Daniel Kenedy

Daniel Kenedy

Personal information
Full name	Daniel Kenedy Pimentel Mateus dos Santos [1]
Date of birth	(1974-02-18) 18 February 1974 (age 51) [1]
Place of birth	Bissau, Guinea [1]
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder, full-back
Youth career
1984–1985	CAC Pontinha
1985–1993	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–1996	Benfica	59	(3)
1996–1997	Paris Saint-Germain	29	(0)
1997–1998	Porto	9	(0)
1998–2001	Estrela Amadora	60	(4)
1998	→ Albacete (loan)	3	(0)
2001–2003	Marítimo	37	(6)
2004	Braga	17	(0)
2005	Académica	17	(1)
2005–2006	APOEL	10	(0)
2006–2009	Ergotelis	63	(2)
2007	→ Kallithea (loan)	8	(2)
2009–2011	Aias Salamina	31	(7)
2011–2012	Peramaikos
Total		343+	(25+)
International career
1994–1996	Portugal U21	11	(1)
Managerial career
2015	Pinhalnovense
2015	Vitória Sernache
2016	Coruchense
2016	Almancilense
2016–2017	Leixões
2018–2019	Cartaxo
2023	Loures
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Daniel Kenedy Pimentel Mateus dos Santos (born 18 February 1974), known as Kenedy, is a Portuguese former professional footballer. A midfielder or full-back, he played on the left side of the pitch.

He appeared in 199 Primeira Liga matches over 11 seasons (14 goals), mainly in representation of Benfica and Estrela da Amadora. He also competed in France, Spain, Cyprus and Greece.

In 2015, Kenedy began working as a manager.

Club career

Kenedy was born in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea. During his extensive career, he represented in his country S.L. Benfica – making his Primeira Liga debut aged 19 – FC Porto, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, C.S. Marítimo, S.C. Braga (January to December 2004) and Académica de Coimbra. ^{[2] [3]}

In 1996, Kenedy had his first abroad stint, with Paris Saint-Germain FC from France, ^[4] starting regularly for the capital club as it finished second in Ligue 1. ^{[5] [6]} Subsequently, he represented Albacete Balompié – only three matches for the Spanish Segunda División side – APOEL FC, Ergotelis FC, Kallithea FC, Aias Salamina F.C. and Peramaikos FC. ^{[7] [8]}

Kenedy appeared in all three top tiers in Greece. Portugal notwithstanding, he played professionally in four countries. ^{[9] [7]}

International career

Kenedy represented Portugal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, helping the nation to finish fourth in Atlanta, Georgia. ^[10] He was surprisingly called up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad while still uncapped on the senior level, after injuries ruled Simão Sabrosa and Luís Boa Morte out of António Oliveira's selection; ^[11] however, he was dismissed from the team prior to the start of the tournament after testing positive for the banned diuretic furosemide that was in his slimming pills, and was replaced by Hugo Viana. ^{[12] [13]}

Coaching career

On 17 March 2015, Kenedy was handed his first managerial post at C.D. Pinhalnovense, ^[14] eventually avoiding relegation from the third division. ^[15] He was hired by LigaPro strugglers Leixões S.C. on 2 November 2016, ^[16] taking the team to the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal ^[17] where they were eliminated by his former club Benfica after a 6–2 away loss. ^[18]

Kenedy resigned in August 2017, only three games into the new season. ^[19]

Personal life

Kenedy was named after American president John F. Kennedy (note the difference in spelling). ^[20]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ^{[21] [1]}

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Other [a]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Benfica	1992–93	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	1993–94	14	0	2	0	2	0	1	0	19	0
	1994–95	22	2	2	1	6	0	2	0	32	3
	1995–96	22	1	4	0	5	1	—		31	2
	Total	59	3	8	1	13	1	3	0	83	5
Paris Saint-Germain	1996–97	29	0	2	0	6	0	2	0	39	0
Porto	1997–98	9	0	4	0	2	0	0	0	15	0
Albacete (loan)	1998–99	3	0			—		—		3	0
Estrela Amadora	1998–99	8	1	0	0	—		—		8	1
	1999–2000	25	1	0	0	—		—		25	1
	2000–01	27	2	0	0	—		—		27	2
	Total	60	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	60	4
Marítimo	2001–02	30	6	7	0	4	0	—		41	6
	2002–03	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2003–04	7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
	Total	37	6	7	0	4	0	0	0	48	6
Marítimo B	2003–04	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Braga	2003–04	11	0	2	0	—		—		13	0
	2004–05	6	0	1	0	2	0	—		9	0
	Total	17	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	22	0
Braga B	2004–05	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Académica	2004–05	17	1	2	0	—		—		19	2
APOEL	2005–06	10	0			4	0	—		14	0
Ergotelis	2005–06	16	0	0	0	—		—		16	0
	2006–07	21	2	2	0	—		—		23	2
	2007–08	13	0	0	0	—		—		13	0
	2008–09	13	0	1	0	—		—		14	0
	Total	63	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	66	2
Kallithea (loan)	2007–08	8	2	1	1	—		—		9	3
Aias Salamina	2009–10	31	7			—		—		31	7
	2010–11					—		—
	Total	31	7			0	0	0	0	31	7
Peramaikos	2011–12					—		—
Career total		345+	25+	30+	2+	31	1	5	0	411+	28+

