Abílio Novais

Abílio Novais

Personal information
Full name	Abílio António Gomes Novais
Date of birth	(1967-06-24) 24 June 1967
Place of birth	Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1980−1984	Candal
1984−1985	Porto
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985−1986	Oliveirense
1986−1987	União Lamas
1987−1989	Leixões	38	(0)
1989−1991	Porto	10	(2)
1991−1994	Salgueiros	81	(9)
1994−1995	Belenenses	21	(1)
1995−1999	Salgueiros	135	(26)
1999−2000	Campomaiorense	30	(5)
2000−2001	Aves	27	(3)
2001−2003	Leixões	47	(12)
Total		389	(58)
Managerial career
2002–2003	Leixões
2004	Vilanovense
2004	Varzim
2010–2011	São Pedro da Cova
2011–2012	Boavista (youth)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Abílio António Gomes Novais (born 24 August 1967), known simply as Abílio as a player, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Over the course of 13 seasons, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 342 matches and 46 goals, mainly at Salgueiros.

Club career

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Abílio competed in the Primeira Liga from 1988 to 2001, starting by playing all 38 games for Leixões S.C. as the season ended in relegation. He nonetheless signed for FC Porto, being rarely used during his tenure and subsequently joining S.C. Salgueiros.

Abílio scored 26 league goals for Salgueiros in his last four years combined, then moved to S.C. Campomaiorense and C.D. Aves, retiring in 2003 at the age of 36 with first club Leixões, in the third division. He subsequently started working as a manager.

Personal life

Novais' son, João, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too played for Leixões.

External links

• Abílio Novais at footballzz.co.uk
• Abílio Novais profile at ForaDeJogo
• Abílio Novais manager stats at ForaDeJogo