| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vítor Ilídio Castanheira Penas | ||
| Date of birth | September 7, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Chaves, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Chaves | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1996 | Chaves | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1996–2009 | Braga | 232 | (8) |
| 2008 | → Leixões (loan) | 7 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | → Leixões (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Chaves | 25 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | Moreirense | 17 | (0) |
| 2011– | Chaves | ||
| National team | |||
| 1999–2000 | Portugal U21 | 9 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Vítor Ilídio Castanheira Penas, known as Castanheira (born 7 September 1977), is a Portuguese footballer who plays for G.D. Chaves as a midfielder.
Born in Chaves, Castanheira joined Sporting Clube de Braga in the 1996–97 season, and would remain there for over 11 years, always in the first division. His Braga career was a steady one, as he was always counted on by several team coaches; he was influential when Hungarian international Miklós Fehér joined the club in 2000–01, providing 10 assists as the striker netted 14 goals in 26 appearances. Castanheira also served as club co-captain during his stay.
Castanheira was a relatively important part of the squad that finished in fourth place in 2005–06, appearing in 17 league matches (no goals). Braga nearly missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification, and progressed through to the round of 16 in the following season's UEFA Cup.
In January 2008, as his importance in the team was gradually diminishing, he was loaned to first division promotees Leixões SC, until the end of the season. The move was extended for the following campaign, after the Matosinhos outfit retained its top-flight status on the very last matchday.
In 2008–09, Castanheira was rarely used by Leixões, and was released by Braga at its closure. He returned to youth club Grupo Desportivo de Chaves after 13 years, with it now in the second category of Portuguese football – in a relegation-ending season. Shortly after, he signed with another team in level two, newly promoted Moreirense FC.