As we begin the new year, let us reflect on two legendary names in Portuguese football who passed away in January—a coach and a player.
Let’s start with José Maria Pedroto, a man whose name might not be immediately familiar. Born on 21 October 1928, nearly a century ago, he passed away on 7 January 1985 at the age of 57, a victim of cancer.
Pedroto’s footballing journey began as a player, representing clubs such as Belenenses and Leixões. After completing his military service, he became one of the finest midfielders of his time, playing for FC Porto and earning 17 caps for the Portuguese national team. He was coached by the legendary Béla Guttmann, a name forever etched in Portuguese football history.
After hanging up his boots, Pedroto embarked on a coaching career. He became the first Portuguese coach to complete a coaching course in France. Among his notable achievements was leading the Portuguese junior national team to their first European trophy in 1961.
Pedroto had always dreamt of coaching the senior team of his beloved FC Porto, a dream that came true in 1966. He stayed for three seasons, leaving in 1969 to further his studies and refine his coaching skills, particularly in areas like sports medicine.
He returned to FC Porto seven years later and achieved remarkable success, securing consecutive league titles in 1977/78 and 1978/79, as well as the Portuguese Cup. Together with Pinto da Costa, he restructured the club and mentored another iconic figure, Artur Jorge. Jorge would later lead FC Porto to their first European Cup victory in 1987—a feat repeated 17 years later under José Mourinho in 2004.
Pedroto was a visionary, far ahead of his time. He pioneered the concept of expanded coaching teams and emphasised the importance of medical support, including physical and psychological care for players. He was the first to establish an autonomous football department and tirelessly fought for better working conditions for players, both on and off the pitch. These included dedicated training grounds and even the right to provide water to players during training—something that was controversially deemed harmful at the time.
Known affectionately as “Zé do Boné” (Joe of the Cap), Pedroto played a pivotal role in building and solidifying what FC Porto represents today. His contributions laid the foundation for the club’s enduring legacy.
