Sandro Mendes

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sandro

| image =

| fullname = Sandro Miguel Laranjeira Mendes

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|2|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Pinhal Novo, Portugal

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Central midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1987–1989

| youthyears2 = 1989–1995

| youthclubs1 = Pelezinhos

| youthclubs2 = Vitória Setúbal

| years1 = 1995–1997

| years2 = 1997–1999

| years3 = 1999

| years4 = 1999–2000

| years5 = 2000–2005

| years6 = 2005

| years7 = 2005

| years8 = 2006–2010

| years9 = 2010–2011

| years10 = 2011–2012

| clubs1 = Vitória Setúbal

| clubs2 = Hércules

| clubs3 = → Villarreal (loan)

| clubs4 = Salamanca

| clubs5 = Vitória Setúbal

| clubs6 = Porto

| clubs7 = → Manisaspor (loan)

| clubs8 = Vitória Setúbal

| clubs9 = Ceuta

| clubs10 = Naval

| caps1 = 41

| caps2 = 62

| caps3 = 2

| caps4 = 23

| caps5 = 137

| caps6 = 0

| caps7 = 4

| caps8 = 102

| caps9 = 24

| caps10 = 26

| totalcaps = 421

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 2

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 3

| goals5 = 5

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 3

| goals9 = 1

| goals10 = 2

| totalgoals = 19

| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997

| nationalyears2 = 1998

| nationalyears3 = 2004–2007

| nationalteam1 = Portugal U21

| nationalteam2 = Portugal U20

| nationalteam3 = Cape Verde

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalcaps3 = 9

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2014–2015

| manageryears2 = 2019

| manageryears3 = 2021–2022

| manageryears4 = 2022–2023

| manageryears5 = 2023

| managerclubs1 = Alcacerense

| managerclubs2 = Vitória Setúbal

| managerclubs3 = Amora

| managerclubs4 = Comércio Indústria

| managerclubs5 = Pêro Pinheiro

}}

Sandro Miguel Laranjeira Mendes (born 4 February 1977), known simply as Sandro, is a Cape Verdean former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder, currently a manager.

Most of his career was spent with Vitória de Setúbal, where he played for three separate spells. In the Primeira Liga, he amassed totals of 195 matches and six goals over nine seasons.

Sandro was born in Portugal, and holds Portuguese citizenship. Internationally, he played for Portugal's under-20 and under-21 teams before representing Cape Verde at senior level.

Club career

Sandro was born in Pinhal Novo, Setúbal District, Portugal. He started his career at Vitória de Setúbal and made his Primeira Liga debut in 1995, but moved to Hércules CF in the Spanish Segunda División aged 19 in 1997.

In January 1999, Sandro joined La Liga club Villarreal CF on loan, but made just two appearances in a six-month spell in a season that ended in relegation. He returned to Spain's second tier the following campaign, with UD Salamanca.{{cite web|url=https://www.todomercadoweb.es/europa/ex-jugador-de-salamanca-hercules-y-villarreal-detenido-por-violencia-domestica-38238|title=Ex jugador de Salamanca, Hércules y Villarreal detenido por violencia doméstica|trans-title=Former Salamanca, Hércules and Villarreal player arrested for domestic violence|publisher=Todo Mercado Web|first=José M.|last=Díaz|language=Spanish|date=14 March 2013|accessdate=4 February 2019}}

After another five-year spell with Vitória Setúbal, FC Porto acquired Sandro's services for 2005–06.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaa11ce63ae-1a9497c5ddd3-1000--porto-plump-for-sandro/|title=Porto plump for Sandro|publisher=UEFA|date=9 June 2005|access-date=27 April 2007}} Having failed to make a competitive appearance, he was loaned to Turkey's Manisaspor until January 2006, when he rejoined Vitória for a third stint.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/f-c-porto-sandro-rescindiu-com-o-vestel-manisaspor-e-regressou-a-portugal|title=F.C. Porto: Sandro rescindiu com o Vestel Manisaspor e regressou a Portugal|trans-title=F.C. Porto: Sandro cut ties with Vestel Manisaspor and returned to Portugal|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Sérgio|last=Pereira|language=Portuguese|date=3 December 2005|accessdate=4 February 2019}}

