Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos

Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos (born 17 March 1973), known as Nandinho, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a right winger, currently a manager.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 257 matches and 41 goals over 11 seasons, representing mainly in the competition Gil Vicente (four years).

Playing career Born in Porto, Nandinho played amateur football until the age of 22, signing with Primeira Liga club S.C. Salgueiros in 1995 from SC Castêlo da Maia. He scored a career-best 13 goals in 30 games in his third season, helping his team to the eighth position.

Subsequently, Nandinho signed for S.L. Benfica – against which he had previously scored – as Graeme Souness was the manager. As several British players were brought in, he was eventually deemed surplus to requirements, finishing his debut campaign with farm team F.C. Alverca, where he netted a hat-trick in a 3–2 home win against Sporting CP on 17 April 1999.

Nandinho joined Vitória S.C. in summer 1999, being rarely played by Paulo Autuori but featuring more under new coach Álvaro Magalhães. He retired in June 2007 at 34, after spells with Gil Vicente F.C. in the top flight and Leixões S.C. in the Segunda Liga.

Coaching career On 28 May 2015, after several years in charge of the youth sides, Nandinho was chosen as José Mota's successor at the helm of Gil's first team, recently relegated from the top division. He left the post on 11 May of the following year, taking over at F.C. Famalicão on 17 October.

Nandinho resigned on 2 April 2017, with the club near the relegation places in the second tier. He returned to Gil Vicente in the 2018 off-season, achieving promotion without playing and being relieved of his duties.

Nandinho first moved abroad on 16 October 2019, replacing the dismissed Esteban Navarro at UD Almería B. The following 26 June, he was named assistant manager of the first team until the end of the season, with Mário Silva becoming the head coach, but returned to his previous role on 27 July as Silva was dismissed.

On 24 August 2022, Nandinho was hired by B-SAD, who had dismissed José Maria Pratas three games into the second-division campaign. He was dismissed the following 31 January, having taken 15 points in 14 games for the 16th-placed team, despite awaiting the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal.

Subsequently, Nandinho worked in the Bahraini Premier League with Al-Ahli Club (Manama) and the Saudi First Division League with Al-Bukiryah FC.

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Gil Vicente28 May 201515 May 2016 Famalicão17 October 20162 April 2017 Gil Vicente28 June 201813 May 2019 Almería B16 October 201926 June 2020 Career Total —