View source for Fernando Couto

{{short description|Portuguese footballer (born 1969)}}
{{for|the Portuguese Olympic athlete|Fernando Couto (runner)}}
{{Portuguese name|Silva|Couto}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fernando Couto
| image = FCouto.JPG
| upright = 0.8
| alt = 
| caption = Couto in 2011
| full_name = Fernando Manuel Silva Couto
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|8|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Espinho, Portugal]]
| height = 1.84 m
| position = [[Centre back]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1980–1985
| youthclubs1 = [[SC Espinho|Espinho]]
| youthyears2 = 1985–1986
| youthclubs2 = [[Lusitânia F.C.|Lourosa]]
| youthyears3 = 1986–1988
| youthclubs3 = [[FC Porto|Porto]]
| years1 = 1988
| clubs1 = [[FC Porto|Porto]]
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1988–1989
| clubs2 = [[F.C. Famalicão|Famalicão]]
| caps2 = 17
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1989–1990
| clubs3 = [[Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.|Académica]]
| caps3 = 23
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 1990–1994
| clubs4 = [[FC Porto|Porto]]
| caps4 = 106
| goals4 = 19
| years5 = 1994–1996
| clubs5 = [[Parma AC|Parma]]
| caps5 = 39
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 1996–1998
| clubs6 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps6 = 44
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1998–2005
| clubs7 = [[SS Lazio|Lazio]]
| caps7 = 145
| goals7 = 9
| years8 = 2005–2008
| clubs8 = [[Parma F.C.|Parma]]
| caps8 = 63
| goals8 = 1
| totalcaps = 438
| totalgoals = 36
| nationalyears1 = 1989
| nationalteam1 = [[Portugal national under-20 football team|Portugal U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1989–1990
| nationalteam2 = [[Portugal national under-21 football team|Portugal U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1990–2004
| nationalteam3 = [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
| nationalcaps3 = 110
| nationalgoals3 = 8
| manageryears1 = 2012–2014
| managerclubs1 = [[S.C. Braga|Braga]] (assistant)
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|POR}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|Runner-up|[[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 Portugal]]|}}
{{Medal|B|[[UEFA Euro 2000|2000 Belgium-Netherlands]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1989 FIFA World Youth Championship|1989 Saudi Arabia]]|}}
}}

'''Fernando Manuel Silva Couto''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Infante D. Henrique|OIH]]}} ({{IPA|pt|fɨɾˈnɐ̃du ˈkotu|lang}}; born 2 August 1969) is a Portuguese former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[centre back]].

During a 21-year professional career, he played in a number of top clubs in Portugal, Spain and Italy (12 seasons in the latter country), appearing in nearly 600 competitive matches and winning [[Double (association football)|the double]] in each country, as well as three [[UEFA]] trophies.

At international level, Couto represented the [[Portugal national football team|Portugal national team]] in [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|110 games]], taking part in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] as well as three [[UEFA European Championship|European Championships]].

==Club career==
Born in [[Espinho, Portugal|Espinho]] near [[Porto]], Couto joined [[FC Porto]]'s youth system at the age of 17. On 2 June 1988, he made his first-team – and [[Primeira Liga]] – debut, playing 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against [[Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.|Académica de Coimbra]] in what would be his only appearance of [[1987–88 Primeira Liga|the season]] for the national champions. He was then released, spending one year apiece with [[F.C. Famalicão]] and Académica.

Couto returned to Porto in 1990, being an instrumental defensive unit in the conquest of six titles during his four-year spell. He subsequently moved to Italy with [[Parma AC]], scoring a career-best four goals in 27 games in [[1994–95 Serie A|his first season]] and adding [[1994–95 UEFA Cup|the campaign]]'s [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], in a [[1995 UEFA Cup final|2–1 aggregate victory]] over fellow [[Serie A]] side [[Juventus FC]]<ref name=UEFACUP>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/accadde-oggi/17-maggio-1995-il-parma-vince-la-coppa-uefa-battendo-in-finale-la-juve-1112214|title=17 maggio 1995, il Parma vince la Coppa UEFA battendo in finale la Juve|trans-title=17 May 1995, Parma win UEFA Cup beating Juve in the final|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web|first=Gaetano|last=Mocciaro|language=it|date=17 May 2018|access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1995_05/19950518_0036.pdf&query=parma|title=Il Parma si rifà in Europa|trans-title=Parma redeem themselves in Europe|newspaper=[[L'Unità]]|first=Michele|last=Ruggiero|language=it|date=18 May 1995|access-date=1 May 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220173211/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1995_05%2F19950518_0036.pdf&query=parma|archive-date=20 December 2016}}</ref>

