Vasco Fernandes (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Salgado Cunhaand the second or paternal family name is Mango Fernandes.

Vasco Fernandes

Fernandes before a game with Celta in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Vasco Herculano Salgado Cunha Mango Fernandes [1]
Date of birth	(1986-11-12) 12 November 1986 (age 37) [1]
Place of birth	Olhão, Portugal [1]
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Chaves
Number	13
Youth career
1996–2005	Olhanense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Olhanense	26	(0)
2005–2006	→ Bordeaux (loan)	0	(0)
2007–2008	Salamanca	18	(0)
2008–2010	Leixões	16	(0)
2009–2010	→ Celta (loan)	28	(0)
2010–2011	Elche	17	(0)
2011–2012	Beira-Mar	0	(0)
2012–2013	Olhanense	33	(0)
2013–2014	Platanias	30	(0)
2014–2015	Aris	24	(2)
2015–2016	Pandurii	28	(0)
2016–2019	Vitória Setúbal	87	(4)
2019–2021	Ümraniyespor	27	(2)
2021	Chaves	16	(0)
2021–2024	Casa Pia	71	(2)
2024–	Chaves	8	(0)
International career
2005	Portugal U19	4	(0)
2005–2007	Portugal U20	7	(0)
2007–2008	Portugal U21	11	(0)
2009–2010	Portugal U23	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:43, 12 March 2024 (UTC)

Vasco Herculano Salgado Cunha Mango Fernandes (born 12 November 1986) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays mainly as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Chaves.

He made over 150 Primeira Liga appearances for Leixões, Olhanense, Vitória de Setúbal and Casa Pia, as well as playing professionally in Spain, Greece, Romania and Turkey.

Club career

Early career

Born in Olhão, Algarve of Guinea-Bissauan descent, ^[2] Fernandes started his professional career with hometown's S.C. Olhanense, making his debut in the Segunda Liga. Prior to that, he was loaned to FC Girondins de Bordeaux from France, but never appeared officially for the Ligue 1 club.

After moving to Spain, joining UD Salamanca where he teamed up with compatriot Zé Tó, ^[3] Fernandes returned to Portugal after being bought by Leixões SC. He played roughly half of the games during the season, as the Matosinhos team overachieved for a final sixth place in the Primeira Liga. ^[4] His debut in the competition took place on 24 August 2008, when he featured the full 90 minutes in a 1–3 home loss against C.D. Nacional. ^[5]

Abroad

Fernandes was loaned again for the 2009–10 campaign, also in Spain and in its Segunda División, moving to RC Celta de Vigo. ^[6] He was much more regularly used than in his previous stint in the country, although the Galicians constantly battled relegation even though they finished 12th.

On 1 July 2010, Fernandes left Leixões permanently and joined Elche CF – still in Spain and its second tier. ^[7] In the following years he rarely settled with a club, representing S.C. Beira-Mar and Olhanense in his country ^[8] as well as Platanias FC (Super League) ^[9] and Aris Thessaloniki FC (lower leagues) in Greece and CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu in the Romanian Liga I. ^{[10] [11]}

Vitória Setúbal

On 3 June 2016, aged nearly 31, Fernandes signed a two-year contract with Vitória F.C. in the Portuguese top flight. ^[12] He scored his first league goal on 17 September of that year, but in a 1–4 home defeat to F.C. Paços de Ferreira. ^[13]

Fernandes received the first red card of 2017–18, after being sent off with 20 minutes left of the 1–1 home draw with Moreirense FC. ^{[14] [15]} He played five games in their Taça da Liga campaign, opening a 2–2 home draw in the final group fixture against S.L. Benfica on 29 December ^[16] and starting and finishing the loss to Sporting CP by penalty shootout in the final. ^[17]

Fernandes stayed for a third season at the Estádio do Bonfim, where he was played consistently and was captain of a side the fans nicknamed "Vasco Fernandes and ten others". ^[18]