In the 2009–10 season, Sandro played 26 matches and scored once, in a 2–1 away win against relegation rivals Leixões S.C. on 14 March 2010,{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/amp/leixoes-v-setubal-1-2-cronica|title=Leixões-V. Setúbal, 1–2 (crónica)|trans-title=Leixões-V. Setúbal, 1–2 (report)|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=João Tiago|last=Figueiredo|language=Portuguese|date=14 March 2010|accessdate=15 October 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/sandro-substitui-djikine-entre-os-mais-faltosos|title=Sandro substitui Djikiné entre os mais faltosos|trans-title=Sandro replaces Djikiné aongst those with more fouls|publisher=SAPO|language=Portuguese|date=3 May 2010|accessdate=6 April 2020}} as Setúbal retained top-flight status. In July 2010 the 33-year-old left for Spain again, signing for Segunda División B side AD Ceuta where he was joined by several compatriots.{{cite news|url=https://elfarodeceuta.es/sandro-mendes-y-vitor-moreno-presentados/|title=Sandro Mendes y Vítor Moreno, presentados|trans-title=Sandro Mendes and Vítor Moreno, presented|newspaper=El Faro de Ceuta|language=Spanish|date=13 July 2010|accessdate=8 January 2018}}

Prior to the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Sandro signed with Associação Naval 1º de Maio of the Portuguese Segunda Liga.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/sandro-assina-pela-naval-1-de-maio_d462430|title=Sandro assina pela Naval 1.º de Maio|trans-title=Sandro signs for Naval 1.º de Maio|publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|language=Portuguese|date=19 July 2011|accessdate=4 February 2019}}

International career

Sandro won 12 caps for Portugal at youth level, four at under-20 and eight at under-21.{{cite web|url=https://www.fpf.pt/pt/Jogadores/Jogador/playerId/368767|title=Sandro|publisher=Portuguese Football Federation|language=Portuguese|accessdate=8 January 2018}} He chose to represent Cape Verde as a senior, making his debut on 5 June 2004 in a 2–1 away loss to South Africa in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Coaching career

After retiring, Mendes returned to Vitória de Setúbal as youth system coordinator and under-17 coach.{{cite web|url=https://sul-desporto.webnode.pt/news/entrevista-ao-treinador-da-equipa-de-juvenis-do-vitoria-de-setubal-sandro-mendes/|title=Entrevista ao treinador da equipa de juvenis do Vitória de Setúbal Sandro Mendes|trans-title=Interview to Vitória de Setúbal juniors team coach Sandro Mendes|publisher=Sul Desporto|language=Portuguese|date=14 August 2013|accessdate=25 October 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://sportsetubal.blogspot.com/2015/04/entrevista-de-sandro-mendes-ex-capitao.html|title=Entrevista de Sandro Mendes, ex. capitão do Vitória de Setúbal ao DIÁRIO DA REGIÃO "Alcacerense foi o clube escolhido para fazer o estágio do fim de curso de treinador de Nível II"|trans-title=Interview of Sandro Mendes, former Vitória de Setúbal captain to DIÁRIO DA REGIÃO "Alcacerense was the chosen club for end to stage of Level II manager course"|publisher=Sport Setúbal|first=João|last=Fernandes|language=Portuguese|date=16 April 2015|accessdate=11 May 2019}} In 2014, he was appointed manager of amateurs AC Alcacerense where he completed his coaching licence.{{cite news|url=https://jornaloleme.com/2014/09/10/sandro-mendes-treina-alcacerense/|title=Sandro Mendes treina Alcacerense|trans-title=Sandro Mendes manages Alcacerense|newspaper=Jornal O Leme|language=Portuguese|date=10 September 2014|accessdate=25 October 2019}}

