Rui Águas (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Lopes and the second or paternal family name is Águas.

José Rui Lopes Águas (born 28 April 1960) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.

Rui Águas

Personal information
Full name	José Rui Lopes Águas
Date of birth	(1960-04-28) 28 April 1960 (age 64)
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1972–1974	Benfica
1974–1977	CAC Pontinha
1977–1978	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1979–1980	Real Benfica
1980–1982	Sesimbra
1982–1983	Atlético	22	(2)
1983–1985	Portimonense	46	(10)
1985–1988	Benfica	74	(35)
1988–1990	Porto	64	(30)
1990–1994	Benfica	99	(42)
1994	Estrela Amadora	9	(4)
1995	Reggiana	12	(0)
Total		326	(123)
International career
1985–1993	Portugal	31	(10)
Managerial career
1996–1997	Portugal (assistant)
1999–2000	Estoril
2000	Vitória Setúbal
2002–2003	Marítimo (assistant)
2003–2006	Braga (assistant)
2014–2016	Cape Verde
2017–2018	Pharco
2018–2019	Cape Verde
2020	Santos (assistant)
2020–2021	Boavista (assistant)
2022–2023	Zamalek (assistant)
2023	Zamalek (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He had highly successful spells at two of the biggest clubs in Portugal, Benfica and Porto, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 292 games and 121 goals over 12 seasons.

Águas represented the Portugal national team at the 1986 World Cup.

Playing career

Club

Born in Lisbon, Águas started his career with amateurs Real Desportivo Benfica, and later went on to represent G.D. Sesimbra in the Terceira Divisão and Atlético Clube de Portugal in Segunda Divisão. He turned professional in the 1983–84 season, when he signed for Portimonense S.C. of the Primeira Liga.

Moving to S.L. Benfica in 1985, Águas scored an average of 12 goals in his first spell, helping the capital club to the league on three occasions. He was present at the 1988 European Cup final, as they lost 6–5 on penalties to PSV Eindhoven.^[1]

Águas joined FC Porto in summer 1988, winning the league in his second year and contributing to the conquest with 17 goals. However, he returned to Benfica after only two years, and proceeded to net a career-best 25 times in the first season upon his return as the team finished in top position. In the last round against S.C. Beira-Mar, the game after they had been crowned champions, he bagged two second-half goals in an eventual 3–0 home win, narrowly edging Porto's Domingos – who played first and scored four in a 5–0 victory over Vitória de Guimarães, finishing with 24 – in the Bola de Prata race.^[2][3]

In the last edition of the European Cup, Águas suffered an horrific foot injury against FC Dynamo Kyiv,^[4] but still managed five league goals in only 14 matches. Already 34, he moved clubs but stayed in Lisbon, joining lowly C.F. Estrela da Amadora. His career ended after an abroad spell which was his first and only at the age of 34, at Italy's A.C. Reggiana 1919.^[5]

International

Águas played his first match for Portugal on 3 April 1985, a 2–0 loss to Italy in a friendly. He was present at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, playing as a substitute in the 3–1 defeat against Morocco.

In total, Águas received 31 caps for the national team, scoring ten goals. His last game was for the 1994 World Cup qualifiers on 17 November 1993, losing to Italy 1–0.^[6][7]

Coaching career

In the early 2000s, Águas coached Vitória F.C. and acted as assistant at C.S. Marítimo and S.C. Braga. He managed six wins, three draws and nine losses for the first side in the 1999–2000 campaign, which ended in top-division relegation.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

Águas was named Cape Verde coach in August 2014, replacing interim Men Ramires and signing a two-year contract.^[14] He led them to three draws in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in an eventual group phase elimination.^[15][16][17] He resigned from his position on 1 January 2016, alleging unpaid wages.^[18]

In February 2017, Águas was part of a candidate shortlist for the vacant Rwanda national team manager role.^[19] He returned to the Cape Verde helm in May of the following year.^[20][21]

Águas returned to club duties in late December 2019, being included in his compatriot Jesualdo Ferreira's staff at Santos FC of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.^[22]

Personal life

Águas' father, José, was a stellar footballer (also striker) for Benfica, mainly in the 1950s.^[23] He had two siblings, his sister Maria Helena (known as Lena d'Água) having a prolific career in the country's pop music.^[24] His cousin, Raul Águas, was also a footballer and manager for several years.

