Vítor Paneira


Vítor Manuel da Costa Araújo, known as Vítor Paneira, is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a right midfielder, and a manager.
He excelled in the late 80s/early 90s with Benfica, to where he arrived from the lower leagues, going on to amass Primeira Liga totals of 335 games and 43 goals over 11 seasons – he also appeared for Vitória de Guimarães in the competition.
A Portugal international for eight years, Paneira represented the country at Euro 1996.

Playing career

Club

Born in Calendário, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga, Paneira started playing professionally with hometown's F.C. Famalicão, joining F.C. Vizela of the second division in the 1987–88 season and also receiving his first under-21 call-ups during the Toulon Tournament.
He was signed by S.L. Benfica in the summer of 1988, and remained there until the end of the 1994–95 campaign, being an undisputed starter during his seven-year stay as he helped the Lisbon club to the Primeira Liga championship three times, adding the 1993 domestic cup. He also played in the 1990 Champions Cup final, with Benfica losing 0–1 to A.C. Milan; in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup he scored twice in a 2–1 home win against Juventus FC, coached by Giovanni Trapattoni.
Paneira moved to Vitória S.C. for 1995–96, due to problems with Benfica manager Artur Jorge which was also part of a locker room clean-up – he was team captain when this occurred – and played four seasons there. In summer 1999 he switched to Académica de Coimbra, and retired at 35 after two years in the second level.

International

Paneira made his debut for Portugal the same year he signed for Benfica, in a 0–0 friendly draw to Sweden on 12 October 1988. In total he won 44 caps for the national team and scored four goals in a seven-year period, playing his last international in another friendly, a 1–0 victory over Republic of Ireland on 29 May 1996.
Paneira was chosen by António Oliveira for the Lusitanos squad that reached the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 1996, but was one of the few players that never left the bench.

Coaching career

Paneira started his coaching career in 2002, with GD Serzedelo in the fourth level. He also managed his very first club Famalicão, but in the regional leagues.
On 16 December 2009, Paneira was named coach of Boavista FC, with the 2001 league champions now in division three. He was appointed at another side in that tier, C.D. Tondela, on 24 May 2011, leading them to promotion in the playoffs in his first season.
On 10 June 2012, Paneira signed a one-year contract extension. He was relieved of his duties on 8 November of the following year, leaving the team in the ninth position.
In March 2014, Paneira took charge of Varzim S.C. in the third division. He was fired in early May 2015, after a series of bad results.
Paneira returned to Tondela on 30 May 2015, being appointed manager for the club's first ever season in the Portuguese top flight. He was dismissed on 6 October, after winning and drawing one each of the first seven games.

Other ventures

Immediately after retiring and still as an active coach, Paneira worked as a sports commentator with cable channel Sport TV.

Career statistics

Club

[|1] includes [|2] matches in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
2 includes 2 matches in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
[|3] includes 3 matches in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
4 includes 1 match and 1 goal in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
5 includes 8 matches and 1 goal in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.

International goals

Honours

Player

Benfica
Ribeirão
Tondela