Minervino Pietra
Encyclopedia
Minervino José Lopes Pietra (born 1 March 1954) is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a right defender.
, Pietra started his professional career with local C.F. Os Belenenses, collecting 99 appearances in the top division in his five-year spell, with ten goals. In 1976, the 22-year old moved to city - and national - giants S.L. Benfica, where he would remain until his retirement.
With the Reds, Pietra won, always as an important defensive unit, the league in 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83 and 1983–84, adding five domestic cups
. In 11 seasons, he amassed a further 229 league matches, scoring on 14 occasions. He also helped the club to the 1982–83 UEFA Cup final
, lost to Belgium
's R.S.C. Anderlecht
(0–1 abroad, 1–1 at home).
In the mid-1990s, Pietra began working as a manager, successively with Boavista FC, Belenenses, Benfica, F.C. Alverca
(under former Benfica teammate António Veloso
, his fullback counterpart), F.C. Barreirense and G.D. Estoril Praia, the latter two as head coach. After nearly one decade out of the game, in 2009, he returned to Benfica, joining Jorge Jesus' coaching staff.
for Portugal
, his first game being on 14 November 1973, in a 1–1 draw against Northern Ireland
for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
qualfiers
, at the age of only 19.
He appeared regularly during the following years, but did not attend any major international tournament. Pietra's last cap came on September 21, 1983, a 5–0 win over Finland
for the UEFA Euro 1984 qualification stages; Portugal qualified for the finals in France
, but he was overlooked for the squad that eventually finished third.
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 right defender.
Club career
Born in 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...
, Pietra started his professional career with local C.F. Os Belenenses, collecting 99 appearances in the top division in his five-year spell, with ten goals. In 1976, the 22-year old moved to city - and national - giants S.L. Benfica, where he would remain until his retirement.
With the Reds, Pietra won, always as an important defensive unit, the league in 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83 and 1983–84, adding five domestic cups
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...
. In 11 seasons, he amassed a further 229 league matches, scoring on 14 occasions. He also helped the club to the 1982–83 UEFA Cup final
1983 UEFA Cup Final
The 1983 UEFA Cup Final was played on 4 May 1983 and 18 May 1983 between R.S.C. Anderlecht of Belgium and SL Benfica of Portugal. Anderlecht won 2–1 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second leg:-References:* *...
, lost to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
(0–1 abroad, 1–1 at home).
In the mid-1990s, Pietra began working as a manager, successively with Boavista FC, Belenenses, Benfica, F.C. Alverca
F.C. Alverca
Futebol Clube de Alverca is a Portuguese football club based in Alverca do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon. Founded on 1 September 1939, it currently plays in the Lisbon District Championships.-History:...
(under former Benfica teammate António Veloso
António Veloso
António Augusto da Silva Veloso is a retired Portuguese footballer who played most notably with Benfica. A gritty defender who could appear in the flanks and on occasion in the middle, he played for his main club during almost two professional decades.An international for nearly 15 years, Veloso...
, his fullback counterpart), F.C. Barreirense and G.D. Estoril Praia, the latter two as head coach. After nearly one decade out of the game, in 2009, he returned to Benfica, joining Jorge Jesus' coaching staff.
International career
Pietra gained 28 capsCap (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...
, his first game being on 14 November 1973, in a 1–1 draw against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
qualfiers
1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification....
, at the age of only 19.
He appeared regularly during the following years, but did not attend any major international tournament. Pietra's last cap came on September 21, 1983, a 5–0 win over 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....
for the UEFA Euro 1984 qualification stages; Portugal qualified for the finals in 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...
, but he was overlooked for the squad that eventually finished third.