Rui Sacramento


Rui Miguel Ferreira Neto Sacramento is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently a manager.
Brought up at Porto, where he was only a reserve, he played seven Primeira Liga games for Arouca, and 73 in the Segunda Liga for Gil Vicente and Leixões.

Playing career

Born in Matosinhos, Sacramento joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of 15. He went on to make his senior debut with FC Porto B and C.A. Valdevez, with both teams in the third division. He was second-choice to Bruno Vale in the reserve team but was registered for European competitions and called up to the main squad for the last two group games of the UEFA Champions League in 2004–05, with Nuno Espírito Santo playing in wins against PFC CSKA Moscow and Chelsea.
From 2008 to 2013, Sacramento alternated between the Segunda Liga and the third tier, representing Gil Vicente FC, S.C. Esmoriz, C.D. Feirense, A.D. Camacha, C.D. Cinfães and Leixões SC. With the latter club, he only missed one match out of a possible 42 in the 2012–13 campaign in a third-place finish in the latter league.
Sacramento signed for newly promoted Primeira Liga side F.C. Arouca in the summer of 2013. He made his debut in the competition on 25 August, in a 1–2 home loss against G.D. Estoril Praia. In his four years at the Estádio Municipal de Arouca he was always back-up to a succession of South American goalkeepers: Cássio, Mauro Goicoechea and Rafael Bracali; nonetheless, he renewed for two more years in May 2016.
Having played 21 times for Arouca – two thirds of those appearances in cup competitions – Sacramento returned to the second tier and Gil on 22 June 2017, signing a two-year deal. Following the Barcelos club's relegation in his first season, he dropped another level to C.D. Cinfães, and subsequently represented AD Oliveirense, C.D. Cova da Piedade and F.C. Pedras Rubras.

Coaching career

Sacramento began working as a manager at his final team before moving to A.C. Marinhense of the fourth tier in the summer of 2021. On 20 March 2023, the 38-year-old left a campaign for promotion to Liga 3 to become the fourth coach of the season at C.D. Trofense, aiming to avoid dropping into that league. He won 2–1 at home to S.C. Farense on his debut 12 days later, but eventually was not able to prevent relegation.
Sacramento was dismissed on 15 August 2023, as the club was immersed in a severe financial crisis. Later that year, he was appointed at C.D. Portosantense in division four.
On 11 October 2024, Sacramento became the first foreign head coach in the history of Petrolina Social Futebol Clube, of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D. In March 2025, he returned to Marinhense.