Fernando Aguiar

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Fernando Aguiar (born in Chaves, Portugal, in 1972) is a Portuguese born Canadian football (soccer) player. He is currently on the books of Gondomar Sporte Clube.

Aguiar has both Portuguese and Canadian citizenship, but having grown up in Canada he has featured for the Canadian national team. Aguiar has not played for Canada for many years, having been passed over by previous coaches Holger Osieck and Frank Yallop.

Aguiar began his career in the Canadian Soccer League, playing for his hometown Toronto Blizzard. Although the league disbanded in 1992, he remained with the team for its only season in the American Professional Soccer League.

Aguiar began his European career in 1994 with Portuguese First Division side Marítimo. However, he had trouble cracking the line-up, and subsequently dropped down a division, where he would spend five years playing for CD Nacional, FC Maia, and CS Beira Mar.

Aguiar helped CS Beira Mar achieve promotion and subsequently stay in the Portuguese top flight. His good form was noticed by giants Benfica, for whom he signed and helped win Portuguese Cup in 2004.

After his cup winning exploits, Aguiar made a surprise transfer to Swedish side Landskrona. However an injury and his high wages ruined the move, and he left after only a few months for Penafiel in the Portuguese First Division. He now plays for second tier side Gondomar Sporte Clube. He has reportedly expressed an interest in returning to play in his hometown of Toronto. With the exanpsion of Major League Soccer to Canada, this may indeed happen.

Fernando Aguiar is arguable Canada's second most successful player to have featured in Portugal, after striker Alex Bunbury. He is one of about a dozen Portuguese Canadians to have played soccer in Portugal.