António Veloso

Benfica">Benfica. A gritty defender who could appear in the flanks and on occasion in the middle, he spent a decade and a half at his main club, and was team captain from 1988 to 1995.

António Veloso

Veloso in 2011
Personal information
Full name	António Augusto da Silva Veloso
Date of birth	(1957-01-31) 31 January 1957 (age 67)
Place of birth	São João da Madeira, Portugal
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Full-back
Youth career
1972–1976	Sanjoanense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1978	Sanjoanense	27	(1)
1978–1980	Beira-Mar	56	(4)
1980–1995	Benfica	419	(9)
Total		502	(14)
International career
1981–1994	Portugal	40	(0)
Managerial career
1996–2000	Alverca
2000–2001	Atlético
2002	Benfica (assistant)
2001–2002	Benfica B
2006–2007	Atlético Malveira
2008–2009	Oeiras
2009–2010	Estrela Amadora
Medal record Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA European Championship 1984 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

An international for 13 years, Veloso represented Portugal at Euro 1984.

Born in São João da Madeira, Veloso started playing football with his hometown club A.D. Sanjoanense, then moved to S.C. Beira-Mar for a further two seasons. He signed with S.L. Benfica for 1980–81, and was ever-present until his retirement, helping the capital side to seven Primeira Liga and five Taça de Portugal trophies.

With Benfica, Veloso also played in the UEFA Cup final in 1982–83, as they lost to R.S.C. Anderlecht 2–1 on aggregate and, most notably, in the 1987–88 European Cup final, where he missed the penalty shootout attempt that gave PSV Eindhoven the win (6–5).

Suspension left Veloso out of the team that reached the 1990 European Cup final, lost to AC Milan. He retired at 38 after 15 seasons with the same club and 658 competitive appearances, subsequently becoming a coach.

Veloso earned 40 caps for Portugal, making his debut on 18 November 1981 in a 2–1 win over Scotland for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He played at UEFA Euro 1984 where the national team reached the semi-finals, and was left outside the 1986 World Cup squad due to a doping test, which was later proved to be fake.

Veloso's last international game came at age 36, in a 2–2 friendly draw with Spain on 19 January 1994.

Veloso's son, Miguel, is also a professional footballer. After an unassuming youth spell at Benfica, he went on to represent neighbours Sporting CP and also the national team.

Benfica

• Primeira Liga: 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94
• Taça de Portugal: 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1980, 1985, 1989