attention from Sporting Clube de Braga.
In December 2001, after having played with the Minho club for only four months he, alongside teammates Ricardo Rocha
Ricardo Rocha (Portuguese footballer)
Ricardo Sérgio Rocha Azevedo is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Portsmouth in the Football League Championship, as a defender.-Portugal:Rocha was born in Santo Tirso, Porto District...
and Tiago
Tiago Mendes
Tiago Cardoso Mendes , simply Tiago, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.A versatile midfielder, adept as both a central or defensive unit and with good overall skills, he played professionally in four of Europe's major leagues: England, France, Italy and Spain.A...
, left for first division powerhouse S.L. Benfica.
Though not an undisputed starter at Benfica, Sá still managed to appear in a good number of games, subsequently moving to La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
in 2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
and helping it finish third, and then to fellow top-divisioner RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, appearing in 40 league games combined, although he finished 2006–07 on loan with England second division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
's Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, which ranked last. He made his debut for the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club as a substitute, in a 1–3 away loss 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...
, in the FA Cup, and ended up playing in several positions: right back, left back, and also in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
In July 2007, Sá signed for Foolad FC, who then competed in Iran's second level, by then newly installed Portuguese coach Augusto Inácio
Augusto Inácio
Augusto Soares Inácio is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender, and a current coach.Having represented both Sporting Clube de Portugal and F.C...
, his father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
. Achieving promotion in his first season, he switched to another club in the country, Sepahan FC.
International career
Sá was cappedCap (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...
23 times for the Mozambique national football team
Mozambique national football team
The Mozambique national football team , popularly known as Os Mambas, represents Mozambique in association football and is controlled by the Federação Moçambicana de Futebol, the governing body for football in Mozambique...
.
Honours
- Benfica:
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe 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...
: 2003–04
- Portuguese Cup
- Villarreal:
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2004
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Espanyol:
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2005–06
- Spanish Cup
- Sepahan:
- Iranian League: 2009–102009–10 Persian Gulf CupThe 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup began on August 8, 2009 and ended on May 19, 2010. This was the ninth Iran Pro League season since its establishment...
- Iranian League: 2009–10