Player profile: Helder Postiga

Full name: Helder Manuel Marques Postiga

Position: Forward

Date of Birth: 2 August 1982

Birthplace: Vila do Conde, Portugal

Helder Manuel Marques Postiga, the son of a fisherman, has had a rollercoaster start to his career. After appearing set to fulfil his considerable potential early on, he faded away into football obscurity before regaining his form in spectacular fashion to become the potent striking threat that many have always believed he could be.

Postiga’s potential was spotted at a young age by FC Porto, and at just 18 the striker’s combination of explosive power and exquisite technique earned him his first appearances in FC Porto’s senior squad under the tutelage of Fernando Santos. The following year, under new coach Octavio Machado, Postiga cemented his place in the squad.

Postiga’s full season debut proved to be fruitful as the striker bagged 9 goals in 27 appearances.

Dream season

His second year was even more productive. Jose Mourinho had taken the helm and Postiga scored 13 goals in 31 games, winning every title FC Porto competed in to lift the Portuguese Championship, Portuguese Cup and UEFA Cup.

His prowess around the net earned him a summer transfer to Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur in 2003. However, in England Postiga’s fortunes went into decline. He never adapted to English football and only scored 1 goal in 19 appearances, as his former team-mates at Porto were lifting the Champions League crown.

Postiga was sold back to FC Porto the following summer, but he continued to struggle with form and lack of confidence. In one and a half seasons following his return, Postiga only managed 3 goals in 26 appearances.

With his dip in form FC Porto loaned out Postiga to French outfit, St. Etienne, where he made a reasonably good impression, featuring in 8 games and finding the net three times. Despite an appearance at the World Cup, Postiga found himself in football limbo as Porto’s Dutch coach, Co Adriaanse, had no place for the striker in his squad.

But the shock resignation of Adriaanse and subsequent appointment of experienced coach Jesualdo Ferreira in the summer of 2006 signalled a turnaround in Postiga’s fortunes. Ferreira immediately welcomed Postiga back into the FC Porto fold. At 24 years of age, Postiga’s new lease of life led to the most productive spell of his career. Up until the winter break, Postiga hit a scoring streak that shot him to the top of the Portuguese Liga goal charts, with 9 strikes in 13 appearances, as well as finding the net in the Champions League.

Sporting surprise

The topsy-turvy career of Postiga then took a downturn as he fell out of favour again and one year later he was off on another loan spell, this time in Greece with Panathinaikos, where he failed to ignite his career.

It therefore came as a bolt from the blue when Sporting paid three million euros to take the striker to Alvalade in the summer of 2008. Coach Paulo Bento no doubt believed he was the man who could finally glean the maximum output from a player with undoubted talent but who has frustratingly been unable to harness it consistently.

International career

Helder Postiga has his whole career ahead of him, yet in his see-saw career to date he has already managed to earn 27 international caps with the Portugal senior team and has a healthy return of 9 goals to his name.

His most famous goal to date was in the Euro 2004 quarter-final match against England. With the English one goal up and looking a good bet to advance to the semis, Postiga came on as a substitute and pulled Portugal level just before full-time. He then converted his spot-kick in cheeky fashion as the hosts won the penalty shoot out.

Postiga was a member of the Portugal squad that finished fourth in the 2006 World Cup, and following the retirement of Pedro Pauleta will feel confident of securing a regular starting berth in the national team.