João Gonçalves (footballer)


João Pedro do Espírito Santo Gonçalves is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a right back, and is the current assistant manager of Sporting Clube de Portugal 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, S.C. Olhanense and Vitória de Guimarães.
Gonçalves spent three of his four years with Algarve's Olhanense in the top flight, appearing in 21 games in the 2010–11 season 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 won 48 caps for Portugal all youth categories comprised, including nine for the under-21 side.