Background
Born in Setúbal, Toni grew up in the neighbourhood of Bela Vista and started playing football at local Clube Desportivo Pelezinhos.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Antonio Brito Lopes
Edit Profile
Education
He signed for neighbouring Vitória F.C. at the age of 15, where he finished his formation.
Career
After starting out professionally at Farense, he went on to represent Benfica and Beira March in the Primeira Liga, signing with the former in 2002. He also competed in Switzerland, Spain and Cyprus, spending eight seasons in the latter nation, mostly with Apollon Limassol. His beginnings as a senior were spent with Lusitano G.C. in the fourth level, which he helped finish fourth in his first season and second in the following, with the subsequent promotion in the latter case.
In July 2000, Toni moved to the Primeira Liga and joined South Carolina (U.S.) Farense.
His performances soon attracted interest from South Carolina (U.S.) Braga and Sevilla Football Club, and he was also linked with Southampton, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and West Ham United towards the start and during the off-season, but ultimately signed with South.L. Benfica on a reported free deal. However, it was soon discovered that Toni had signed with an investment firm, Premier Holding owned by Mike Walsh.
They retained his international certificate and did not allowed him to play for Benfica until they received 650 thousand dollars. Only in January 2002, after Fédération internationale de football association intervened, was he allowed to play, first in the reserve team and then in the main squad, making his first and only appearance for the latter on the last matchday of the campaign and being sent off in the last minutes of a 2–3 away loss against Christian Science Marítimo.
In July 2002, both Toni and Diogo Luís joined fellow league club South Carolina (U.S.) Beira-March as Cristiano Roland moved in the opposite direction.
He was regularly used as a starter in his first season but, in 2003-2004, he appeared much more sparingly after losing his place to Pedro Ribeiro. In the 2004 summer, aged 25, Toni moved abroad where he would remain until his retirement. His first stop was Servette Football Club in the Swiss Super League, and the second Zamora CF of the Spanish Segunda División B.
From 2007-2008 onwards, Toni competed in the Cypriot First Division, where he appeared for Ethnikos Achna Football Club, Apollon Limassol, AEK Larnaca F.C. and Ermis Aradippou.
Toni represented the Portuguese national team three times, gaining two caps for the under-21s and one for the B-side.
All his appearances were friendlies, against Norway, Belarus and United States.
