PETIT (PORTUGUESE FOOTBALLER)

: ''For the musician, see Armando Teixeira (musician).''
'Armando Gonçalves Teixeira', OIH (born September 25, 1976 in Strasbourg, France), known as 'Petit' (pron. ), is a Portuguese football player. He was born to French parents.
He currently plays as a defensive midfielder for SL Benfica and is part of the Portuguese national team. He was nicknamed ''Petit'' because of his small frame and the fact he was born in France. He is known as 'the pitbull' by his supporters, because of the fierceness with which he faces every game.
''Petit'' is also known for his direct free kicks in which he scored many goals, most notably 2 in a 7-1 drubbing against Russia.
He was first noticed as a Boavista FC player, where he won the League, in 2001, making his debut in the national team the same year, at 2 June 2001, in a 1-1 draw with Ireland, in Dublin, during the 2002 World Cup qualifying rounds. He played for the national team in the World Cup finals, and moved to Benfica the same year. For Benfica, he won the Cup of Portugal in 2004 and the League, in 2005. He also was a member of the national team that reached the final at Euro 2004, in Portugal.
In the 2006 World Cup, Petit scored an own goal in the 61st minute of the third place playoff against Germany. He was the fourth player in the tournament to score an own goal.

Contents

Club career

Honours

Club career

Petit first established himself at Gil Vicente FC, where he was a key player. He soon left to play in the Champions League with Boavista FC; the club reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup at one point, but that year, Boavista's city rivals, FC Porto, won the competition. He attracted the attention of Benfica, his boyhood favourites, who were able to purchase him. He played a major role in the midfield when Benfica won the Superliga. After impressive showings in Benfica's 2005-06 Champions League campaign, which ended after they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Barcelona, Manchester United and Lyon were linked with Petit; however, he was reluctant to leave one of his favourite clubs.

Honours

★ Superliga (2005, SL Benfica)

★ Portuguese Cup (2004, SL Benfica)

★ Portuguese Supercup (2005, SL Benfica)

★ Superliga (2001, Boavista FC)

★ 'Fifa World Cup 4th place'

★ Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2001