Rui Jordão
Encyclopedia
Rui Manuel Trindade Jordão (ˈʁuj ʒuɾˈðɐ̃w̃; born 9 August 1952) is a retired Portuguese
footballer.
One of the most prolific strikers in the history of Portuguese football
, his career was mainly associated with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting, winning the Silver Ball
award twice, once with each club.
Jordão also represented the Portuguese national team
for nearly twenty years, appearing at Euro 1984 in France
.
, Portuguese Angola
, Jordão moved in his teens to Portugal
's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, making his professional debuts in the 1971–72 season. He played 17 games and scored six goals in his debut campaign, appearingly slightly less in his second (but still contributing with five successful strikes), as the Reds won back-to-back first division titles, only losing one match in the course of the two seasons combined.
After improving his displays at Benfica, Jordão signed with Spanish
side Real Zaragoza
, scoring regularly but being relegated from La Liga
, after which he returned to his country of adoption, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Jordão enjoyed his best years with the Lions, only scoring once in single digits in his first seven seasons, which included an astonishing 57 goals combined in the seasons where the team won the league (1980, 1982). At the age of 35, he moved to Vitória de Setúbal
, reuniting with former Sporting teammate Manuel Fernandes, another prolific veteran goalscorer; he closed out his career two years later, one after Fernandes, having scored more than 200 goals - 214 exactly - in the Portuguese league alone.
for Portugal
, against Cyprus
for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
. Also in that year, he was picked for the squad that lost the Brazilian Independence Cup, 1–0 against hosts Brazil
.
On 13 November 1983, Jordão scored the decisive goal against the Soviet Union, as the national side won 1–0 in Lisbon
and qualified for UEFA Euro 1984. In the final stages, Portugal managed to reach the semi-finals, where the player scored twice against the hosts France
in Marseille
on 23 June 1984. Portugal actually led 2–1 with only six minutes to go in extra-time, after individual efforts and assists
by Fernando Chalana
, but eventually lost 2–3.
Jordão played his last international in 1989, at nearly 37, precisely in the year of his club retirement.
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.
One of the most prolific strikers in the history of Portuguese football
Football in Portugal
- History :Football started to gain popularity in Portugal in the late 19th century, brought by Portuguese students who returned from England.right|250px|thumb...
, his career was mainly associated with two of the biggest clubs in the country, Benfica and Sporting, winning the Silver Ball
Bola de Prata
The Bola de Prata is a Primeira Liga award for the top scorer. In case two or more players have the same amount of goals, the award goes to the footballer with the least games played. It was first awarded has a prize in the 1952–53 season by sport newspaper A Bola.-List of winners:...
award twice, once with each club.
Jordão also represented the Portuguese national team
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...
for nearly twenty years, appearing at Euro 1984 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...
.
Club career
Born in BenguelaBenguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
, Portuguese Angola
Angola (Portugal)
Angola is the common name by which the Portuguese colony in southwestern Africa was known across different periods of time...
, Jordão moved in his teens to 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...
's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, making his professional debuts in the 1971–72 season. He played 17 games and scored six goals in his debut campaign, appearingly slightly less in his second (but still contributing with five successful strikes), as the Reds won back-to-back first division titles, only losing one match in the course of the two seasons combined.
After improving his displays at Benfica, Jordão signed with Spanish
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...
side Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, scoring regularly but being relegated from 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...
, after which he returned to his country of adoption, signing with Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Jordão enjoyed his best years with the Lions, only scoring once in single digits in his first seven seasons, which included an astonishing 57 goals combined in the seasons where the team won the league (1980, 1982). At the age of 35, he moved to Vitória de Setúbal
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...
, reuniting with former Sporting teammate Manuel Fernandes, another prolific veteran goalscorer; he closed out his career two years later, one after Fernandes, having scored more than 200 goals - 214 exactly - in the Portuguese league alone.
International career
In early 1972, Jordão won the first of his 43 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...
, against Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
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...
qualifiers
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....
. Also in that year, he was picked for the squad that lost the Brazilian Independence Cup, 1–0 against hosts Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
.
On 13 November 1983, Jordão scored the decisive goal against the Soviet Union, as the national side won 1–0 in 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...
and qualified for UEFA Euro 1984. In the final stages, Portugal managed to reach the semi-finals, where the player scored twice against the hosts France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
on 23 June 1984. Portugal actually led 2–1 with only six minutes to go in extra-time, after individual efforts and assists
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
by Fernando Chalana
Fernando Chalana
Fernando Albino de Sousa Chalana is a retired Portuguese professional footballer and manager.Widely regarded as one of the greatest talents in national football, among the likes of Eusébio, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luís Figo and Rui Costa, the diminutive winger's main asset was his above-average ball...
, but eventually lost 2–3.
Jordão played his last international in 1989, at nearly 37, precisely in the year of his club retirement.
Team
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 1971–72, 1972–73
- 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...
: 1971–72; Runner-up 1973–74, 1974–75
- Sporting:
- Portuguese League: 1979–80, 1981–82
- 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...
: 1977–78, 1981–82; Runner-up 1978–79 - Portuguese Supercup: 1982
Indvidual
- Portuguese League: Top Scorer 1975–76, 1979–80
- Portuguese Footballer of the YearPortuguese Footballer of the YearThe CNID Footballer of the Year was an annual award given to the player who was adjudged to have been the best best of the year in Primeira Liga. Between 1970 and 2000 this award was given to a Portuguese footballer playing in a foreign country or any player in Portuguese first League...
: 1980