In summer 1996, Couto signed a four-year deal with [[FC Barcelona]], moving alongside former Porto teammate [[Vítor Baía]] and English manager [[Bobby Robson]] as [[Luís Figo]] was also playing for the [[La Liga]] club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1996/08/24/deportes/840837616_850215.html|title=El Barça ficha al defensa portugués Fernando Couto por cuatro años|trans-title=Barça sign Portuguese defender Fernando Couto for four years|newspaper=[[El País]]|language=es|date=23 August 1996|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Regularly used during his early stint, he was less played by the next coach [[Louis van Gaal]], but managed to appear in one of the two [[UEFA|European]] finals the [[Catalonia|Catalans]] won, the [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97 edition]] of the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://esportes.estadao.com.br/noticias/futebol,depois-de-16-anos-psg-tem-chance-de-revanche-contra-o-barcelona,1019004|title=Depois de 16 anos, PSG tem chance de revanche contra o|trans-title=16 years later, PSG have a chance at revenge against Barcelona|newspaper=[[O Estado de S. Paulo]]|first=Ciro|last=Campos|language=pt|date=10 April 2013|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

After two seasons at the [[Camp Nou]], Couto left ''Barça'' and joined Rome's [[SS Lazio]] in late June 1998 as teammate [[Iván de la Peña]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/giugno/25/Lazio_presi_Pena_Couto_Inter_co_0_98062511924.shtml|title=Lazio: presi De la Pena e Couto. Inter: Torricelli e' vicino|trans-title=Lazio: De la Pena and Couto acquired. Inter: Torricelli almost done|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|language=it|date=25 June 1998|access-date=16 April 2010}}</ref> He appeared in 22 matches in [[1998–99 Serie A|his first year]] to help his team to the second place in the league, and featured one minute in [[1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final|the final]] of [[1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|the last Cup Winners' Cup]], in a 2–1 win against [[RCD Mallorca]] at the [[Villa Park]] in [[Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1999/05/20/deportes/927151201_850215.html|title=El Mallorca pierde con orgullo|trans-title=Mallorca lose proudly|newspaper=El País|first=Santiago|last=Segurola|language=es|date=20 May 1999|access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref>

In 2001, Couto failed a [[Drug test|doping test]] for the steroid [[nandrolone]]. He denied having taken forbidden substances, but his "B" test confirmed the finding and he eventually served four months out of a nine-month worldwide ban for the offence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/3006500/Davids-and-Couto-hit-with-FIFA-bans.html|title=Davids and Couto hit with FIFA bans|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=31 May 2001|access-date=9 October 2009}}</ref> He continued to appear regularly for Lazio in the following seasons.

In 2005, aged 36, Couto returned to Parma after 11 years as Lazio was unable to match his wage demands for a contract renewal. After two seasons of regular use he played just 17 matches in [[2007–08 Serie A|2007–08]], with the [[Emilia-Romagna]] side also suffering top-flight relegation; as his contract expired, he decided to retire from football.

In June 2010, two years after his retirement, Couto was named [[general manager]] at [[S.C. Braga]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scbraga.pt/noticias.php?id=3115|title=Fernando Couto é manager do SC Braga|trans-title=Fernando Couto is SC Braga manager|publisher=SC Braga|language=pt|date=21 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008065153/http://www.scbraga.pt/noticias.php?id=3115|archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref> He was appointed the club's assistant manager for the [[2012–13 Primeira Liga|2012–13 campaign]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sp--braga/detalhe/fernando-couto-adjunto-de-peseiro-760187|title=Fernando Couto adjunto de Peseiro|trans-title=Fernando Couto Peseiro's assistant|newspaper=[[Record (Portuguese newspaper)|Record]]|language=pt|date=4 June 2012|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> leaving in February 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/amp/sp-braga-confirma-nova-equipa-tecnica-sem-fernando-couto|title=Sp. Braga confirma nova equipa técnica sem Fernando Couto|trans-title=Sp. Braga confirm new technical staff without Fernando Couto|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
As a member of Famalicão in the [[Segunda Divisão|third division]], Couto appeared in four matches as [[Portugal national under-20 football team|Portugal]] won the [[1989 FIFA World Youth Championship]],<ref name=MF>{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/memorias-de-1989/mundial-sub-20/riade-25-anos-como-foi-e-onde-estao-os-campeoes-do-mundo|title=Riade, 25 anos: como foi e onde estão os campeões|trans-title=Riyadh, 25 years ago: how did it go and where are the champions|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Vítor Hugo|last=Alvarenga|language=pt|date=3 March 2014|access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref> being part of a group of players dubbed the "[[Golden Generation]]" of [[Football in Portugal|Portuguese football]]. He made his debut for [[Portugal national football team|the senior team]] on 19 December 1990, in a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] with the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] played in [[Maia, Portugal|Maia]] (1–0 win).

