Hugo (footballer, born 1976)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Hugo Miguel Fernandes Vieira | ||
Date of birth | 11 August 1976 | ||
Place of birth | Braga, Portugal | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Youth career | |||
1986–1995 | Braga | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1995–1997 | Braga | 15 | (0) |
1997–2000 | Sampdoria | 59 | (0) |
2000–2006 | Sporting CP | 64 | (3) |
2006–2009 | Vitória Setúbal | 33 | (1) |
2009–2013 | Beira-Mar | 102 | (1) |
Total | 273 | (5) | |
International career | |||
1994 | Portugal U18 | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Hugo Miguel Fernandes Vieira (born 11 August 1976), known simply as Hugo, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 186 matches and four goals over 14 seasons, representing in the competition Braga, Sporting, Vitória de Setúbal and Beira-Mar. He played abroad with Sampdoria.
Club career
Born in Braga, Hugo played during his early career with S.C. Braga, making his first-team – and Primeira Liga – debut at the age of 19. He moved to Italian club U.C. Sampdoria in 1997, being regularly used during his three-year stint but suffering Serie A relegation in his second season.
Hugo returned to Portugal in summer 2000, joining Sporting CP and being a member of the Lions squad that won both the league and the cup in 2002.[1] Later that year, on 18 August, he started in the 2002 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, helping his side to a 1–5 victory over Leixões,[2] although he was beaten by Henri Antchouet for the opponents' consolation goal.[3] Notably, four days earlier, on 14 August, he shared the bench with Cristiano Ronaldo in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round against Inter Milan, but while he remained an unused substitute, Ronaldo came off in the second half to play his first-ever official senior football match.[4]
After six seasons at Sporting, Hugo left as a free agent to Vitória de Setúbal, with whom he won the inaugural edition of the Taça da Liga.[1] In his last season there (2008–09), he played the most games he had in years, but spent most of the campaign as defensive midfielder.
In 2009, the 33-year-old Hugo had his first second division experience when he signed for S.C. Beira-Mar,[5] helping the Aveiro side win the league in his first year and return to the top flight, after a three-year absence. He stayed at Beira-Mar for four years, from 2009 until his retirement in 2013.[6]
Later life
In 2015, Vieira was appointed as the executive director of Braga's youth development, a position he held for five years, until 2020. Under his leadership, Braga's youth development became the second best in Portugal, only behind that of Benfica.[6] Notably, he oversaw the discovery and rise of Roger Fernandes, who went on to become both the youngest player and the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Primeira Liga.[7]
Honours
Sporting
Vitória Setúbal
Beira-Mar
References
- ^ a b "Hugo Miguel Fernandes Vieira". www.verdebranco.net (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ "Histórico da Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira" [Supercup Cândido de Oliveira all-time record] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 11 August 2012. p. 12. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ "Sporting-Leixões, 5-1 (crónica)" [Sporting-Leixões, 5-1 (report)]. maisfutebol.iol.pt (in Portuguese). 18 August 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ "Sporting-Inter Milan, 0-0". www.record.pt (in Portuguese). 14 August 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ "Hugo no Beira Mar" [Hugo to Beira-Mar] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Hugo Vieira sem dúvidas: «Sp. Braga é o segundo clube em Portugal na formação»" [Hugo Vieira without a doubt: «Sp. Braga is the second club in Portugal in terms of training»]. www.record.pt (in Portuguese). 2 April 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ "Quem é Roger, o miúdo que faz sensação em Braga?" [Who is Roger, the boy who is causing a sensation in Braga?]. maisfutebol.iol.pt (in Portuguese). 8 October 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
External links
- Hugo national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- Hugo at Soccerway