António Simões
António Simões da Costa, known as Simões, is a Portuguese former footballer who played mainly as a left winger. Born on 14 December 43 in Corroios, Portugal, he grew up to become a key player for Benfica. From 1961 to 1975 he appeared in 449 official matches for Benfica and scored 72 goals, helping the club win ten league titles and the 1962 European Cup. He was the youngest player to win a European Cup final, at 18 years and 4 months, when Benfica beat Real Madrid in 1962.
In 1975 he left Benfica and spent time in the United States, playing in the NASL for the Boston Minutemen, San Jose Earthquakes and Dallas Tornado, with spells in Portugal at Estoril and União Tomar. He also played in the Major Indoor Soccer League for Detroit Lightning, Chicago Horizon and Kansas City Comets.
Internationally, Simões earned 46 caps for Portugal and scored 3 goals. He represented Portugal at the 1966 World Cup, where the team finished third and he scored the opening group-stage goal against Brazil.
After retiring as a player, Simões moved into coaching. He led the Phoenix Inferno and later worked as an assistant with the Las Vegas Americans, before coaching in Portugal with União Madeira and Lusitânia. He also led Portugal’s Olympic team (2008–2010) and worked with Iran as an assistant to Carlos Queiroz (2011–2014).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 03:58 (CET).