José Coelho

José da Siva Coelho (born 5 August 1961) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Penafiel, Coelho made his professional – and first division – debuts in 1980–81 with F.C. Porto. Barred by the likes of English Mickey Walsh he hardly ever got ever a game, and moved after one sole season to Boavista FC, also in Porto.

During seven top flight campaigns Coelho contributed to the Checquereds' domestic and European consolidation, being regularly used either as a starter or from the bench and helping the team to three UEFA Cup participations. In 1988 he signed for another club in the main category, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, spending the following two years with as many teams still in the top division, and reaching double digits for both F.C. Penafiel and G.D. Chaves.

After an unassuming 1991–92 with former side Boavista, which nonetheless brought him the only major honour of his career, the Portuguese Cup, 31-year-old Coelho moved to the second level and joined another former club, Penafiel, after which he signed for F.C. Felgueiras, scoring 11 goals in 21 games in his second year en route to division one promotion. He closed out his career in 1997, after one year apiece with lowly F.C. Lixa and A.D. Sanjoanense.

International career

After the defection of practically all of the Portugal national football team following the infamous Saltillo Affair at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Coelho benefitted from the situation and went on to gain eight international caps in the following two years.

He appeared for the nation during the unsuccessful UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying campaign, scoring in one of his first games, a 1–1 home draw against Sweden.

Honours

• Portuguese Cup: 1991–92; Runner-up 1980–81