Pedro Gonçalves

Pedro António Pereira Gonçalves (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpɛdɾu ɡõˈsaɫvɨʃ]; born 28 June 1998), known as Pedro Gonçalves or Pote,[2] is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Portugal national team.

This article is about the footballer. For other people with the same name, see Pedro Gonçalves (disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Pereira and the second or paternal family name is Gonçalves.
Pedro Gonçalves
Gonçalves with Sporting CP in 2021
Personal information
Full name Pedro António Pereira Gonçalves[1]
Date of birth (1998-06-28) 28 June 1998[1]
Place of birth Vidago, Portugal
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Sporting CP
Number 28
Youth career
2006–2008 Vidago
2008–2010 Chaves
2010–2015 Braga
2015–2017 Valencia
2017–2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (0)
2019–2020 Famalicão 33 (5)
2020– Sporting CP 39 (27)
National team‡
2016 Portugal U18 2 (0)
2018 Portugal U20 2 (0)
2020–2021 Portugal U21 8 (2)
2021– Portugal 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:04, 15 August 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2021

Gonçalves started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, before signing for newly promoted Primeira Liga side Famalicão in 2019. Following a impressive season, in which he was named Primeira Liga's Best Young Player of the Year in 2020, Gonçalves signed for fellow Primeira Liga side Sporting CP. There, Gonçalves adapted his game from a central midfielder to an attacking midfielder, netting 23 goals in 32 league games, being awarded the Bola de Prata, helping Sporting win a double of the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga, while also being named in the Primeira Liga's Team of the Year and the Best Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Gonçalves is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at under-18, under-20 and under-21 levels. He made his senior international debut in 2021, being chosen in Portugal's squad for the UEFA Euro 2020.

Early life

Born in the village of Vidago in Chaves, Vila Real District,[2] Gonçalves' father died a month after his birth. He started his career at Vidago at the age of 8, where his mother worked as the kit provider. He was integrated into the club's youth team by vice president José Sousa, after being a regular presence around the premises. Due to being chubby and short during his childhood, he earned the nickname "Potinho" and later "Pote".[3]

Club career

Early career

Following his performances in Vidago, Gonçalves caught the attention of his hometown club G.D. Chaves, joining the club's youth system at the age of 11. Two years later, he was taken to S.C. Braga by Jorge Pires, whose father was a friend of Pedro's father, usually travelling one hour for each training session.[4]

After passing his trial aged 13, Gonçalves moved to the city of Braga, living in the house of a lady with two other teammates.[5] He stayed in the youth system for five years, but left the club following the departure of his manager Agostinho Oliveira, whose contract was not renewed.[4] Upon learning of the situation, Valencia's coach Nuno Espírito Santo offered him a professional contract, integrating him into the club's youth teams, with Pedro easily adapting to his new life in Spain and becoming club captain.[4]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In July 2017, Gonçalves signed a two-year contract with English club Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4][6] He made his only competitive appearance for the first team on 28 August 2018, in a 2–0 away win against Sheffield Wednesday in the second round of the EFL Cup, coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Elliot Watt.[7]

Famalicão

Gonçalves returned to Portugal on 2 July 2019, joining newly promoted Famalicão on a five-year deal alongside teammate João Caiado, before citing homesickness during his time in England, as one of the reasons for his transfer.[8][9] He made his Primeira Liga debut on 10 August, playing the entire 2–0 victory at Santa Clara.[10] His first goal was scored one month later, helping the hosts beat Paços de Ferreira in a 4–2 victory.[11] During his spell at the Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho, Gonçalves established himself as a regular at midfield and made a significant contribution to the team's strong start to the season, becoming club captain in January 2020, scoring seven times and providing eight assists in all competitions from 40 appearances, helping the club to a record sixth-place finish in the league.[12] Following his good performance for Famalicão, during the season, he was named the Primeira Liga's Best Young Player of the Year.[13]

2020–21 season: first Primeira Liga title and league top scorer

On 18 August 2020, Gonçalves signed a five-year contract with Sporting CP of the same league, for a fee of €6,5 million for half of his economic rights.[14] On 1 October 2020, Gonçalves made his debut for the club in a 4–1 home lost against LASK in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League.[15] With two goals in a 4–0 win over Tondela on 1 November, he reached five goals in his first six league games, second-best in the league.[16] On 5 December, he scored and was sent off in a 2–2 draw at his previous club; this was his tenth goal over six consecutive matches.[17] On 15 May 2021, Gonçalves scored two goals in a 4–3 away loss against Benfica in the Derby de Lisboa, marking the first and only defeat for Sporting in the league.[18] Four days later, Gonçalves scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 home thrashing of Marítimo, taking his tally up to 23 goals, finishing as the top scorer in the league, being awarded the Bola de Prata, while also surpassing Benfica's Haris Seferovic by one goal to win the individual accolade and becoming the first national player since Domingos Paciência in 1996 to do so.[19][20] On 8 July, Gonçalves was awarded the Primeira Liga's Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, after his excellent showing in the 2020–21 season, as Sporting won their first league title in 19 years.[21]

