Nuno Valente

Club

Born in Lisbon, Valente began his career at second division club Portimonense on loan from Sporting CP. However, he found first-team chances limited at the former side and despite success in helping win the Portuguese Cup in 1995, he was loaned again in the 1996–97 season to Marítimo, also in the Primeira Liga. Valente signed with União Leiria in the summer of 1999, where he spent three years as an undisputed starter. In 2002, former Leiria's manager José Mourinho recognized Valente's talent and picked him, alongside teammate Derlei, as his first signings for Porto. The former repaid the coach's faith with some good displays as Porto romped to victory in the national championship and defeated Celtic 3–2 in the UEFA Cup. The following campaign, Valente helped his club to Portuguese and Champions League wins, with the defender appearing in 11 games during the latter competition's run, ten of those complete. At the season's closure, he renewed his contract until 2007. After Mourinho signed for Chelsea, Valente picked up a succession of injuries. He only played eight matches in the entire domestic league, but returned in time to face Inter Milan in the Champions League round of 16, not being able to prevent his team losing 2–4 on aggregate. After another poor year, which included an ultimatum by Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa that ordered him to choose between club or national team, eventually leading to a suspension, on 28 August 2005 Valente moved to…

Upon his retirement, Valente was appointed Everton's official scout in Portugal. After one year, he returned to main club Sporting and joined Paulo Sérgio's coaching staff. Valente kickstarted his coaching career on 11 October 2017, replacing Fernando Mira at the helm of C.D. Trofense in the Portuguese third division. Less than two months later, after six official matches and five losses, he was fired.

Club

International goals

Sporting

Taça de Portugal: 1994–95 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1995 Porto

Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04 Taça de Portugal: 2002–03 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2003, 2004 UEFA Champions League: 2003–04 UEFA Cup: 2002–03 Intercontinental Cup: 2004 Portugal

UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2004 Orders

Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)