Vítor Vinha

Vítor Simões da Vinha is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left-back, currently manager of Benfica's under-23 team.

Playing career

Club

Vinha was born in Oliveira de Frades, Viseu District. He reached Académica de Coimbra's youth system at the age of 13, going on to represent that side, Estrela da Amadora, Olhanense and Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga, and appeared for Aves, Beira-Mar and Famalicão in the Segunda Liga.
In the 2009–10 season, Vinha competed in the Cypriot First Division with Nea Salamis Famagusta. In June 2010, he considered the possibility of taking the club to court due to unpaid wages.

International

Vinha won 14 caps for Portugal across all youth levels. His only appearance for the under-21 team occurred on 19 August 2008, as he played the full 90 minutes in a 2–3 friendly home loss against the Czech Republic.

Coaching career

On 7 October 2018, Vinha served as interim manager at his former club Académica after Carlos Pinto had been fired the day before a second-tier match against Estoril. Three days later, João Alves, their seventh coach in less than 18 months, was hired.
Vinha joined Luís Freire's staff at Nacional in December 2020, after having started the season with Académica's under-19s. The pair then spent two years with Rio Ave, achieving promotion to the top flight at the end of the 2021–22 campaign.
On 17 June 2024, Vinha replaced Paulo Lopes as head coach of Benfica's under-23 team.