José Carlos Fernandes Vidigal (born 11 July 1969), commonly known asLito, is an Angolan professionalfootballmanager and former player who played as adefender.
Vidigal took up coaching immediately after retiring, starting with lowlyPontassolense andRibeirão. In 2008, he moved toEstrela da Amadora – coaching his younger brotherLuís after he returned from a lengthy spell in Italy – and joined second-tierPortimonense in February of the following year.[4]
In late October 2009, asManuel Fernandes bought out his contract atUnião de Leiria to return to his favourite clubVitória de Setúbal, Vidigal was named his successor.[5] On 8 January 2011, he was appointed coach of the Angola national side.[6] TheBlack Antelopesqualified for the2012 Africa Cup of Nations in October,[7] and were eliminated at the group stage of the final tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.[8]
With the stated aim of winning titles abroad rather than avoiding relegation in Portugal, Vidigal remained in Africa and signed with Libya'sAl-Ittihad from December 2012.[9] In April in 2013, he leftTripoli due topolitical instability.[10]
Vidigalrepeated the feat in2015–16 after leadingArouca to a best-ever classification of fifth, in only the club's third year in the top flight.[14] Previously, in March 2016, he renewed his contract for two years.[15]
In February 2017, Vidigal left Arouca forMaccabi Tel Aviv on an 18-month contract with the option of a further year.[16] Despite leading the team to the runners-up position behindHapoel Be'er Sheva, he was relieved of his duties by directorJordi Cruyff at the end ofthe season.[17]
Vidigal returned to Portugal's main division in October 2017 when he was hired byAves,[18] but left shortly after following disputes with the board.[19] Ahead of thefollowing campaign, he signed a two-year deal at Vitória de Setúbal, and again parted before its conclusion.[20] Days later, he replaced the sacked Jorge Simão at strugglingBoavista.[21]
On 17 December 2019, having taken 18 points from 14 league fixtures, Vidigal was dismissed.[22] He returned to Setúbal in July 2020, three points above the drop zone withfour games to play.[23] Having succeeded in that task, he moved on toMarítimo to replaceJosé Gomes.[24]
On 4 December 2020, with theMadeiran club in 15th place, Vidigal was replaced by under-23 managerMilton Mendes.[25] He took over fromJoão Henriques atMoreirense on 29 November of the following year,[26] but left after only one month.[27]
Vidigal returned to active on 3 April 2024, on a deal at second-division sideFeirense.[28] He managed to avoid relegation inthe playoffs, defeatingLusitânia 3–1 on aggregate.[29]
Vidigal rejoined Boavista, bottom of the top tier, on 9 February 2025.[30] Less than two months later, having overseen six matches with only one win and with the team still in that position, he was relieved of his duties.[31]
^Santos, Luís (12 August 2014)."Sob a cruz da luta pela permanência" [Under the sign of the cross of fighting for survival] (in Portuguese). CA Notícias.Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved4 January 2022.
^"Lito Vidigal deixa Al Ittihad" [Lito Vidigal leaves Al-Ittihad] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 April 2013.Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved14 February 2019.
^Moita, Alexandre (20 March 2014)."Lito Vidigal é o novo treinador" [Lito Vidigal is the new manager].Record (in Portuguese).Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved20 March 2014.
^Vasconcelos, Gonçalo (4 December 2020)."Lito Vidigal já não é treinador do Marítimo" [Lito Vidigal no longer manager of Marítimo].Record (in Portuguese).Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved15 December 2020.
^Freitas, Bruno (29 November 2021)."João Henriques a sair e Lito Vidigal a chegar" [João Henriques leaving and Lito Vidigal coming].Record (in Portuguese).Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved30 November 2021.
