Cup Winners' Cup captain inspired both on and off the pitch

Sporting lost one of its great heroes today, with the captain of the club's Cup Winners' Cup team passing away at the age of 78.

Born in Seia, Fernando Mendes arrived in Lisbon aged just 10, with a natural talent with the ball at his feet. He joined Sporting five years later, tempted away from Benfica by his brother who was playing for Sporting's youth system at the time. It didn't take Mendes long to break into the senior team and in the 1957/58 season he made six a team in a championship winning side, full of stars including Travassos and Vasques.

1958 saw Mendes solidify his place in the team, with his determination nad leadership in the heart of midfield infecting everyone who played around him in Alvalade, but also wherever the Portuguese national team took to the pitch. He again won the national championship in 1962, but his most memorable moment came when he skippered the Sporting team that won the Cup Winners' Cup.

After a spell in South Africa with Lusitano and in the United Stated with Boston Astros, he returned to Portugal to coach Lourosa and eventually on to Vianense and back to his spiritual home of Alvalade to train the club's youth team in 1979. In November of that year he took over the senior team in place of Rodrigues Dias, leading Sporting to the 1980 national championship title with a memorable team which included Manuel Fernandes, Jordão, Inácio, Barão and Eurico. After leaving the club the following season, Mendes had spells coaching Marítimo, Belenenses, Farense and Trofense, only to once again return to Sporting to take on a variety of roles.

Sporting shares the most sincere condolences with all of Fernando Mendes' family and friends.