Nelson Pereira
Encyclopedia
Nélson Alexandre Gomes Pereira, simply Nélson (ˈnɛɫsɔ̃, born 20 October 1975 in Torres Vedras
, Lisbon), is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
, Nélson was primarily used as a backup at Sporting Clube de Portugal, first to Peter Schmeichel
, then to Ricardo
, for nearly a decade. His best output for the Lions came in the 2002–03 season after both had left the club, playing 19 games in an eventual third-place finish, 27 points behind champions F.C. Porto.
After 2005–06, Nélson moved to Vitória Futebol Clube
, but due to unpaid wages, a recurring problem in the club for the past seasons prior to his arrival, Nélson left the sadinos
, being out of work for almost six months, before joining another Lisbon
side, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, on July 2007.
Estrela would be relegated at the end of 2008–09, after continuing financial problems, even though it finished in mid-table. Nélson subsequently moved to neighbours C.F. Os Belenenses. He suffered an injury in training in December 2009, and never played again as the Restelo
side finished second from bottom and dropped down a division; aged nearly 35, he chose to retire.
, all in 2002. He was picked as third-choice for that year's
FIFA World Cup
, but was never recalled since.
Torres Vedras
Torres Vedras is a city and a municipality in the district of Lisbon, Portugal, about 50 km north of Lisbon. It belongs to the Oeste subregion and the Centro region.The municipality covers an area of 405.89 km² distributed over 20 freguesias...
, Lisbon), 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 goalkeeper.
Club career
After having started his football career with hometown club S.C.U. TorreenseS.C.U. Torreense
Sport Clube União Torreense was founded in Torres Vedras in 1917, with the original name Sport União Torreense. It participated 6 times in the Portuguese Liga and its best result was two seventh final places , coincidentally the team's first two years in the top flight...
, Nélson was primarily used as a backup at Sporting Clube de Portugal, first to Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
, then to Ricardo
Ricardo Pereira
Ricardo Alexandre Martins Soares Pereira, OIH , simply Ricardo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Vitória de Setúbal as a goalkeeper....
, for nearly a decade. His best output for the Lions came in the 2002–03 season after both had left the club, playing 19 games in an eventual third-place finish, 27 points behind champions F.C. Porto.
After 2005–06, Nélson moved to Vitória Futebol Clube
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
, but due to unpaid wages, a recurring problem in the club for the past seasons prior to his arrival, Nélson left the sadinos
Sado River
The Sado River is a river in Southern Portugal, and is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a South/North direction through 175 km from its springs in the Caldeirão hills before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.In Setúbal, its estuary is famous...
, being out of work for almost six months, before joining another Lisbon
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...
side, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, on July 2007.
Estrela would be relegated at the end of 2008–09, after continuing financial problems, even though it finished in mid-table. Nélson subsequently moved to neighbours C.F. Os Belenenses. He suffered an injury in training in December 2009, and never played again as the Restelo
Estádio do Restelo
The Estádio do Restelo is a multi-purpose stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 people and was built in 1956.It is situated behind the world-renowned Jerónimos Monastery in the Lisbon district of Santa Maria de Belém....
side finished second from bottom and dropped down a division; aged nearly 35, he chose to retire.
International career
Nélson was capped three times for PortugalPortugal 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...
, all in 2002. He was picked as third-choice for that year's
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, but was never recalled since.