Mendes returned to the Estádio do Bonfim in June 2016, again being in charge of the youth system.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/v--setubal/detalhe/o-filho-sadino-que-sonha-criar-novos-craques|title=O filho sadino que sonha criar novos craques|trans-title=The son of Sado who dreams of creating new stars|newspaper=Record|first=Fábio|last=Aguiar|language=Portuguese|date=19 October 2017|accessdate=25 October 2019}} He then became Vitória's director of football.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/interior/lito-vidigal-revela-que-sempre-ambicionou-treinar-o-vitoria-de-setubal-9370045.html|title=Lito Vidigal: "Estou aqui a concluir um sonho"|trans-title=Lito Vidigal: "I am here realising a dream"|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=Portuguese|date=23 May 2018|accessdate=4 February 2019}}

On 25 January 2019, after the dismissal of Lito Vidigal, Mendes was named head coach until the end of the season,{{cite web|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/138705/sandro-mendes-vai-orientar-o-vitoria-de-setubal-ate-ao-final-da-temporada|title=Sandro Mendes vai orientar o Vitória de Setúbal até ao final da temporada|trans-title=Sandro Mendes at the helm of Vitória de Setúbal until end of the season|publisher=Rádio Renascença|language=Portuguese|date=25 January 2019|accessdate=4 February 2019}} and Jorge Andrade was named as his assistant.{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/jorge-andrade-sera-treinador-adjunto-no-vitoria-de-setubal|title=Jorge Andrade será treinador-adjunto no Vitória de Setúbal|trans-title=Jorge Andrade will be assistant manager at Vitória Setúbal|publisher=SAPO|language=Portuguese|date=9 February 2019|accessdate=25 February 2019}} On 26 October, following a 0–0 home draw against C.S. Marítimo that still left the team above the relegation zone, he was dismissed.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/v--setubal/detalhe/oficial-sandro-ja-nao-e-o-treinador-do-v-setubal|title=Oficial: Sandro já não é o treinador do V. Setúbal|trans-title=Official: Sandro is no longer V. Setúbal's manager|newspaper=Record|first=Sérgio|last=Magalhães|language=Portuguese|date=26 October 2019|accessdate=29 October 2019}}

Mendes returned to active on 27 September 2021, taking charge of Amora F.C. in the Portuguese third division.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/liga-3/noticias/sandro-mendes-e-o-novo-treinador-do-amora-14165724.html|title=Sandro Mendes é o novo treinador do Amora|trans-title=Sandro Mendes is the new manager of Amora|newspaper=O Jogo|first=Miguel|last=Gouveia Pereira|language=Portuguese|date=27 September 2021|accessdate=15 October 2021}}

Criminal charges

In March 2013, Mendes was arrested by the National Counterterrorism unit of the Judicial Police, which was competent to investigate the crime of kidnapping. He was suspected of abducting his 31-year-old ex-wife and raping her, and also of the repeated practice of domestic violence on his former partner and mother of his youngest daughter.{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/sandro-mendes-ex-jogador-do-vitoria-de-setubal-detido-3105834.html|title=Sandro Mendes, ex-jogador do Vitória de Setúbal, detido|trans-title=Sandro Mendes, former Vitória de Setúbal player, arrested|newspaper=Diário de Notícias|language=Portuguese|date=13 March 2013|accessdate=11 May 2019}}

Honours

Vitória Setúbal

Taça de Portugal: 2004–05{{cite web|url=https://www.tsf.pt/arquivo/2005/desporto/interior/v-setubal-triunfante-38-anos-depois-750394.html|title=V. Setúbal triunfante 38 anos depois|trans-title=V. Setúbal triumphant 38 years later|publisher=TSF|language=Portuguese|date=29 May 2005|accessdate=8 January 2018}}
Taça da Liga: 2007–08{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2008/03/22/desporto/noticia/vitoria-de-setubal-e-o-primeiro-vencedor-da-taca-da-liga-1323392|title=Vitória de Setúbal é o primeiro vencedor da Taça da Liga|trans-title=Vitória de Setúbal are the first winners of the League Cup|newspaper=Público|language=Portuguese|date=22 March 2008|accessdate=8 January 2018}}