Carlos Xavier
Encyclopedia
Carlos Jorge Marques Caldas Xavier (born 16 January 1963 in Lourenço Marques
, Mozambique (Portugal)) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a midfielder
.
-based Sporting Clube de Portugal, already being a regular first-team fixture at age 19. He played 23 league matches as the Lions won the title in 1981–82, which would be the last until 2000.
In 1991, after more than 200 official matches, Xavier moved, alongside compatriot and teammate Oceano
, to Spain
's Real Sociedad
, where the pair was equally influential, having been reunited with former Sporting boss John Toshack
at the La Liga
side.
In 1994, Xavier and Oceano returned to Sporting, and the former played two more years before retiring, aged 34. In 2004–05, he had a brief spell at coaching, assisting at another club from the capital, G.D. Estoril Praia.
Xavier gained 10 caps
for Portugal
, then switched successfully to its beach soccer
side.
, is also a former footballer. A forward, he represented several teams in the country (coinciding with Carlos at Académica), and also played three seasons in China
in an 18-year professional career.
Maputo
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...
, Mozambique (Portugal)) 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 midfielder
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...
.
Football career
Xavier began his professional career with 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...
-based Sporting Clube de Portugal, already being a regular first-team fixture at age 19. He played 23 league matches as the Lions won the title in 1981–82, which would be the last until 2000.
In 1991, after more than 200 official matches, Xavier moved, alongside compatriot and teammate Oceano
Oceano da Cruz
Oceano Andrade da Cruz , simply Oceano, is a retired Cape Verdean–born Portuguese footballer during the 80's/90's, and a current manager....
, to 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...
's Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, where the pair was equally influential, having been reunited with former Sporting boss John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
at the 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...
side.
In 1994, Xavier and Oceano returned to Sporting, and the former played two more years before retiring, aged 34. In 2004–05, he had a brief spell at coaching, assisting at another club from the capital, G.D. Estoril Praia.
Xavier gained 10 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...
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...
, then switched successfully to its beach soccer
Beach soccer
Beach soccer, also known as beach football or beasal, is a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand. The game emphasises skill, agility and shooting at goal....
side.
Personal
Xavier's older brother, PedroPedro Xavier
Pedro Alexandre Marques Caldas Xavier is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a forward.-Football career:...
, is also a former footballer. A forward, he represented several teams in the country (coinciding with Carlos at Académica), and also played three seasons in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in an 18-year professional career.