During his extensive professional career, the no-nonsense midfield battler spent more years abroad (Italy, eight) than in his country of adoption (seven), where he represented mainlySporting CP.[2][3]
The following year, Vidigal signed with another team from theLisbon area,Sporting CP of thePrimeira Liga. After tentative beginnings, he became an essential defensive unit, contributing a career-best (in Portugal) 32 games in the1999–2000 season as theLions won their first title in 18 years, his only career trophy.[6][7]
At 27, Vidigal moved to Italy, where he would remain the following eight years. He started out atSSC Napoli after signing along Sporting teammatesFacundo Quiroga andAbdelilah Saber,[8] but only played fourSerie A matches in hisfirst year and the team was also relegated. His best individual year – 33 appearances, five goals in the2002–03 campaign – was incidentally spent in theSerie B, but they narrowly avoided another relegation after ending 16th.[9][10]
Napoli finished higher in2003–04, but were finally relegated off the pitch. Upon this, Vidigal moved to fellow top-flight sideAS Livorno Calcio, starting throughout most ofthe season and helping to a comfortable ninth position.[11]
Vidigal was irregularly used in his final three years, oftenfrom the bench, representingUdinese Calcio (one year) and returning to Livorno where he played until 2008.[12]
Vidigal returned to his country aged 35, joining modestC.F. Estrela da Amadora where his older brotherLito was coach.[13] In his first game, on 28 September 2008, he scored twice to help beatC.D. Nacional 2–1;[14] however, he missed most ofthe season due to injury as the capital-based club was also immerse in a severe financial crisis – eventually being relegated from the top flight to thethird tier;[15] he retired shortly after.
Vidigal's last appearance was on 12 October 2002 in the 1–1 draw withTunisia played in Lisbon, in another friendly. He also represented the nation at the1996 Summer Olympics, playing all the matchesen route to fourth place.[19]
Vidigal was the second of 13 children, four of his brothers also being footballers:Beto,Lito (whom representedAngola internationally),Toni andJorge.[20][21][22][23] His nephew,André, was also involved in the sport professionally.[24][25]
