Vítor Paneira

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Vítor Manuel da Costa Araújo (born February 16, 1966 in Calendário, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga), aka Paneira, is a former Portuguese footballer who excelled in the late 80's/early 90's with Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Portugal, as a right midfielder.

[edit] Club career

Paneira started playing professionally with hometown F.C. Famalicão, joining F.C. Vizela, a second division side, in 1986-87, also receiving his first under-21 call-ups, during the Toulon Tournament.

He was signed by S.L. Benfica in the summer of 1988, and remained there until 1994-95, being an instrumental element during his seven-year stay, as he helped the Lisbon side to the national championship three times (1988-89, 1990-91 and 1993-94), adding the 1993 domestic cup. He also played in the 1990 Champions Cup final, with Benfica losing to A.C. Milan (0-1). In the 1992-93 UEFA Cup, he scored twice in a 2-1 home win over Juventus, then coached by Giovanni Trapattoni (albeit in a 2-4 aggregate loss).

Paneira moved to Vitória de Guimarães in 1995-96, due to problems with then Benfica coach Artur Jorge, which was also part of a locker room clean-up (he was club captain when this occurred) and played four seasons there. In 1999-2000, he switched to Académica de Coimbra, and retired at 35 after two more years.

Subsequently, Paneira became a sports commentator, working with cable channel Sport TV.

[edit] International career

Paneira made his debut for Portugal the same year he signed for Benfica, on October 12, 1988, in a 0-0 friendly draw with Sweden. In total, he had 44 caps for the national team (42 for Benfica and two with Guimarães), scoring four goals, in a seven-year period, playing his last international in another friendly, a 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland, on May 29, 1996.

He was chosen by António Oliveira for the lusitanos squad that reached the quarter-finals at Euro 1996, but was one of the few players that never left the bench.

[edit] Honours

• S.L. Benfica:
  • Portuguese League: 1988-89, 1990-91, 1993-94
  • Portuguese Cup: 1992-93
  • Portuguese Supercup: 1988
  • European Cup: Runner-Up 1989-90

[edit] External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero

v • d • e Portugal squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Baía • 2 Secretário • 3 Paulinho Santos • 4 Oceano • 5 Couto • 6 Tavares • 7 Paneira • 8 Pinto • 9 Sá Pinto • 10 Costa • 11 Cadete • 12 Alfredo • 13 Dimas • 14 Barbosa • 15 Domingos • 16 Hélder • 17 Porfírio • 18 Folha • 19 Sousa • 20 Figo • 21 Madeira • 22 Correia • Coach: Oliveira