António Pacheco


António Manuel Pacheco Domingos, known as Pacheco, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a left winger.

Club career

Born in Portimão, Algarve, Pacheco started playing with local G.D. Torralta and Portimonense SC, making his debuts in the Primeira Liga with the latter in the 1986–87 season. Subsequently, aged just 20, he signed with S.L. Benfica, going on to remain with the club for the following six years and help to the conquest of four major titles.
Pacheco contributed with five goals in 26 matches in the 1988–89 campaign, as the Lisbon side won the national championship. He was also in the starting XI when they lost two European Cup finals in three years, in 1988 and 1990.
Pacheco signed with neighbouring Sporting CP in summer 1993, alongside teammate Paulo Sousa. From there onwards, however, he received little continuity due to injuries, and made only 50 league appearances in five years combined, also representing C.F. Os Belenenses, A.C. Reggiana 1919 and C.D. Santa Clara; he retired in 2001 at the age of 34, after three seasons in the lower leagues.
In 1996, Pacheco went on trial with Premier League side Sunderland, but was not offered a permanent contract. He amassed Portuguese top division totals of 213 games and 32 goals, during one full decade.

International career

Pacheco earned six caps for Portugal during two years, all as a Benfica player. His first appearance came on 15 February 1989, as he came on as a 60th-minute substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Belgium for the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Honours

Benfica
Sporting