Luís Lourenço


Luís Carlos Lourenço da Silva, known as Lourenço, is a former footballer who played as a forward.

Club career

Sporting

Lourenço was born in Luanda, Angola. A Sporting CP youth graduate, he made his professional debut in England, serving two brief loan spells first at Bristol City then Oldham Athletic, both in the Football League One. Additionally, he played and scored regularly for Sporting's reserves.
Lourenço made three appearances and scored once for Sporting in the 2003–04 UEFA Cup, making his Primeira Liga debut on 16 August 2003 in a 2–1 away win against Académica de Coimbra and scoring in the game. However, he gradually lost his importance in the squad, and spent the next years on loan to several clubs in the country.

Later years

Lourenço was released by Sporting in the summer of 2006, signing for Vitória de Setúbal. In the following January transfer window he moved countries again, joining Greek side Panionios FC, initially on loan. After signing permanently for two years he hardly received any playing time, being released on 1 July 2009.
After a short and unassuming spell back in Portugal, Lourenço moved abroad again, signing in January 2011 with UD Alzira in the Spanish third division. He reunited at the club with former Sporting teammate Beto, and both were released in June after the team's relegation, having appeared in a combined total of three games.

International career

Lourenço was picked for the Portuguese under-21 squads at two UEFA European Championships, 2004 and 2006. Additionally, he represented the nation at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2005 Vale do Tejo International Tournament.
Lourenço eventually switched allegiance to Angola, earning his first and only cap on 10 August 2011 by coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Manucho in a 0–0 friendly in Liberia.

Honours

Sporting