João Gonçalves (footballer)
Quick Facts
Biography
João Pedro do Espírito Santo Gonçalves (born 18 January 1988) is a Portuguese football manager and a former player who played as a right back. He is an assistant coach with Sporting B.
Club career
Born in Amadora, Lisbon, Gonçalves joined Sporting Clube de Portugal's youth system at only eight, but never appeared for the club officially, being loaned for the duration of his spell. He represented C.D. Olivais e Moscavide (third division), S.C. Olhanense (second level and Primeira Liga) and Vitória de Guimarães (division one).
Gonçalves spent three of his four years with Algarve's Olhanense in the top flight, appearing in 21 games in the 2010–11 season (all starts, one goal against Vitória de Setúbal in a 3–1 home win) to help his team rank in 11th place. He retired in June 2013 at the age of only 25, due to recurrent knee injuries.
International career
Gonçalves gained 48 caps for Portugal all youth categories comprised, including nine for the under-21 side.