2021–22 season

On 31 July, Gonçalves scored a goal in the 2–1 defeat of Braga in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and was named man of the match.[22] From 6 August until 14 August, he scored three goals in two consecutive league matches in a 3–0 home victory over against newly promoted side Vizela,[23] and in a 2–1 away victory against Braga, leading him to be named the Primeira Liga's Midfielder of the Month in August.[24] On 31 August, Gonçalves injured his left foot, causing him to be sidelined for almost two months.[25] He made his return on 15 October, starting in a 4–0 away victory against Belenenses in the third round of the 2021–22 Taça de Portugal.[25] On 29 October, Gonçalves agreed to a contract extension, increasing his buyout clause from €60 million to €80 million.[26]

On 3 November, he scored his first two UEFA Champions League goals in a 4–0 home group stage victory against Beşiktaş, and was named man of the match.[27] On 24 November, Gonçalves was named man of the match for the second consecutive game, scoring a brace in Sporting's 3–1 home win against Borussia Dortmund, ensuring the teams' qualification to the round of sixteen for the first time since the 2008–09 season.[28] In doing so, he became the second Portuguese player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score two or more in consecutive Champions League matches.[29]

International career

Youth

Gonçalves began his international career with under-18 level in 2001. In March 2018, he was called up to the under-20 level to play two friendlies, against the Germany and England.[30]

He earned his first cap for Portugal at under-21 level on 4 September 2020, in a 4–0 win in Cyprus for the 2021 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.[31][32] On 13 October, in another away fixture for the same competition, he scored twice against Gibraltar in a 3–0 away victory.[33]

On 15 March 2021, Gonçalves was selected by Rui Jorge for his 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad.[34]

Senior

Having already participated in the first stage of the under-21 finals,[35] in May 2021 Gonçalves was selected by Fernando Santos for his UEFA Euro 2020 squad due to the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[36] He made his full debut the following 4 June, playing the second half of the 0–0 friendly draw with Spain in Madrid.[37] Gonçalves ended up not playing for Portugal in the Euro 2020 in a eventual round-of-16 exit.[38][39]

Style of play

During his time with Famalicão, Gonçalves played predominantly as a central midfielder at a deeper position. Under manager Rúben Amorim at Sporting CP, Gonçalves was deployed as an attacking midfielder or a right winger in the team's 3–4–2–1 or 3–4–3 formations, during which, he is allowed the freedom to fluidly move, coming infield to get close to the central striker or pulling off to the edge of the box.[9] Gonçalves also posses a good ball control and balance, which allows him to roam around the attacking areas of the pitch. While playing as a false 9, Gonçalves contributes to the possession of his team dropping deep to pick up possession and when receiving the ball in these half-spaces, his spatial awareness allows him to reliably transfer the ball to a dangerous area of the pitch.[40]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 3 December 2021[41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2017–18 Championship 000000——00
2018–19 Premier League 000010003[lower-alpha 1]110
Total 000010——10
Famalicão 2019–20 Primeira Liga 3356210——407
Sporting CP 2020–21 Primeira Liga 322310301[lower-alpha 2]0—3723
2021–22 Primeira Liga 7422203[lower-alpha 3]41[lower-alpha 4]11411
Total 3927329044115134
Career total 7131945044429241
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

International
As of match played 9 June 2021[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202120
Total20

