Henrique Hilário

Chelsea

Hilário signed for Chelsea on 1 June 2006, joining former Porto boss José Mourinho, the two having coincided there for a brief period in the 2003–04 pre-season. He was originally signed as third choice behind Petr Čech and Carlo Cudicini, but was handed a run in the first team after they both sustained injuries in a game against Reading on 14 October 2006. He made his debut on 18 October against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. His Premier League debut came three days later, in a 2–1 home victory over Portsmouth.

Hilário's run in the side saw him make a total of 18 appearances during the season, not conceding any goals in eight of those – he also saved a penalty in a game away to Sheffield United. Čech's return to fitness in February 2007 saw him lose his place in the team, and was an unused substitute in the Football League Cup final win over Arsenal.

At the start of the 2007–08 campaign, Hilário found himself again third choice to both Čech and Cudicini, but made a substitute appearance against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park after Čech suffered a hip injury. He went on to start against Newcastle United and Fulham as his team won both matches 2–1. On 8 April 2008, he came from the bench against Fenerbahce (due to an injury to Cudicini) in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (2–0 home win, 3–2 on aggregate).

Cudicini left for Tottenham Hotspur in January 2009, leaving Hilário as second choice and promoting Rhys Taylor to the first team. Hilário made his first start of 2008–09 on 7 February after an injury to Čech, in a 0–0 draw at home to Hull City. He was also an unused substitute during Chelsea's 2009 FA Cup final defeat of Everton.

On 26 September 2009, when Čech was red carded against Wigan Athletic after a tackle on Hugo Rodallega, Hilário came on for Florent Malouda and conceded two goals in a 3–1 away loss. Due to Čech's suspension, he was in the starting line-up for the game against Liverpool at home on 4 October, and performed well, keeping a clean sheet.

Hilário made his first appearance of 2010 after coming off the bench for an injured Čech in the second half of Chelsea's 2–1 loss at Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, conceding no goals in about 30 minutes. He added another in the Premier League, this time against Manchester City, conceding braces from Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez in their first home defeat of the 2009–10 season (4–2), although his side eventually won the championship.

In June 2011, Hilário signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea. Following the appointment of countryman André Villas-Boas as manager and the knee injury suffered by Čech in pre-season, he was propelled to the starting line-up over Ross Turnbull, appearing in two games and conceding twice in as many home wins.

Hilário was due to be released at the end of 2012–13 as his contract expired. On 1 August, however, following the return of his compatriot Mourinho as manager, he agreed to a new one-year deal with the club. He eventually left at the end of the season, before retiring from playing in August at the age of 38.

International career Hilário received his first call-up for Portugal in November 2009, at the age of 34, as backup to Eduardo for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a role for which Beto, Daniel Fernandes, José Moreira and Rui Patrício were also tried. After being an unused substitute on that match he made his debut in the next game, coming on for Eduardo at half-time of the 2–0 friendly win over China on 3 March 2010.

Coaching career Hilário returned to Chelsea on 22 July 2016, as assistant goalkeeping coach to newly appointed manager Antonio Conte. He was promoted to the position of goalkeeping coach under Maurizio Sarri in August 2018.

On 20 November 2024, Hilário became goalkeeper coach of the England national team, under Thomas Tuchel who he worked with at Chelsea; the former had spent 18 years at the club as both a player and coach.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Porto Primeira Divisão: 1996–97, 1997–98 Taça de Portugal: 1999–2000 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1999

Chelsea FA Cup: 2008–09, Football League Cup: 2006–07