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 Sporting Clube de Portugal. 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.
- ^ "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