Honours

Sporting CP

Individual

References
  1. "Pedro Gonçalves" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. Rodrigues, Vasco (4 June 2020). "Pedro Gonçalves, o "Pote" que roubou o ouro ao Porto" [Pedro Gonçalves, the "Pot" who stole Porto's gold] (in Portuguese). TSF. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. Vaza, Marco (4 November 2020). "Pedro Gonçalves, um craque de impacto imediato" [Pedro Gonçalves, an ace with an immediate impact]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. da Cunha, Pedro Jorge (4 December 2020). "Pedro Gonçalves: o filho da Maria roupeira que fez sete golos ao irmão" [Pedro Gonçalves: Maria the Kit Lady's son who scored seven goals past his brother] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  5. Aresta, Luís; Soares da Silva, Eduardo (13 August 2020). "Primeiro mestre de Pedro Gonçalves aprova Sporting e recorda "os primeiros apertos"" [Pedro Gonçalves' first teacher approves of Sporting and remembers "the first difficulties"] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  6. Spiers, Tim (18 July 2017). "Wolves snap up two Portuguese youngsters". Express & Star. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  7. "Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  8. "Famalicão recruta ao Wolverhampton médios Pedro Gonçalves e João Caiado" [Famalicão recruit from Wolverhampton midfielders Pedro Gonçalves and João Caiado]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 2 July 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  9. "Who's Next? Portugal's Talent Machine Powers On". The Analyst. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  10. "Santa Clara-Famalicão, 0–2 (resultado final)" [Santa Clara-Famalicão, 0–2 (final score)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  11. "Famalicão soma e segue no topo da Liga" [Famalicão unstoppable atop of the League]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 14 September 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  12. Vaza, Marco (4 November 2020). "Pedro Gonçalves, um craque de impacto imediato" [Pedro Gonçalves, star of immediate impact]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. "Do melhor jogador ao golo do ano. Confira os vencedores do Kick-Off da Liga". Jornal de Notícias. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  14. "Pedro Gonçalves é Leão" [Pedro Gonçalves a Lion] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. Impressive LASK advances to EL group stage with 4:1 at Sporting In: Der Standard from 1 October 2020 (accessed on 16 June 2021)
  16. "Pedro Gonçalves já é o segundo melhor marcador da Liga" [Pedro Gonçalves is already the League's second highest scorer] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. "O que Pote dá, Pote tira. Líder empanca em Famalicão" [What Pote gives, Pote takes away. Leaders held at Famalicão]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 5 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  18. Fernandes, Mariana. "Benfica wins Sporting Clube de Portugal and forces Lions to their first defeat in the Championship (4-3) - how it happened". Observer (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  19. "Sporting é campeão de Portugal ao fim de 19 anos" [Sporting are champions of Portugal after 19 years] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  20. "Pedro Gonçalves ultrapassa Seferovic e é o melhor marcador do campeonato" [Pedro Gonçalves surpasses Seferovic and is the league's top scorer]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  21. "Kick-Off 2021/22: os premiados, as declarações e o sorteio dos calendários". O Jogo. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  22. "Sporting vence Braga de virada e conquista Supertaça de Portugal" [Sporting beat Braga with comeback and win Portuguese Supercup] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  23. "Current champion, Sporting debuts in Portuguese with a good victory over the newly promoted time". Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  24. "Sp. Braga-Sporting, 1-2 (highlights)". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  25. "Pedro Gonçalves está recuperado e já tem data de regresso no Sporting". Sapo Desporto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  26. "Pedro Gonçalves renova contrato e fica com cláusula de 80 milhões". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  27. "Sporting beats Besiktas again and fights for the second spot in Group C". Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  28. Vasa, Marco (24 November 2021). "Sporting aprendeu a ser feliz na Champions" [Sporting learned to be happy in the Champions]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  29. "PEDRO GONÇALVES IGUALA FEITO DE RONALDO". A Bola (in Portuguese). 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  30. "Teams:Pedro Gonçalves in Under-20📈". Diario Atual. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  31. "Rui Jorge estreia três jogadores do Sporting e um do Benfica nos sub-21" [Rui Jorge gives debut to three Sporting players and one from Benfica in under-21s]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 24 August 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  32. "Sub21: Portugal goleia em Chipre e Diogo Leite bisa" [Under21: Portugal rout in Cyprus and Diogo Leite grabs brace] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  33. "Objetivo cumprido. Portugal vence em Gibraltar por 3–0 em sub-21" [Mission accomplished. Portugal win in Gibraltar by 3–0 in under-21s] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  34. Lusa. "Portugal's squad for the European sub-21". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  35. "Portugal U21 2–0 England U21". BBC Sport. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  36. "A explicação para a chamada de Pote e o seu posicionamento: «Estão lá quatro mas nenhum igual»" [Explanation for selecting Pote and his positioning: "We have four of them but all are different"]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  37. Teles, Gonçalo (4 June 2021). "Preparação sem produção. Portugal e Espanha empatam a zero antes do Euro 2020" [Preparing without producing. Portugal and Spain draw all-nil before Euro 2020] (in Portuguese). TSF. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  38. Fernandes, Mariana (10 June 2021). "Euro 2020 (grupo F). Portugal, o campeão que leva mala, tabaco e qualidade como nunca para só voltar daqui a um mês" [Euro 2020 (group F). Portugal, the champions who take suitcase, cigarettes and talent like never before to return only a month later]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  39. "Belgium 1–0 Portugal: Holders dethroned by Thorgan Hazard". UEFA. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  40. "Pedro Goncalves: Scout Report". Pythagoras In Boots. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  41. Pedro Gonçalves at Soccerway
  42. "Pote". European Football. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  43. Ribeiro, Patrick (23 January 2021). "Sporting battle their way to League Cup glory with victory over Braga". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  44. "Sporting CP win Supertaça with victory over SC Braga". Sporting CP. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  45. "Do melhor jogador ao golo do ano. Confira os vencedores do Kick-Off da Liga". Jornal de Notícias. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  46. "Best of September/October 2020-21: Pedro Gonçalves and Gonçalo Ramos are the highlights of the month". Liga Portugal. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  47. "Presenting the Liga NOS Team of the Year!". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
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