1. Includes Coupe de la Ligue, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira and UEFA Super Cup

Honours

Benfica

• Primeira Liga: 1993–94 ^[22]
• Taça de Portugal: 1995–96 ^[22]

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 1997–98 ^[22]
• Taça de Portugal: 1997–98 ^[22]

See also

• List of doping cases in sport

References

1. Daniel Kenedy at WorldFootball.net
2. "Kenedy é o primeiro reforço da Académica" [Kenedy is Académica's first addition]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
3. Paulo, Isabel (19 November 2016). "Lembra-se de Kenedy? "Fiquei traumatizado com os comprimidos para emagrecer. Agora, tenho 10 ou 12 quilos a mais"" [Do you remember Kenedy? "I was traumatized by diet pills. Now I'm 10 or 12 kilos overweight"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 December 2025.
4. Crépin, Timothé (26 January 2017). "Mercato, Ligue 1: Ces Portugais passés par le PSG" [Market, League 1: Portuguese men with spells at PSG] (in French). France Football . Retrieved 12 December 2018.
5. Pereira, Alexis (1 June 2020). "L'ex du PSG Daniel Kenedy raconte comment le démon du jeu l'a dévoré" [Former PSG man Daniel Kenedy tells how the gambling demon ate him up] (in French). Foot Mercato. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
6. Faugeras, Jérôme; Pauron, Frédéric; King, Ian. "France 1996/97". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 December 2025.
7. "Conheça os guineenses que brilharam no Benfica de Portugal" [Meet the Guineans who shone for Benfica of Portugal]. O Democrata (in Portuguese). 21 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
8. Murillo, Sergio (15 June 2024). "Daniel Kenedy, el exfutbolista arruinado de PSG y Oporto que hoy es conductor de VTC" [Daniel Kenedy, PSG and Porto's ruined footballer who is a VTC driver today]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2025.
9. Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (19 June 2017). "Kenedy e a casa às costas: "Ligava à minha avó e dizia-lhe: vou ter jogo agora, reza por mim"" [Kenedy and taking your home with you: "I would call my grandmother and tell her: I'm having a match now, pray for me"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 December 2025.
10. "Portugal-Brasil: o pesadelo das Olimpíadas de 96 segundo Ronaldo e Bebeto" [Portugal-Brazil: the nightmare of the 96 Olympics according to Ronaldo and Bebeto] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
11. "Kenedy gets the call". BBC Sport. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
12. "Kenedy thrown out". BBC Sport. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
13. "Kenedy suspended". BBC Sport. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
14. "Kenedy assume comando do Pinhalnovense" [Kenedy assumes command of Pinhalnovense]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
15. Dias, Bruno (13 January 2016). "Kenedy vai treinar o Coruchense" [Kenedy will coach Coruchense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 December 2025.
16. "Kenedy é o novo treinador do Leixões" [Kenedy is the new manager of Leixões]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 2 November 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
17. "Leixões de Kenedy é tomba gigantes ao eliminar Tondela (2–1)" [Kenedy's Leixões are giant killers after ousting Tondela (2–1)]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 14 December 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
18. "Benfica goleia Leixões e segue na Taça de Portugal" [Benfica rout Leixões and go through in Portuguese Cup]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 18 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
19. "Kenedy demite-se de técnico do Leixões" [Kenedy resigns as manager of Leixões]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
20. Vasconcelos, Gonçalo (9 September 2002). "Presidentes históricos na Madeira" [Historical presidents in Madeira]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
21. Daniel Kenedy at ForaDeJogo (archived)
22. "Portugueses para o Mundial: Kenedy, a estrela que andou perdida" [Portuguese for the World Cup: Kenedy, the star that was lost] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2024.

External links

• Daniel Kenedy at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Daniel Kenedy manager stats at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Daniel Kenedy at BDFutbol
• Daniel Kenedy national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
• Daniel Kenedy – FIFA competition record (archived)