Águas met his wife, Leonor, in college as they were from the same class. They fathered three children, son André (born in 1985), daughter Mariana (1987, who went on to work as a reporter at CMTV) and son Martim (1993) who was also a footballer.^[25][26]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[27][28]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portimonense	1983–84	Primeira Divisão	26	3	1	0	—		—		27	3
	1984–85		20	7	—		—		—		20	7
	Total		46	10	1	0	—		—		47	10
Benfica	1985–86	Primeira Divisão	22	10	8	6	3[a]	1	—		33	17
	1986–87		27	13	6	6	3[a]	1	2[b]	0	38	20
	1987–88		25	12	3	2	8[c]	4	2[b]	0	38	18
	Total		74	35	17	14	14	6	4	0	109	55
Porto	1988–89	Primeira Divisão	33	13	3	1	3[a]	2	2[b]	0	41	16
	1989–90		31	17	3	4	5[d]	3	—		39	24
	Total		64	30	6	5	8	5	2	0	80	40
Benfica	1990–91	Primeira Divisão	37	25	3	1	2[d]	0	—		42	26
	1991–92		14	5	1	0	3[c]	1	0	0	18	6
	1992–93		23	6	6	2	4[d]	0	1[b]	0	34	8
	1993–94		25	6	3	1	4[a]	1	2[b]	1	34	9
	Total		99	42	13	4	13	2	3	1	128	49
Estrela Amadora	1994–95	Primeira Divisão	9	4	—		—		—		9	4
Reggiana	1994–95	Serie A	12	0	—		—		—		12	0
Career total			304	121	37	23	35	13	9	1	385	158

1. Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
2. Appearances in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
3. Appearances in European Cup
4. Appearances in UEFA Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[29]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Portugal	1985	1	0
	1986	3	0
	1987	1	0
	1989	8	4
	1990	3	2
	1991	7	2
	1992	1	0
	1993	7	2
Total		31	10

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Águas goal.

List of international goals scored by Rui Águas

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition[6][29]
1	20 September 1989	Stade de la Maladière, Neuchâtel, Switzerland	Switzerland	2–1	2–1	1990 World Cup qualification
2	6 October 1989	Generali Arena, Prague, Czechoslovakia	Czechoslovakia	1–1	1–2	1990 World Cup qualification
3	11 October 1989	Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, West Germany	Luxembourg	1–0	3–0	1990 World Cup qualification
4	11 October 1989	Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, West Germany	Luxembourg	2–0	3–0	1990 World Cup qualification
5	29 August 1990	Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal	West Germany	1–1	1–1	Friendly
6	17 October 1990	Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal	Netherlands	1–0	1–0	Euro 1992 qualifying
7	23 January 1991	Olympic Stadium (Athens), Athens, Greece	Greece	1–1	2–3	Euro 1992 qualifying
8	20 February 1991	Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal	Malta	1–0	5–0	Euro 1992 qualifying
9	24 January 1993	Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta	Malta	1–0	1–0	1994 World Cup qualification
10	10 November 1993	Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal	Estonia	3–0	3–0	1994 World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

As of 27 December 2019.

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat.	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Estoril		August 1999	January 2000	18	8	5	5	35	22	+13	044.44	[30][31]
Vitória Setúbal		16 January 2000	October 2000	24	8	5	11	19	28	−9	033.33	[30][32]
Cape Verde		August 2014	1 January 2016	16	9	4	3	27	13	+14	056.25	[33]
Cape Verde		May 2018	December 2019	12	3	6	3	12	11	+1	025.00	[34]
Career total				70	28	20	22	93	74	+19	040.00	—

Honours

Benfica^[6][3]

• Primeira Liga: 1986–87, 1990–91, 1993–94
• Taça de Portugal: 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1985
• European Cup runner-up: 1987–88

Porto^[6]

• Primeira Liga: 1989–90
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira runner-up: 1988

Individual

• Primeira Liga top scorer: 1990–91^[35]
• European Cup top scorer: 1987–88^[36]
• Taça de Portugal top scorer: 1985–86