Later career

In August 2019, Fernandes went abroad again to join Ümraniyespor in Turkey's TFF First League, ^[19] returning home in January 2021 by signing for G.D. Chaves in his first experience in his country's second division for over a decade. ^[20] Six months later, he moved to Casa Pia A.C. in the same league, ^[21] being a key player and scoring twice as the Lisbon-based club ended its 83-year exile from the top flight; he then extended his contract to 2023. ^[22]

In 2022–23, Fernandes played 30 games as the Geese came 10th in the highest division, plus four more cup matches. The 36-year-old then committed for another season. ^[23]

Fernandes returned to Chaves on 6 January 2024 on a deal until June 2025, having severed his ties with Casa Pia following a run-in with manager Filipe Martins. ^[24]

International career

All youth levels comprised, Fernandes won 22 caps for Portugal. He first appeared with the under-21 side on 21 August 2007, starting in a 3–0 friendly win over Malta held in Vila do Conde. ^[25]

Personal life

Fernandes' father, Herculano, was also a footballer and a defender. He too represented Olhanense and, in a 16-year senior career, appeared in one Portuguese top-division game with Académica de Coimbra; he coached his son in Olhanense's juniors, where he played as a forward. ^[2]

Career statistics

As of match played 8 October 2023 ^[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Olhanense	2004–05	Segunda Liga	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2006–07	Liga de Honra	25	0	2	0	—		—		27	0
	2007–08	Liga de Honra	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	Total		26	0	2	0	1	0	—		29	0
Bordeaux (loan)	2005–06	Ligue 1	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Salamanca	2007–08	Segunda División	18	0	0	0	—		—		18	0
Leixões	2008–09	Primeira Liga	16	0	3	0	1	0	—		20	0
Celta (loan)	2009–10	Segunda División	28	0	7	0	—		—		35	0
Elche	2010–11	Segunda División	17	0	0	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	18	0
Beira-Mar	2011–12	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Olhanense	2011–12	Primeira Liga	12	0	0	0	0	0	—		12	0
	2012–13	Primeira Liga	21	0	2	0	1	0	—		24	0
	Total		33	0	2	0	1	0	—		36	0
Platanias	2013–14	Super League Greece	30	0	0	0	—		—		30	0
Aris	2014–15	Gamma Ethniki	24	2	—		—		3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	27	2
Pandurii	2015–16	Liga I	28	0	1	0	1	0	—		30	0
Vitória Setúbal	2016–17	Primeira Liga	31	2	3	0	1	0	—		35	2
	2017–18	Primeira Liga	22	1	1	0	5	1	—		28	2
	2018–19	Primeira Liga	33	1	3	0	1	0	—		37	1
	2019–20	Primeira Liga	1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	Total		87	4	7	0	8	1	—		102	5
Ümraniyespor	2019–20	TFF First League	18	1	0	0	—		—		18	1
	2020–21	TFF First League	9	1	0	0	—		—		9	1
	Total		27	2	0	0	—		—		27	2
Chaves	2020–21	Liga Portugal 2	16	0	0	0	—		—		16	0
Casa Pia	2021–22	Liga Portugal 2	31	2	3	0	2	0	—		36	2
	2022–23	Primeira Liga	30	0	2	0	2	0	—		34	0
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	8	0	0	0	3	0	—		11	0
	Total		69	2	5	0	7	0	—		81	2
Career total			419	10	27	0	19	1	4	0	469	11

1. Appearance in 2011 Segunda División play-offs
2. Appearances in Gamma Ethniki Cup

Honours

Individual

• Liga Portugal 2 Team of the Season: 2021–22 ^[27]
• Liga Portugal 2 Defender of the Month: October/November 2021, ^[28] February 2022 ^[29]