Always as first choice, Couto represented the nation at [[UEFA Euro 1996]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-rising-force-in-europe-counting-on-their-foreign-legion-championship-countdown-no-9-portugal-1334961.html|title=The rising force in Europe counting on their foreign legion; CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTDOWN: No 9 Portugal|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|first=Guy|last=Hodgson|date=1 June 1996|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>– scoring the game's only goal for the eventual quarter-finalists in a group stage fixture against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b347ba019-368d07b43afe-1000--portugal-get-just-reward-against-turkey-in-euro-96-group-d/|title=Portugal get just reward against Turkey|publisher=UEFA|date=6 October 2003|access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref>– [[UEFA Euro 2000|Euro 2000]] and the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], partnering former Porto teammate [[Jorge Costa (footballer)|Jorge Costa]] in the last two tournaments, the latter of which ended in group stage exit.

Couto became the first Portuguese player to reach 100 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] (in a total of 110) on 11 October 2003, in a 5–3 friendly defeat of [[Albania national football team|Albania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=118782.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120134143/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=118782.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2015|title=Century and counting for Couto|publisher=UEFA|first=Rui|last=Breda|date=13 October 2003|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref> He was selected as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]], which was played on home soil,<ref name=DN>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desportos/15-anos-depois-do-euro2004-ronaldo-continua-em-grande-e-os-outros-22-onde-param-10998813.html|title=15 anos depois do Euro2004 Ronaldo continua em grande. E os outros 22 onde param?|trans-title=15 years after Euro2004 Ronaldo is still at the top. And what of the other 22?|newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]]|first=Nuno|last=Fernandes|language=pt|date=11 June 2019|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> starting in the first game against [[Greece national football team|Greece]] but eventually being relegated to [[Substitute (association football)|the bench]] by [[Ricardo Carvalho]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/couto-intl.html|title=Fernando Manuel Silva Couto – Century of International Appearances|first=José Luis|last=Pierrend|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=24 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3928771.stm|title=Chelsea land Carvalho|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=28 July 2004|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> Portugal went on to reach the [[UEFA Euro 2004 final|final of the tournament]], in which the team suffered a defeat against the same opponent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/matches/round=1623/match=1059194/postmatch/report/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130174331/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/matches/round=1623/match=1059194/postmatch/report/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 November 2011|title=Greece kings of Europe|publisher=UEFA|first=Adam|last=Szreter|date=4 July 2004|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Considered as one of the greatest Portuguese defenders ever, 
Couto usually played as a [[centre-back]] in [[Marking (association football)#Zonal marking|zonal-marking]] system during his time with Porto, where he earned a reputation for being a tough and physical defender, with an aggressive and hard-tackling playing style. He was also known for his ability in the air, as well as his capacity to start quick attacking plays after winning back the ball. During his time in Italy, he also adapted himself to different tactical systems; under his Parma manager [[Nevio Scala]], he featured as a man-marking centre-back – or ''stopper'' – on occasion, or even as a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]] behind the back-line.