Anselmo Fernandes

Anselmo Fernandes

Anselmo Fernandez Rodrigues (21 August 1918 in Lisbon – 19 January 2000 in Madrid) was a Portuguese architect and football manager who led Sporting Clube de Portugal to victory in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1964.

Anselmo Fernandez, of Spanish extraction, initially hoped for a career as football player with Lisbon's Sporting Clube de Portugal, however his hgealth did not allow for it. He later engaged with Rugby at the club and developed into a well regarded referee in that sport.

His career focus then switched to architecture. His first major work was the original Estádio José Alvaladé, which he built in conjunction with António Augusto Sá da Costa. The 61,000 capacity stadium of SCP opened in 1956. Further to that he was involved with construction of the Lisbon hotels Ritz and Tivoli as well as the directorate of Lisbon University and the Faculties of the Art and Law. His major collaborators in many works were the architects António Pardal Monteiro and Porfírio Pardal Monteiro. The Reitoria da Universidade, the university directorate was awarded with a Prémio Valmor, a major architectural price. Others amongst his buildings are regarded these days as part of the national patrimony.

In 1962 he had a first brief stint as coach of Sporting's football team. His second stint at the helm of Sporting ended spectacular. In the quarterfinals of the European Cup Winner' Cup in March 1964 Sporting defeated Manchester United - featuring Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law - 5-0 after an initial away defeat of 1-4, which was instrumental in the ousting of his predecessor the Brazilian Gentil Cardoso. After a tight contest in the semifinals against Olympique Lyonnais Sporting met MTK Budapest in the final. The match in Brussel's Heysel Stadium ended 3-3. The rematch was decided in Antwerp by a directly converted corner kick by João Morais, who was replacing injured star defender Hilário Conceição, and Sporting thusly gained its hitherto only international trophy.

After this, Fernandez withdrew and made way for Frenchman Jean Luciano. Another crisis at the club made Fernandez step up once more for several weeks. He began the next season at the helm of the club. Fernandez, who up to the has offered all his services for Sporting for free, including his work for the stadium, was offered a remuneration of 15 million Escudos, which he considered low. Further dissonances led to an early separation. The Brazilian Otto Glória succeeded him and achieved the championship by the end of the year.

Fernandez continued coaching at the then first division club CUF Barreiro, which achieved mid-table positions between 1965/66 and 1967/68. In his third season with CUF occasioned severe injuries, requiring neurosurgery, in a road accident, which led to his retirement.

In further years the Sporting Clube de Portugal should bestow all its honours - the Prémio Stomp and honorary membership - to Anselmo Fernandez.Os Cinquentenários, an organisation closely linked to the club, annointed him Visconde de Alvalade, the "Viscount of Alvalade“.

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