References

1. "Vasco Fernandes" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
2. "Vasco Fernandes no Sporting de Braga?" [Vasco Fernandes to Sporting de Braga?] (in Portuguese). Futebol Portugal. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
3. "Futebol: Honra – Vasco Fernandes troca Olhanense por Salamanca" [Football: Honour – Vasco Fernandes trades Olhanense for Salamanca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 August 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
4. "Um sexto lugar e a segunda melhor classificação de sempre" [Sixth place and second best-ever finish]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 23 May 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
5. Cunha, Pedro Jorge (24 August 2008). "Leixões-Nacional, 1–3 (crónica)" [Leixões-Nacional, 1–3 (match report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
6. "El Celta ficha y presenta al portugués Vasco Fernandes junto a Sergio Ortega" [Celta sign and present Portuguese Vasco Fernandes alongside Sergio Ortega]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 7 July 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
7. "El Elche ficha a Vasco Fernandes" [Elche sign Vasco Fernandes]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 1 July 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
8. Anjinho, Jorge (2 January 2012). "Vasco Fernandes (Olhanense): "Quero relançar a minha carreira"" [Vasco Fernandes (Olhanense): "I want to relaunch my career"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
9. "Vasco Fernandes vai jogar no Platanias" [Vasco Fernandes will play in Platanias] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
10. Cunha, Pedro Jorge (26 June 2015). "Vasco Fernandes (ex-Aris) vai jogar no Pandurii" [Vasco Fernandes (ex-Aris) will play in Pandurii] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
11. Dobrescu, Petre (26 June 2015). "Portughezul Vasco Fernandes, transferat de Pandurii Târgu Jiu" [Portuguese Vasco Fernandes, transferred to Pandurii Târgu Jiu]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
12. Lopes, Carlos (3 June 2016). "Vasco Fernandes é o primeiro reforço do Vitória de Setúbal" [Vasco Fernandes is the first addition of Vitória de Setúbal]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 January 2018.
13. "Paços de Ferreira impõe primeira derrota ao Vitória de Setúbal" [Paços de Ferreira impose first loss to Vitória de Setúbal]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 17 September 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
14. "Primeiro vermelho de 2017/18 foi para Vasco Fernandes" [First red of 2017/18 was for Vasco Fernandes]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 6 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
15. "V. Setúbal, com menos um, cede empate frente ao Moreirense" [V. Setúbal, with one less, allow draw against Moreirense]. Público (in Portuguese). 6 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
16. "Benfica despede-se da Taça da Liga com empate, Vitória de Setúbal segue em frente" [Benfica say goodbye to League Cup with draw, Vitória de Setúbal advance]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 December 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
17. "Sporting vence a Taça da Liga nas grandes penalidades" [Sporting win League Cup on penalties]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
18. Lopes Pereira, Ricardo (28 February 2019). "Vasco Fernandes: "Motivo de orgulho e uma motivação"" [Vasco Fernandes: "A source of pride and motivation"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
19. "OFICIAL: Vasco Fernandes reforça equipa da segunda divisão turca" [OFFICIAL: Vasco Fernandes bolsters Turkish second division team] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
20. Matos, Diogo; Silva Reis, Paulo (3 March 2021). "Vasco Fernandes 'pegou de estaca' no Chaves" [Vasco Fernandes 'came, saw and conquered' at Chaves]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
21. Ponte, Pedro (15 June 2021). "Vasco Fernandes é o primeiro reforço para 2021/22" [Vasco Fernandes is the first addition for 2021/22]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
22. "Oficial: Vasco Fernandes renova pelo Casa Pia" [Official: Vasco Fernandes renews for Casa Pia]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
23. "Vasco Fernandes renova com Casa Pia por mais uma época" [Vasco Fernandes renews with Casa Pia for one more season]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 June 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
24. Zeferino, André (6 January 2024). "Vasco Fernandes é reforço do Chaves" [Vasco Fernandes is a Chaves addition]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
25. Cunha, Pedro Jorge (21 August 2007). "Sub 21: Portugal-Malta, 3–0 (crónica)" [Under 21: Portugal-Malta, 3–0 (match report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
26. Vasco Fernandes at Soccerway
27. "Vasco Fernandes secures a spot in the defensive sector of the Liga Portugal SABSEG Team of the Year". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
28. "Best of October/November: Vasco Fernandes named Best Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
29. "Best of February: Vasco Fernandes named Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.

External links

• Vasco Fernandes at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Vasco Fernandes at BDFutbol
• Vasco Fernandes national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)