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/27/couto-testa-alta-mi-rispetterete.html|title=Couto a testa alta 'Mi rispetterete'|trans-title=Couto with his head held up high 'You will respect me'|newspaper=[[La Repubblica]]|language=it|date=27 July 1994|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1995/02/14/grun-brolin-se-la-classe-penalizzata.html|title=Grun o Brolin {{!}} Se la classe è penalizzata|trans-title=Grun or Brolin {{!}} If class is penalised|newspaper=La Repubblica|first=Giovanni|last=Egidio|language=it|date=14 February 1995|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ForaDeJogo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a-tim/calciatore?p_p_id=BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC_idPersona=11629|title=Fernando Manuel Silva Couto|publisher=Lega Serie A|language=it|access-date=5 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702055934/http://www.legaseriea.it/en/serie-a-tim/calciatore?p_p_id=BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC_idPersona=11629|archive-date=2 July 2013}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes the [[Supercoppa Italiana]], [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]] and [[UEFA Super Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[FC Porto|Porto]]
|[[1987–88 Primeira Divisão|1987–88]]
|[[Primeira Divisão]]
|1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|[[F.C. Famalicão|Famalicão]]
|1988–89
|
|||||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||||
|-
|[[Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.|Académica]]
|[[1989–90 Segunda Divisão|1989–90]]
|[[Segunda Divisão]]
|23||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||2
|-
|rowspan="5"|Porto
|[[1990–91 Primeira Divisão|1990–91]]
|rowspan="4"|Primeira Divisão
|24||3||6||0||4||0||0||0||34||3
|-
|[[1991–92 Primeira Divisão|1991–92]]
|32||2||5||0||4||0||3||0||44||2
|-
|[[1992–93 Primeira Divisão|1992–93]]
|26||4||3||0||7||2||2||0||38||6
|-
|[[1993–94 Primeira Divisão|1993–94]]
|23||1||5||0||9||0||2||0||39||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!105!!10!!19!!0!!24!!2!!7!!0!!155!!12
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
|[[1994–95 Serie A|1994–95]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Serie A]]
|27||4||9||2||8||1||colspan="2"|—||44||7
|-
|[[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]]
|12||0||0||0||2||0||1||0||15||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!39!!4!!9!!2!!10!!1!!1!!0!!59!!7
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[1996–97 La Liga|1996–97]]
|rowspan="2"|[[La Liga]]
|26||0||5||1||4||1||0||0||35||2
|-
||[[1997–98 La Liga|1997–98]]
|18||0||2||0||5||0||0||0||25||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!44!!0!!7!!1!!9!!1!!0!!0!!60!!2
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[SS Lazio|Lazio]]
|[[1998–99 Serie A|1998–99]]
|rowspan="7"|Serie A
|22||2||5||0||8||0||1||0||36||2
|-
||[[1999–2000 Serie A|1999–00]]
|14||0||5||0||7||0||0||0||26||0
|-
||[[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01]]
|18||0||4||0||8||0||0||0||30||0
|-
||[[2001–02 Serie A|2001–02]]
|29||1||2||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||35||1
|-
||[[2002–03 Serie A|2002–03]]
|15||0||4||0||12||1||colspan="2"|—||31||1
|-
||[[2003–04 Serie A|2003–04]]
|23||3||4||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||41||3
|-
||[[2004–05 Serie A|2004–05]]
|24||3||0||0||3||0||1||0||28||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!145!!9!!24!!1!!46!!1!!2!!0!!217!!11
|-
|rowspan="4"|Parma
|[[2005–06 Serie A|2005–06]]
|rowspan="3"|Serie A
|23||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||0
|-
||[[2006–07 Serie A|2006–07]]
|23||1||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||26||1
|-
||[[2007–08 Serie A|2007–08]]
|17||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!63!!1!!3!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!68!!1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!420!!26!!62!!4!!91!!5!!10!!0!!583!!35
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="EU">{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=3912|title=Fernando Couto|publisher=European Football|access-date=7 October 2015}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
|1990||1||0
|-
|1991||5||0
|-
|1992||6||0
|-
|1993||8||1
|-
|1994||2||1
|-
|1995||7||0
|-
|1996||11||3
|-
|1997||6||0
|-
|1998||5||1
|-
|1999||7||0
|-
|2000||14||0
|-
|2001||6||0
|-
|2002||11||0
|-
|2003||12||1
|-
|2004||7||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!110!!8
|}

