Fernando Santos comes from a humble background in Portugal. Let us learn about his religion, family background, and more.
Santos is a Portuguese professional football manager. Manager of the Portugal national team since 2014, he was at the helm of the team at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Santos, who took the team to Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League victories, has been let go. The decision came following the country’s disappointing quarterfinal departure.
Besides, he has managed several clubs, including Portugal’s Big Three (S.L. Benfica, Sporting CP, and FC Porto), winning five major titles with the latter.
Moreover, Santos is a former player and defender. He spent much of his senior playing career with Estoril.
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Fernando Santos Religion: Does He Follow Christian Or Muslim Faith?
Fernando Santos follows the Christian religion. He is a practicing Catholic.
Christian Today states that the former Portuguese manager thanked God, Jesus, and Mary for the Euros victory.
Following his team’s 1-0 victory over France that won them their first-ever major international trophy, Santos said, “First of all, I would like to thank God, the Father, for this moment and everything in my life.”
After thanking his team and family, he said he wanted to speak to “his best friend and His mother,” dedicate the victory to Him, and thank Him for having chosen him.
Santos later added, “I’d like to thank God for being with us, my wife, mother, and grandson. My dad, wherever he is, he is probably having a few beers.”
Likewise, speaking to the Pillar, the former footballer shared that his real goal is a more lasting place — to make his home in the heavenly New Jerusalem.
In the phone interview, Santos stated that his faith came late when he attended a Cursillo Movement retreat.
Learn About Fernando Santos Parents And Family
Fernando Manuel Fernandes da Costa Santos was born in Lisbon, Portugal, to his parents, Maria de Lurdes Fernandes Santos and Fransisco Santos.
They had him at the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital, a public Central Hospital serving the Greater Lisbon area.
Santos was born to middle-class parents, with the family’s income coming primarily from his accessories dealer dad.
Francisco Santos was a businessman who supplied car parts to his customers, mainly in Lisbon and Alfama.
He also had an auto industry, so he wanted Fernando to become an Engineer.
Besides, he was a former goalkeeper. In his spare time, he enjoyed the small pleasures of life, like eating and drinking beers.
Francisco Santos, who lived for 97 years, thrived through hard work and rules.
Fernando has been married to his wife, Guilhermina, for over four decades. The couple has two children: an economist son and a judge daughter.
He goes by the nicknames “Sono” and “Engenheiro do Penta” (Penta’s Engineer).
Fernando Santos Is Of Portuguese Ethnicity And Origin
Santos is of Portuguese nationality, ethnicity, and origin. Regarding where (in Portugal) his parents come from, Life Bogger notes Alfama (in Lisbon) and Sorgassosa.
In addition to his native Portuguese, the former AEK Athens manager also speaks English and Greek.
Santos worked in Greece for a long time in the 2000s, mainly with clubs AEK Athens and PAOK.
The Portuguese man was appointed the manager of the Greece national team in 2010, coaching them in the World Cup and European Championship.
Subsequently, he led Portugal for eight years, winning the Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.
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