Henrique Hilário

Henrique Hilário Meireles Sampaio (born 21 October 1975), commonly known as Hilário, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He spent most of his extensive professional career with Porto and Chelsea, mainly as a backup. He appeared in 160 Primeira Liga games, during nine seasons.

Portugal

Hilário was born in São Pedro da Cova, Porto District. After emerging through FC Porto's youth system, he left and began playing professionally with lowly Associação Naval 1º de Maio and Académica de Coimbra – respectively in the third and second divisions.

Hilário returned to Porto for the 1996–97 season, after Vítor Baía's departure to FC Barcelona, appearing in 18 games as the club won the national championship for the third straight time. He soon would be deemed surplus to requirements however (Baía also returned from Spain in January 1999), being loaned three times during his spell with the club, with C.F. Estrela da Amadora, Varzim SC, Académica and C.D. Nacional, while also being demoted to the team's reserves.

Released by Porto in the 2004 summer, Hilário signed with Madeira's Nacional on a permanent basis, playing 29 matches in his first season but losing his importance after the arrival of Swiss Diego Benaglio.

Chelsea

Hilário signed with Chelsea on 1 June 2006, joining former Porto boss José Mourinho, the two having coincided there for a brief period in the 2003–04 pre-season. He was originally signed as third-choice goalkeeper, as back-up to Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini, but was handed a run in the first team after they both sustained injuries in a game against Reading on 14 October 2006. He made his Chelsea debut on 18 October against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win; his Premier League debut came three days later, against Portsmouth (2–1 home success).

Hilário's run in the side saw him make a total of 18 appearances during the 2006–07 season, not conceding any goals in eight of those – he also saved a penalty in an away game against Sheffield United. Čech's return to fitness in February 2007 saw the former back on the substitutes bench, and he was an unused replacement in Chelsea's League Cup final win over Arsenal.

At the start of 2007–08, Hilário found himself again third-choice to both Čech and Cudicini, but made a substitute appearance against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park after the Czech suffered a hip injury. He went on to start against Newcastle United and Fulham as Chelsea won both matches 2–1. On 8 April 2008 he made a substitute appearance against Fenerbahce SK (due to an injury to Cudicini) in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the season's UEFA Champions League (2–0 home win, 3–2 on aggregate); Portuguese newspapers subsequently hinted at a possible call-up to the Portugal national side.

On 26 January 2009, Cudicini left Chelsea for Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Hilário as second-choice and promoting Rhys Taylor to the first team. On 7 February he made his first 2008–09 start after an injury to Čech, a 0–0 home draw against Hull City; he was also an unused substitute during Chelsea's 2009 FA Cup Final win over Everton.

On 26 September 2009, when Čech was red carded against Wigan Athletic after a tackle on Hugo Rodallega, Hilário came on for Florent Malouda and let in two goals – one of which a penalty – in a 1–3 away loss. Due to Čech's suspension he was in the starting line-up for the game against Liverpool at home on 4 October, and performed well, keeping a clean sheet and receiving the Man of the match award.

Hilário made his first appearance in 2010 after coming off the bench for an injured Čech, in the second half of Chelsea's 1–2 loss at Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16, conceding no goals in about 30 minutes. He made another appearance in the Premier League, this time against Manchester City, and conceded four goals from Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy as Chelsea lost 2–4, their first home loss in the 2009–10 season, although the Blues eventually won the championship.

On 13 June 2011, 35-year-old Hilário signed a one-year contract extension at Chelsea. Following the appointment of countryman André Villas-Boas as manager and the knee injury suffered by Čech late into the pre-season, he was propelled to the starting lineup over Ross Turnbull, appearing in two games and conceding two goals (in two home wins).

Hilário was due to be released at the end of the 2012–13 campaign as his contract expired, along with four other players. On 1 August, however, following the return of countryman Mourinho to the bench, he signed a new one-year link with the club.

On 23 May 2014, Hilário was included in the list of players to be released from Chelsea. On 22 July 2016 he returned to the club, being appointed assistant goalkeeping coach by the new manager Antonio Conte.

Hilário received his first call-up for Portugal in November 2009, at the age of 34, as backup to Eduardo for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a role for which Rui Patrício, José Moreira, Daniel Fernandes and Beto were also tried.

After being an unused substitute on that match, he made his debut in the next game, a friendly with China on 3 March 2010, coming on for Eduardo at half-time of a 2–0 win.

• Primeira Liga: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Taça de Portugal: 1997–98, 1999–2000

• FA Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Football League Cup: 2006–07
• FA Community Shield: 2009; Runner-up 2010