Carlitos (footballer, born 1977)

Carlitos
Personal information
Full name	Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha
Date of birth	6 March 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Barcelos, Portugal
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
1998–1995	Gil Vicente
Senior career*
Years	Team
1995–1997	Gil Vicente
1997–2000	Real Madrid
1997–1998	→ Braga (loan)
1998–1999	→ Estrela Amadora (loan)
1999–2000	→ Gil Vicente (loan)
2000–2003	Benfica
2001	Benfica B
2004	Poli Ejido
2004–2006	Gil Vicente
2007	Belenenses
2007–2010	Vitória Guimarães
2010–2011	Gil Vicente
Total
International career
1996–1997	Portugal U20
1998–2000	Portugal U21
2000	Portugal B
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha (born 6 March 1977), known as Carlitos, is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a right winger.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 260 matches and 30 goals over 16 seasons, mainly with Gil Vicente (six years). He also spent significant time in the competition with Benfica (four seasons) and Vitória de Guimarães (three).

Club career

Born in Barcelos, Carlitos' career was intimately connected with local Gil Vicente FC, which he represented in four separate spells. He made his first-team – and Primeira Liga – debut late into 1994–95 at the age of 18, then proceeded to total a further 58 league appearances in two full seasons.

In 1997, Carlitos joined Real Madrid on a four-year contract, being successively loaned to S.C. Braga, C.F. Estrela da Amadora and Gil Vicente again^[1] and never appearing in competitive games for the Spaniards.^[2]^[3] In the latter campaign, he scored a career-best nine goals as the latter club finished in a best-ever fifth position; his teammates included future Portugal international Petit.

Carlitos then signed with league giants S.L. Benfica,^[4] but could never really settle in the starting XI, also being demoted at one point to the reserves. From February 2004 he played for six months in Spain with Polideportivo Ejido, teaming up with his former Benfica mate José Calado.^[5] He returned to his country and Gil shortly after, spending parts of his last season in the Segunda Liga and finishing it again in the top tier, with C.F. Os Belenenses.^[6]

For 2007–08, Carlitos joined Vitória S.C. upon the Minho side's return to the top flight. He would only be used regularly in the first year – 22 matches, 11 from the bench – helping to a final third position, but gradually lost his importance in the team.^[7] In July 2010 he returned to Gil Vicente, aged 33, appearing in 16 games as the club promoted to the top division^[8] and retiring shortly after.

Honours

Gil Vicente

Segunda Liga: 2010–11

References

^ Lopes, Octávio (20 February 2000). "Gil Vicente: Carlitos quebra-cabeças" [Gil Vicente: Carlitos the puzzle]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
^ "Carlitos sem conseguir rescindir com Real Madrid" [Carlitos not able to cut ties with Real Madrid]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 August 1999. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
^ "Real Madrid anuncia que Carlitos sai a custo zero" [Real Madrid announce that Carlitos leaves for free]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 June 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
^ "Benfica assegura Carlitos" [Benfica confirm Carlitos]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 June 2000. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
^ "Carlitos parte optimista e sem mágoas" [Carlitos leaves optimistic and with no hard feelings]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 February 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
^ "Carlitos no Belenenses 'fugido' do Marítimo" [Carlitos to Belenenses 'escaped' from Marítimo]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 31 January 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
^ "Carlitos de saída para os Emirados" [Carlitos leaving for the Emirates]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 March 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
^ "Paulo Alves chama 24 para jogo da promoção" [Paulo Alves calls 24 for promotion match]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 May 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

External links

Carlitos at ForaDeJogo (archived)
Carlitos at BDFutbol
Carlitos national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)

[1] Lopes, Octávio (20 February 2000). "Gil Vicente: Carlitos quebra-cabeças" [Gil Vicente: Carlitos the puzzle]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 October 2017.

[2] "Carlitos sem conseguir rescindir com Real Madrid" [Carlitos not able to cut ties with Real Madrid]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 August 1999. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

[3] "Real Madrid anuncia que Carlitos sai a custo zero" [Real Madrid announce that Carlitos leaves for free]. Record (in Portuguese). 21 June 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

[4] "Benfica assegura Carlitos" [Benfica confirm Carlitos]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 June 2000. Retrieved 25 May 2015.

[5] "Carlitos parte optimista e sem mágoas" [Carlitos leaves optimistic and with no hard feelings]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 February 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

[6] "Carlitos no Belenenses 'fugido' do Marítimo" [Carlitos to Belenenses 'escaped' from Marítimo]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 31 January 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2023.

[7] "Carlitos de saída para os Emirados" [Carlitos leaving for the Emirates]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 March 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2023.

[8] "Paulo Alves chama 24 para jogo da promoção" [Paulo Alves calls 24 for promotion match]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 May 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2019.

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