Jorge Amaral Rodrigues

Jorge Amaral Rodrigues (born 1 June 1970), known as Amaral, is a former Portuguese professional footballer who played as a right winger, and a current manager.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 151 games and nine goals over the course of 12 seasons, in representation of seven clubs including Sporting and Benfica.

Amaral won one FIFA U-20 World Cup with Portugal.

Club career Born in João Belo, Portuguese Mozambique, Amaral joined Sporting CP's youth system as a 13-year-old. In 1988 he was loaned to fellow Primeira Liga team Académico de Viseu FC, his first game in the competition occurring on 11 September in a 1−1 home draw against C.F. Os Belenenses.

In 1989–90, Amaral first appeared in the league with his main club, starting and playing 59 minutes in a 2–1 home win over F.C. Penafiel on 25 February 1990 courtesy of manager Raul Águas. However, the following season, he suffered a car crash that sidelined him for several months; when he regained full fitness he was used mainly as a substitute, his best input at the Estádio José Alvalade consisting of 13 matches in 1992–93.

In the summer of 1994, Amaral joined S.L. Benfica. He had previously represented the under-16 at the 1986 UEFA European Under-16 Championship and the under-18 at the 1988 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, finishing runners-up in the latter. All categories comprised, he netted four times in 36 caps.