The Portuguese Connection at Lazio

Portugal is famous for its rich history, beautiful landscapes and beaches, its gastronomy (including salted cod and Pastel de nata), its wine and Port, the University and library of Coimbra, Sintra National Palace, Jerónimos Monasterolo, its role in the Age of Discovery, its cork production, its Azulejos, Fado music, characters such as Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Ferdinando Magallanes, Bartolomeo Diaz, Luís de Camões, Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago, Carmen Miranda, Amália Rodrigues, António de Oliveira Salazar, Antonio Guterres and in sport Carlos Lopes, Fernando Ribeiro, Nelson Évora, Vanessa Fernandes, João Sousa and a lot more, including its football tradition..

The top Portuguese club teams are: Benfica (87 titles-38 leagues), Porto (86-30) and Sporting Lisbon (55-20), "OS Três Grandes". Other competitive clubs include Braga, Vitória Guimarães, Boavista, Belenenses and Vitória de Setúbal.

The Portuguese national team have taken part in 8 World Cups (3rd place in 1966) and 9 European Championships (winners in 2016). In 2019 "A Seleção das Quina" won the UEFA Nations League and again in 2025.

Portugal have had two of the best players in football history, Eusebio and Cristiano Ronaldo. Other great players include: Fernando Peyroteo, Mario Coluna, José Águas, Antonio Simoes, Jose Augusto, José Torres, Dominicano Cavem, Fernando Chalana, Nené, Paulo Futre,  Fernando Gomes, João Pinto, Pauleta, Paulo Sousa, Simao, Fernando Couto, Nuno Gomes, Victor Baia, Sergio Conceição, Deco, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, João Moutinho, Ricardo Carvalho, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Costinha, Pepe to modern day Bruno Fernandes, Rubén Dias, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Leao.

Some of these and more have played for Lazio while other Portuguese players have had fleeting connections with the Roman Biancocelesti.

Francisco Dos Santos - midfielder, he played for Lazio for two years between 1906 and 1908 while studying at "L'Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma". He became captain and was one of the players who won the famous three games in one day in Pisa in 1908. He was the first Portuguese to play abroad.

In 1908 he returned to Paris and went on to become one of the most famous Portuguese sculptors.

Fernando Mendonça - forward, he arrived from Deportivo La Coruña on trial in August 1963 for a friendly against Constancia (Spain). He did not convince and returned to Spain and then in 1965 to Portugal and Penafiel.

Sérgio Conceição - midfielder, he arrived in 1998 from Porto. He stayed two seasons, playing 87 games with 11 goals (including the winner in the Supercoppa final in 1998 against Juventus). Apart from the Supercoppa he also won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia, a Cup Winners Cup and a European Super Cup. He left for Parma (in the Hernan Crespo deal), then Inter. In 2003 he returned to Lazio but only until January, playing another 16 games. He then returned to Porto, Standard Liege, Al-Qadisiya and PAOK.

Official SS Lazio photo

He earned 56 caps for Portugal with 12 goals

He is now a top coach (clubs have included Braga, Nantes, Porto and Milan).

Conceição was a midfielder. He played on the right and was more of a winger. He was strong and technical and had an excellent cross. He was very popular at Lazio and many fans dream of him coming back as a coach.

Fernando Couto - defender, he arrived in 1998 from Barcelona (previously also Porto and Parma). He stayed 7 seasons, playing 217 games with 11 goals. He won a Scudetto, the Italian Supercoppa twice, the Coppa Italia twice, the Cup Winners Cup and the European Super Cup. In his career with his various clubs he won 24 trophies.

Source Wikipedia

He earned 110 caps for Portugal with 8 goals.

Couto was a central defender. He was extremely tough and strong and excellent in the air. He possessed good feet too and Eriksson when faced with several absences even played him in midfield.

Eliseu - defender/ midfielder, he arrived in 2009 from Malaga (previously Belenenses, Varzim SC). He only stayed until January, making 9 appearances (2 in A). He left for Real Zaragoza on loan, then Malaga and Benfica.

He played 29 times for Portugal with 1 goal. He won a European Championship in 2016.

He was a left full-back or winger who was good going forward and had a good shot. He had a decent career but not at Lazio although he did win a Supercoppa.

Pedro Rosário - forward, he arrived in 2010 to play for the "Allievi" (U17s ) from Benfica. In 2012-13 he played for the U19s. He then returned to Portugal and to Dezembro (Sintra).

Bruno Pereirinha - defender, he arrived in January 2013 from Sporting Lisbon. He stayed two seasons mainly as a reserve, playing 27 matches (22 in A). He then played for Atletico Paranaense (Brazil), Belenenses again and Cova de Piedade.

He played for Portugal U19s, U20s and U21s (19 times) but never won a full cap.

