Hilário Leal
Encyclopedia
Hilário Paulino Neves Freitas Leal (born 15 May 1974 in Ajaccio
, France
) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for Santa Maria F.C. as a right defender.
parents in Corsica
, France
, returning to his motherland still as an infant. He made his professional debuts with local S.C. Freamunde
, playing third division
football with the team. In 1996, he moved straight into the top level with G.D. Chaves, appearing regularly in two of his three seasons with the team, and being relegated in his last, although he had already signed in January 1999 for A.C. Perugia
in Italy
.
With the Umbria
side, Hilário played in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, with his team being eliminated by Trabzonspor
in the third round. He only appeared regularly in his first full season in Serie A
(20 games), helping the side to a final midtable position, and sharing team with the likes of Hidetoshi Nakata
, Alessandro Calori
, Giovanni Tedesco
, Massimiliano Esposito
and Milan Rapaić
. He never scored a goal for the team, but netted one in his own net
against F.C. Internazionale Milano
on 6 January 2000.
In 2002, Hilário returned to Portugal, playing for F.C. Maia
in the second level
, before returning back to Italy a year later, representing S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio
in two Serie C seasons. Again in his country at the age of 31, he signed for F.C. Famalicão
, switching in 2007 to Santa Maria F.C. in amateur football (division four
).
Ajaccio
Ajaccio , is a commune on the island of Corsica in France. It is the capital and largest city of the region of Corsica and the prefecture of the department of Corse-du-Sud....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) 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 Santa Maria F.C. as a right defender.
Football career
Hilário was born to PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
parents in Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, returning to his motherland still as an infant. He made his professional debuts with local S.C. Freamunde
S.C. Freamunde
Sport Clube Freamunde is a Portuguese football team based in Freamunde, Porto District. Founded in 1933, it currently plays in the Portuguese second division, holding home games at Campo SC Freamunde, with a capacity of 5,000 spectators....
, playing 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...
football with the team. In 1996, he moved straight into the top level with G.D. Chaves, appearing regularly in two of his three seasons with the team, and being relegated in his last, although he had already signed in January 1999 for A.C. Perugia
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
With the Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
side, Hilário played in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, with his team being eliminated by Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
in the third round. He only appeared regularly in his first full season in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
(20 games), helping the side to a final midtable position, and sharing team with the likes of Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata
, is a retired Japanese football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation.Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S...
, Alessandro Calori
Alessandro Calori
Alessandro Calori is an Italian association football coach and former player.-Playing:A product of Arezzo's youth system, Calori made his professional debut in 1985 with Serie C team Montevarchi, where he spent four season...
, Giovanni Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco
Giovanni Tedesco is an Italian former footballer in the role of centre midfielder, currently in charge as youth coach of U.S. Città di Palermo.-Club career:...
, Massimiliano Esposito
Massimiliano Esposito
Massimiliano Esposito is an Italian footballer .-Career:Albeit born in Naples, Esposito started his professional career in Catanzaro, where he was a promising midfielder in the early 1990s. When Reggiana was promoted to Serie A in 1993, they signed Esposito as its playmaker...
and Milan Rapaić
Milan Rapaic
Milan "Miki" Rapaić was a Croatian football midfielder who last played for HNK Trogir after his contract with Standard Liège ended in July 2007....
. He never scored a goal for the team, but netted one in his own net
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
against F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
on 6 January 2000.
In 2002, Hilário returned to Portugal, playing for F.C. Maia
F.C. Maia
Futebol Clube da Maia is a Portuguese football club based in Maia, Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto. Founded in 1954, it currently plays in the Porto Regional League, holding home games at Estádio Professor Doutor Vieira de Carvalho, which holds 15,000 spectators.-History:Maia never competed in...
in the second level
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...
, before returning back to Italy a year later, representing S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio
S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio
Unione Sportiva Sambenedettese is an Italian association football club, based in San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche. The club was founded in 1923. Sambenedettese currently plays in Serie D, having last been in Serie B in 1989. The team's colors are red and blue....
in two Serie C seasons. Again in his country at the age of 31, he signed for F.C. Famalicão
F.C. Famalicão
Futebol Clube de Famalicão is a Portuguese sports club, based in Vila Nova de Famalicão in the district of Braga. The club was founded in 1931 and its senior team currently plays in national level in the Portuguese football Federation Third Division Serie B championship...
, switching in 2007 to Santa Maria F.C. in amateur football (division four
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...
).