Bruno Patacas


Bruno Alexandre dos Santos Patacas is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a right back.
After unsuccessfully starting his career with Sporting, he went to represent other clubs before settling with Nacional, where he remained for nearly one decade whilst appearing in almost 300 official matches.

Club career

A Sporting CP youth graduate, Patacas was born in Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon, and spent his first professional season with farm team Sporting Clube Lourinhanense, not being very successful upon his return to the alma mater.
After one more loan stint, with C.D. Santa Clara, Patacas was released, moving on to S.C. Campomaiorense – both these sides were also in the Primeira Liga – and then C.D. Nacional in the 2002–03 campaign, being an undisputed starter and often the only Portuguese player in the latter's starting XI, in a squad filled with Brazilians. He was also eventually awarded club captaincy.
In 2007, a transfer was almost arranged with PFC CSKA Sofia, but Patacas ultimately stayed at Nacional. He amassed a further 55 league appearances in the following two seasons combined for the Madeirans, and qualified to the UEFA Europa League in the second.
At the end of the 2010–11 campaign, Patacas announced his retirement due to injuries, at the age of 33. He was immediately appointed Nacional's director of football, leaving his position on 12 September 2015.

Personal life

Patacas' brother-in-law, Luís Pinto, was also a footballer.