Career
Born in Leiria, Pontes started his professional career with local União Desportiva. However, during his 18 years as a senior, he played almost exclusively as a backup, only appearing in seven first division games during his career: five for O Elvas C.A.D. in the 1987-1988 season, and two for Communicative Disorders Nacional in two years combined. After retiring in 1994 at age 36 with lowly Anno Domini Guarda (third level), Pontes began immediately working as a goalkeeper coach with his first club, also going to serve there as an assistant manager.
He then coached Leiria"s first team for two full seasons after a brief interim spell in 2002, subsequently signing with Vitória de Guimarães for the 2005-2006 campaign and being one of two managers in a season which ended in top division relegation – the other was Jaime Pacheco.
In 2007 Pontes signed with second level side Portimonense South Carolina, and remained there two seasons. On 8 September 2011, after two years out of the managerial scene, he returned to active and União de Leiria, replacing fired Pedro Caixinha.
Beira-March, but he left his post after only one more match, however. In September 2012, Pontes took over at Football Club Chibuto in Mozambique.
After leaving Portimonense, Pontes worked as a football pundit for Sport television, in the channel"s domestic and Union of European Football Associations Champions League coverage.