See also

• List of association football families

References

1. Ross, James M. "European Competitions 1987–88". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
2. "A outra bola de prata de Pena" [Pena's other silver ball] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 20 August 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
3. Malheiro, João (July 2006). Memorial Benfica 100 Glórias [Benfica Memorial, 100 glories] (in Portuguese) (Third ed.). QuidNovi. p. 123. ISBN 978-972-8998-26-4.
4. Ribeiro, João Paulo (19 October 2016). "Rui Águas: "O Benfica é melhor que o Dínamo Kiev"" [Rui Águas: "Benfica are better than Dinamo Kiev"] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
5. "Pacchi dall'estero: Rui Aguas, il portoghese che la Reggiana comprò senza capire perché" [Parcels from abroad: Rui Aguas, the Portuguese that Reggiana bought without understanding why] (in Italian). Contra Ataque. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
6. "Cabo Verde. Não há ninguém como Rui Águas" [Cape Verde. No one like Rui Águas]. i (in Portuguese). 1 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
7. Pierrend, José Luis. "Portugal – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
8. "Rui Águas: "Estou feliz mas o V. Setúbal tem de continuar a ganhar"" [Rui Águas: "I am happy but V. Setúbal must keep on winning"]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 February 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
9. "Rui Águas: "A única preocupação do V. Setúbal é vencer a U. Leiria"" [Rui Águas: "V. Setúbal's sole concern is to beat U. Leiria"]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 May 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
10. "Rui Águas: "Sou treinador"" [Rui Águas: "I am a coach"]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 May 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
11. "Rui Águas e João Cardoso são os adjuntos" [Rui Águas and João Cardoso are the assistants]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 July 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
12. Carvalho, Paula (7 December 2003). "Rui Águas (Sp. Braga): "A diferença no resultado é excessiva"" [Rui Águas (Sp. Braga): "Excessive difference in the scoreline"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
13. "Rui Águas: "Não nos podemos queixar"" [Rui Águas: "We cannot complain"]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 August 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
14. Moonda, Firdose (19 September 2014). "Cape Verde's fairytale rise shows no sign of slowing". ESPN FC. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
15. "Tunisia 1–1 Cape Verde Islands". BBC Sport. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
16. "DR Congo's Robert Kidiaba denies Cape Verde in Africa Cup of Nations". The Guardian. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
17. "Cape Verde Islands 0–0 Zambia". BBC Sport. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
18. "Rui Águas demite-se do cargo de selecionador de Cabo Verde" [Rui Águas resigns from post of Cape Verde national team manager]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 1 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
19. Okeleji, Oluwashina (14 February 2017). "Samson Siasia and Winfried Schafer on Rwanda coach shortlist". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
20. "Rui Águas regressa ao cargo de selecionador de Cabo Verde de futebol" [Rui Águas returns to role of Cape Verde national football team manager] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
21. "Rui Águas deixa o comando da seleção de Cabo Verde" [Rui Águas no longer at the helm of Cape Verde national team]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
22. "Rui Águas integra equipa técnica de Jesualdo Ferreira" [Rui Águas makes Jesualdo Ferreira's coaching staff]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 25 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
23. Jorge da Cunha, Pedro (23 April 2015). "Rui Águas e Kelvin: eles contam como se decide um Clássico" [Rui Águas and Kelvin: they will tell you how to decide a classic] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
24. ""O Luís Pedro [Fonseca] é que tinha tudo na cabeça. Ele era o doutrinador" – recorde entrevista com Lena d'Água em 2010" ["Luís Pedro [Fonseca] was the one that had everything in his head. He was the indoctrinator" – remember interview with Lena d'Água in 2010] (in Portuguese). Blitz. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
25. "Ao lado da família, Rui Águas confessa: "Custa-me ver os meus filhos crescerem"" [Next to the family, Rui Águas confesses: "It's hard for me to see my children grow up"] (in Portuguese). Caras. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
26. Proença, Ana (25 March 2016). "Rui Águas: "Se gostava de jogar? Nem por isso!"" [Rui Águas: "Did I like playing? Not really!"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 March 2017.
27. Rui Águas at ForaDeJogo (archived)
28. Rui Águas at BDFutbol
29. "Rui Águas". European Football. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
30. Rui Águas manager stats at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved 27 December 2019.
31. "Rui Águas :: Jogos realizados :: 1999/2000" [Rui Águas :: Matches played :: 1999/2000] (in Portuguese). Zerozero. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
32. "Rui Águas :: Jogos realizados :: 1999/2000 até 2000/01" [Rui Águas :: Matches played :: 1999/2000 until 2000/01] (in Portuguese). Zerozero. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
33. "Cape Verde – 2014". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
    "Cape Verde – 2015". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
34. "Cape Verde – 2018". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
    "Cape Verde – 2019". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
35. Claro, Paulo; Preston, Simon; Nunes, João; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Portugal – List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
36. "Statistics – Goals scored". UEFA. Retrieved 31 March 2017.

External links

• Rui Águas at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Rui Águas manager stats at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Rui Águas national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
• Rui Águas at National-Football-Teams.com
• Rui Águas – FIFA competition record (archived)