Luís Neto

Portuguese footballer (born 1988) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luís Carlos Novo Neto (Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiʒ ˈnɛtu]; born 26 May 1988) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Full name Luís Carlos Novo Neto[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-26) 26 May 1988 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Luís Neto
Personal information
Full name Luís Carlos Novo Neto[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-26) 26 May 1988 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Sporting CP (assistant)
Youth career
1998–2006 Varzim
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Varzim 53 (2)
2011–2012 Nacional 25 (0)
2012–2013 Siena 20 (1)
2013–2019 Zenit St. Petersburg 118 (1)
2017–2018Fenerbahçe (loan) 13 (0)
2019–2024 Sporting CP 68 (0)
Total 297 (4)
International career
2008 Portugal U20 4 (1)
2009 Portugal U21 4 (0)
2013–2018 Portugal 19 (0)
Managerial career
2024– Sporting CP (assistant)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
FIFA Confederations Cup
Third place2017 Russia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
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Club career

Born in Póvoa de Varzim, Porto District, Neto joined his hometown club Varzim SC's youth ranks at the age of 10. He appeared for them in the Segunda Liga, being a backup or third choice in four of his five seasons.[3][4] His competitive debut came on 10 February 2007 in a 2–1 home win against S.L. Benfica in the sixth round of the Taça de Portugal, when he played two minutes.[5][6]

In July 2011, Neto moved to Primeira Liga side C.D. Nacional on a free transfer. He immediately made an impact for his new team, and attracted interest from the likes of FC Porto and Arsenal during the following off-season;[7][8] Italy's A.C. Siena eventually signed him for 1.7 million.[9][10]

Neto was a starter during the first half of the campaign, scoring his only goal in Serie A in a 1–3 home defeat against AS Roma.[11] On 1 February 2013 he moved again, joining compatriots Bruno Alves and Danny at FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.[12] He scored his first goal for the Russian club on 19 May, his team's first in the 3–1 home victory over FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod.[13]

On 31 August 2017, Neto signed for Fenerbahçe SK in a season-long move.[14] On 11 March 2019, Sporting CP announced that he would join them on a permanent three-year contract on 1 July.[15] He made 22 appearances in his second season (28 in all competitions), as the latter won the national championship for the first time in 19 years.[16][17]

Neto scored his only goal for Sporting on 26 November 2023, opening an eventual 8–0 home rout of Campeonato de Portugal side Dumiense CJPII Futebol SAD in the fourth round of the domestic cup; this was also his first career one in ten years.[18] He contributed seven games during the league campaign to win another title.[19]

After retiring in 2024 aged 36, Neto remained at the club as an assistant manager to newly appointed João Pereira.[20] Following the latter's dismissal, he retained his position under Rui Borges.[21]

International career

Neto appeared with the Portugal under-21 team at the 2009 Lusofonia Games. He played all four matches during the tournament, as they won the silver medal.[22]

On 4 October 2012, Neto was called up for the first time to the full side, for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Northern Ireland.[23] He made his debut on 6 February of the following year, partnering Zenit teammate Alves in a 2–3 friendly loss to Ecuador in Guimarães.[24]

On 19 May 2014, Neto was named in the final 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil,[25] but played no games in an eventual group-stage exit. He was also selected for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup by manager Fernando Santos.[26] On 2 July, in his only appearance in the latter competition, he scored an own goal against Mexico in the third place play-off (a 2–1 win in Moscow).[27]

Neto was included in a preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 World Cup,[28] but he did not make the final cut.[29]

Career statistics

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Varzim 2006–07 Liga de Honra 001010
2007–08 Liga de Honra 50000050
2008–09 Liga de Honra 802000100
2009–10 Liga de Honra 1201020150
2010–11 Liga de Honra 2823030342
Total 5327050652
Nacional 2011–12 Primeira Liga 250612000331
Siena 2012–13 Serie A 20120221
Zenit 2012–13 Russian Premier League 91203[c]0141
2013–14 Russian Premier League 250207[d]0340
2014–15 Russian Premier League 200208[e]0300
2015–16 Russian Premier League 220507[d]01[f]0350
2016–17 Russian Premier League 250207[c]01[f]0350
2017–18 Russian Premier League 40002[c]060
2018–19 Russian Premier League 130206[c]0210
Total 1181150400201751
Fenerbahçe (loan) 2017–18 Süper Lig 13030160
Sporting CP 2019–20 Primeira Liga 12010305[c]01[g]0220
2020–21 Primeira Liga 22030102[c]0280
2021–22 Primeira Liga 21040406[d]000350
2022–23 Primeira Liga 6000001[d]070
2023–24 Primeira Liga 7041202[c]0151
Total 680121100160101071
Career total 2974452170560304186
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  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance in Russian Super Cup

Honours

References

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