Nélson Lenho

Nélson Ricardo Cerqueira Rodrigues Lenho (born 22 March 1984) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left back, and the director of football of G.D. Chaves.

Nélson Lenho
Personal information
Full name Nélson Ricardo Cerqueira Rodrigues Lenho
Date of birth (1984-03-22) 22 March 1984
Place of birth Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Club information
Current team
 Chaves (sporting director)
Youth career
1995–1998 Vianense
1998–2003 Vitória Guimarães
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Sandinenses 26 (1)
2006–2009 Freamunde 82 (2)
2009–2010 Leixões 7 (0)
2010–2012 Santa Clara 50 (1)
2012–2013 Belenenses 35 (0)
2013–2014 Chaves 36 (0)
2014–2015 Penafiel 12 (0)
2015–2017 Chaves 68 (1)
2017–2019 Aves 30 (0)
2019 Académico Viseu 12 (1)
Total 358 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played 83 matches in the Primeira Liga over five seasons, representing Leixões, Penafiel, Chaves and Aves in the competition. He added 222 games and four goals in the LigaPro.

Club career

Born in Viana do Castelo, Lenho started his 14-year professional career in the third division, spending one season apiece with «Os Sandinenses» Grupo Desportivo Recreativo e Cultural and S.C. Freamunde and helping the latter club promote to the Segunda Liga in 2006–07. In 2009 he signed with Leixões S.C. of the Primeira Liga, making his debut in the competition on 25 October in a 0–1 away loss against Vitória de Setúbal[1] and appearing in just six more matches until the end of the season, which ended in relegation as last.

Lenho returned to the second level subsequently, where he represented C.D. Santa Clara, C.F. Os Belenenses and G.D. Chaves. He joined top-flight side F.C. Penafiel ahead of 2014–15,[2] being again scarcely used in another ill-fated campaign.

In 2015–16, Lenho was an undisputed starter for Chaves who returned to the top tier after a lengthy absence,[3] scoring his only goal on 30 September 2015 in the 1–1 home draw with S.L. Benfica B.[4] The team captain was as important the following season as they easily avoided relegation after a tenth-place finish, being the league's only player to play every minute.[5]

On 3 July 2017, Lenho joined C.D. Aves on a three-year contract.[6] He appeared in 27 games across all competitions in that first year, including the final of the Taça de Portugal against Sporting CP as the club won its first-ever major trophy.[7]

Lenho retired in May 2019 at the age of 35, following a short spell with Académico de Viseu F.C. of the second division.[8][9] Shortly after, he returned to Chaves as sporting director.[10]

Honours

Freamunde

Belenenses

Aves

References
  1. "Manuel Fernandes ilumina Bonfim" [Manuel Fernandes lights the Bonfim up]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 25 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. Veras, Carlos; Cabral, Bruno (2 June 2014). "Nélson Lenho reforça a lateral esquerda" [Nélson Lenho bolsters left flank]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. Figueiredo, João Tiago (9 May 2016). "Um ano à espera da festa: «Somos toda uma região!»" [One year waiting for the party: «We are an entire region!»] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. "Chaves-Benfica B, 1–1: Águias aguentaram com 10" [Chaves-Benfica B, 1–1: Eagles held on with 10]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  5. "Desportivo de Chaves alcança 10.º lugar no regresso à I Liga" [Desportivo de Chaves finishes 10th in return to I League] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. "Oficial: Nélson Lenho é reforço do Aves" [Official: Nélson Lenho is an Aves addition]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 3 July 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  7. "Aves ganha a Taça de Portugal graças a bis de Guedes" [Aves win Portuguese Cup thanks to Guedes brace]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. Morais, Pedro (31 January 2019). "Nélson Lenho oficializado no Ac. Viseu" [Nélson Lenho made official at Ac. Viseu]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  9. Morais, Pedro (22 May 2019). "Nélson Lenho anuncia retirada do futebol" [Nélson Lenho announces retirement from football]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  10. Morais, Pedro (24 May 2019). "Nélson Lenho oficializado como o novo diretor desportivo do Chaves" [Nélson Lenho made official as Chaves' new sporting director]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 September 2019.
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