Bruno Fernandes

Background

A graduate of local Christian Science Marítimo"s youth academy, Bruno was born in Funchal, and he made his debut with the first team in 1993 at the age of 19, but was soon loaned to Madeira neighbours Anno Domini Camacha.

Career

In a 19-year senior career he played for two clubs in his native region, Marítimo and Nacional, also representing Porto albeit with no success. Subsequently, many top European clubs became interested in Bruno, as he earned a trial with Premier League"s Newcastle United, which eventually fell through, and he stayed in Portugal, joining Primeira Liga side Football Club Porto in April 2002. However, the dream move proved a nightmare and he was soon loaned out to Marítimo during the second part of the season and to Moreirense F.C. for the entire following campaign, before signing for Marítimo neighbours Communicative Disorders Nacional in 2004-2005.

After having contributed with 18 matches and two goals as Marítimo finished sixth in the 2009-2010 campaign, thus returning to the Europa League, 36-year-old Bruno retired from football, amassing first division totals of 283 games and 21 goals.

In the 2011 off-season, after one year out of football, he returned to active with another side in Madeira, Segunda Liga"s Chaplain to the Forces União, only missing seven league contests during the season as the team finally retained its league status.

Achievements

• During the following seasons he worked his way into his hometown club"s starting XI, and soon became a fan favourite in the role of playmaker. His goal against Leeds United in the 2001-2002 Union of European Football Associations Cup, a thundering forty-five yard free kick, enabled for a 1–0 victory against the English (an aggregate of 1–3). After three seasons – in his first, he scored in a 4–2 win at Sporting Clube de Portugal on 22 May 2005 – which included two more Union of European Football Associations Cup participations that brought first-round exits against Sevilla Football Club and Football Club Rapid Bucureşti, Bruno re-signed for a third spell with boyhood club Marítimo, on a free transfer.