Abílio Novais

Abílio António Gomes Novais (born 24 August 1967), known simply as Abílio as a player, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, currently manager of C.F. Oliveira do Douro.

Abílio Novais

Personal information
Full name	Abílio António Gomes Novais
Date of birth	(1967-06-24) 24 June 1967 (age 58)
Place of birth	Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Oliveira Douro (manager)
Youth career
1980−1984	Candal
1984−1985	Porto
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985−1986	Oliveirense
1986−1987	União Lamas
1987−1989	Leixões	76	(0)
1989−1991	Porto	10	(2)
1991−1994	Salgueiros	81	(9)
1994−1995	Belenenses	21	(1)
1995−1999	Salgueiros	135	(26)
1999−2000	Campomaiorense	30	(5)
2000−2001	Aves	27	(3)
2001−2003	Leixões	47	(12)
Total		427	(58)
Managerial career
2002–2003	Leixões
2004	Vilanovense
2004	Varzim
2010–2011	São Pedro da Cova
2011–2012	Boavista (youth)
2018	Canidelo
2019–2020	Vila
2020–2022	Avintes
2022–	Oliveira Douro
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Over the course of 13 seasons, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 342 matches and 46 goals, mainly at Salgueiros.^[1]

Club career

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Abílio competed in the Primeira Liga from 1988 to 2001, starting by playing all 38 games for Leixões S.C. as the season ended in relegation. He nonetheless signed for FC Porto, being rarely used during his tenure as he was acquired to be a right-back and was barred in that position by legendary João Pinto, and subsequently joined S.C. Salgueiros.^[2]

Abílio totalled 26 league goals for Salgueiros in his last four years, then moved to S.C. Campomaiorense and C.D. Aves, retiring in 2003 at the age of 36 with his first club Leixões, in the third division. He subsequently started working as a manager.^[3][4]

Personal life

Novais' son, João, was also a footballer and a midfielder. He too played for Leixões.^[5]