José Leal

Leal was born in Sá da Bandeira, Portuguese Angola. During his professional career he represented Académico de Viseu FC (his first and last club, where he retired at age 38 in the third division), Sporting Clube de Portugal, C.F. Os Belenenses, F.C. Felgueiras, C.F. Estrela da Amadora and C.D. Santa Clara. With the Lisbon club, Leal was first-choice during most of his five-year spell, also scoring regularly for a defensive player, but, in his last season, was demoted to third-string after youth graduate Paulo Torres and newly signed Budimir Vujačić, and left the Lions without any silverware conquered.

Leal earned 15 caps for Portugal – one goal – almost all of them coming during the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying campaign, as the national team did not make it to the final stages in Sweden.