:''Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Couto goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Fernando Couto<ref name="EU"/>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
{{Ig match
| n= 1
| d= 24 February 1993
| st=Estádio das Antas| ci=Porto | co=Portugal
| o=Italy
| sc=1–2
| fr=1–3
| comp=[[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1994 World Cup qualification]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 2
| d= 18 December 1994
| st=Estádio da Luz (1954)| ci=Lisbon | co=Portugal
| o=Liechtenstein
| sc=5–0
| fr=8–0
| comp=[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying|Euro 1996 qualifying]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 3
| d= 24 January 1996
| st=Parc des Princes| ci=Paris | co=France
| o=France
| sc=0–1
| fr=3–2
| comp=[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 4
| d= 14 June 1996
| st=City Ground| ci=Nottingham | co=England
| o=Turkey
| sc=1–0
| fr=1–0
| comp=[[UEFA Euro 1996]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 5
| d= 9 November 1996
| st=Estádio das Antas| ci=Porto | co=Portugal
| o=Ukraine
| sc=1–0
| fr=1–0
| comp=[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]}}
{{Ig match
| n= 6
| d= 18 November 1998
| st=Estádio do Bonfim| ci=Setúbal | co=Portugal
| o=Israel
| sc=1–0
| fr=2–0
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n= 7
| d= 10 June 2003
| st=Estádio Nacional| ci=Lisbon | co=Portugal
| o=Bolivia
| sc=2–0
| fr=4–0
| comp=Friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n= 8
| d= 5 June 2004
| st=Estádio do Bonfim| ci=Setúbal | co=Portugal
| o=Lithuania
| sc=1–0
| fr=4–1
| comp=Friendly}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Porto'''
*[[Primeira Liga|Primeira Divisão]]: [[1987–88 Primeira Divisão|1987–88]], [[1991–92 Primeira Divisão|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Primeira Divisão|1992–93]]
*[[Taça de Portugal]]: [[1990–91 Taça de Portugal|1990–91]], [[1993–94 Taça de Portugal|1993–94]]
*[[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]: [[1991 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1991]], [[1993 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1993]]

'''Parma'''
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1994–95 UEFA Cup|1994–95]]<ref name=UEFACUP/>

'''Barcelona'''
*[[La Liga]]: [[1997–98 La Liga|1997–98]]
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[1996–97 Copa del Rey|1996–97]], [[1997–98 Copa del Rey|1997–98]]
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[1996 Supercopa de España|1996]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1997 UEFA Super Cup|1997]]

'''Lazio'''
*[[Serie A]]: [[1999–2000 Serie A|1999–2000]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: [[1999–2000 Coppa Italia|1999–2000]], [[2003–04 Coppa Italia|2003–04]]
*[[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1998 Supercoppa Italiana|1998]], [[2000 Supercoppa Italiana|2000]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1998–99]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1999 UEFA Super Cup|1999]]

'''Portugal U20'''
*[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]: [[1989 FIFA World Youth Championship|1989]]<ref name=MF/>

'''Portugal'''
*[[UEFA European Championship]] runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]<ref name=DN/>

'''Orders'''
*[[File:PRT Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao de Vila Vicosa Cavaleiro ribbon.svg|60px]] Medal of Merit, [[Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa]] ([[Duke of Braganza|House of Braganza]])

==See also==
*[[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|List of footballers with 100 or more caps]]
*[[List of doping cases in sport]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{ForaDeJogo}}
*[http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/player-profiles/119-players-a-c/122-player-profile-fernando-couto PortuGOAL profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318035929/http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/player-profiles/119-players-a-c/122-player-profile-fernando-couto |date=18 March 2012 }}
*{{TuttoCalciatori|Couto_Fernando_Manuel_Silva}}
*{{BDFutbol|784}}
*{{FPF national player|235363}}
*{{NFT player|5289}}
*{{FIFA player|177672}}
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530080252/http://www.fcparma.com/images/105803.pdf|title=Parma official profile}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Portugal squads
|bg=#B50000
|fg=gold
|bordercolor=#006600
|list1=
{{Portugal Squad 1996 Euro Cup}}
{{Portugal Squad 2000 Euro Cup}}
{{Portugal Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{Portugal Squad 2004 Euro Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Couto, Fernando}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Espinho, Portugal]]
[[Category:Portuguese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:Liga Portugal 2 players]]
[[Category:FC Porto players]]
[[Category:F.C. Famalicão players]]
[[Category:Académica de Coimbra (football) players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Parma Calcio 1913 players]]
[[Category:SS Lazio players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Portugal men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Portugal men's international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Doping cases in association football]]
[[Category:Portuguese sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:20th-century Portuguese sportsmen]]