He was a versatile player who could be used either in defence or midfield, he was quick but a bit light. At Lazio he was not a regular but was in the squad that won the epic 2013 Coppa Italia defeating eternal rivals Roma in the final.

Hélder Postiga - forward, he arrived in January 2014 on loan from Valencia (previously Porto, Tottenham, Porto again, Saint-Étienne, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon and Real Zaragoza). He got injured immediately and only stayed until June, playing 5 league games. He left for Deportivo La Coruña (Spain), then Atlético de Kolkata (India) and Rio Ave back in Portugal.

He won 71 caps for Portugal with 27 goals. He earned a runners-up medal at Euro 2004.

In his day Postiga was a decent forward with 125 professional goals but arrived at Lazio late in his career and suffered from injury too.

Lamin Al Hassad - forward, he arrived in January 2016 from Sporting Lisbon to play for the U19s.

He has both Guinea -Bissau and Portuguese citizenship.

Madiu Bari - midfielder, he arrived at Lazio in 2016 from Porto to play for the U19s. He stayed two seasons and then went on loan to Dornbirn (Austria). He then returned to Lazio but did not join the first team squad and was sold to Rio Ave.

Bruno Jordão - midfielder, he arrived in 2017 from Sporting Braga B. He stayed two seasons and played 3 league games. He then went to Wolverhampton, Famalicão on loan, Grasshoppers on loan (Switzerland), Santa Clara, back to Wolverhampton and Radomiak Radomir (Poland).

He played for Portugal U18s, U19s, U20s and U21s.

He is a central midfielder with more attacking than defensive characteristics. Despite his promising name he never made it at Lazio or at any high level in his subsequent career.

Pedro Neto - forward, he arrived in 2017 from Sporting Braga. He stayed two seasons, the first mainly with the U19s and then in the first squad. He played 5 games for Lazio (4 in A). He left for Wolverhampton where he became a success and then Chelsea where he recently won the World Cup for Clubs.

Source Lazio WIki

He has 17 caps for Portugal with 2 goals.

Neto is a right wing. He is quick, has good dribbling skills and has a precise shot (often curlers on the far post). He has been compared to Bernardo Silva.

He showed potential at Lazio but Italy often is not the place for youngsters to shine as the clubs are too cautious in giving them playing time. Neto is one of Lazio’s regrets as he has become an excellent player.

Nani - attacking midfielder, he arrived in 2017 from Valencia (previously Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Sporting Lisbon again, Fenerbahçe). He stayed one season, playing 25 games with 3 goals. He then went back to Sporting Lisbon and then Orlando City, Venezia, Melbourne Victory, Adani Demirsor (Turkey) before finishing back in Portugal at Estrela Amadora.

He earned 112 caps for Portugal with 24 goals. He won Euro 2016.

Nani was a forward or attacking midfielder. He had lightning speed, could play on both wings and had an excellent cross. His best years were with Manchester United.

He arrived at Lazio late in his career but showed some flashes of his immense talent.

Jorge Silva - defender, he arrived from Benfica in 2017 to play for the U19s. In 2019 he took part in the first squad pre-season training camp and in 2020-21 was in the first squad list but after being an unused substitute for a few games in October he joined Boavista on loan. He returned to play for Lazio U19s until his contract expired in June 2022.

Saná Fernandes - he arrived in 2022 from Sporting Lisbon to play for the U18s and U19s. In July 2023 he took part in the first squad pre-season training camp but then continued with the U19s. In the summer of 2024 he went on loan to NEC Breda in Holland and is now  back at Lazio.

Jovane Cabral - winger, he arrived in January 2022 on loan from Sporting Lisbon. He played 4 games with 1 goal. He returned to Sporting Lisbon, then Salernitana, Olympiakos and Estrela Amadora.

He has both Portuguese and Cape Verde passports. He has 20 caps for Cape Verde with 2 goals.

He is a left wing. His main asset is his speed. At Lazio he did not settle but scored in a 3-3 home draw against Verona which qualified Lazio for the Europa League.

Luís Maximiano - goalkeeper, he arrived in 2022 from Granada (previously Sporting Lisbon). He stayed one year, playing 6 games (1 in A). He then went to Almería.

He has played for Portugal U16s, U17s, U18s, U19s, U20s and U21s but is yet to win a full cap.

He was unlucky at Lazio. On his league debut he was sent off after a few minutes for handing the ball just outside the area. He lost his place to Ivan Provedel and never won it back.

Nuno Tavares - defender, he arrived in 2024 on loan with an obligation to buy from Arsenal (previously Benfica, Olympique Marseille on loan, Nottingham Forest on loan). He had an excellent start to the season but then suffered from several injuries. He played 29 games and will be in the squad for 2025-26 too.

SS Lazio official photo

He has one cap for Portugal.

He is a left full-back. He is incredibly strong physically and known for his attacking forays and assists, he is less efficient defensively. Hopefully Sarri can improve his all-round play.