1. Early Life and Career
Flávio da Silva dos Santos Amado was born on 30 December 1979, in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Standing at 69 in (175 cm), he began his youth career at Petro Atlético from 1996 to 1999, developing his skills as a forward with a strong right foot. He made his professional debut with Petro Atlético in 1999, marking the beginning of a distinguished career.
1.1. Petro de Luanda
Flávio began his senior professional career with his hometown club, Petro de Luanda, in 1999. During his initial tenure from 1999 to 2005, he quickly established himself as a key player. He played a pivotal role in the club's success, helping them secure consecutive Angolan league titles in 2000 and 2001. His individual performance was also outstanding, as he became the league's top goalscorer in both 2001 and 2002. Additionally, he contributed to Petro de Luanda's victories in the Angolan Cup in 2000 and 2002, and the Angolan SuperCup in 2002.
After a successful period abroad, Flávio returned to Petro de Luanda in 2012, playing for the club until his retirement in 2014. During this second spell, he continued to contribute to the team's achievements, including another Angolan Cup victory in 2013.
1.2. Al Ahly SC
From 2005 to 2009, Flávio enjoyed a highly successful period with Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly SC. Despite a challenging first season where he scored only one league goal and faced criticism from fans, including missing a penalty against rivals Zamalek SC in the CAF Champions League, he quickly turned his fortunes around. His second season (2006-07) was exceptionally successful, as he topped the Egyptian Premier League goalscorer chart with 17 goals, one ahead of his Egyptian teammate Emad Moteab.
Flávio proved to be instrumental in Al Ahly's tactical setup in subsequent years, scoring many vital goals in critical moments. He was particularly renowned for his heading accuracy, often converting long balls played by his Angolan national team and Al Ahly teammate Gilberto. This tactic frequently led to domestic and continental titles for Al Ahly. In his final season with the club (2008-09), he scored Al Ahly's only goal in the Egyptian Premier League play-off against Ismaily, securing the title for Al Ahly for the fifth time in a row. This also earned him his second personal title as the Egyptian Premier League Top Goalscorer, making him only the third foreign player in the league's history to achieve this feat multiple times, following John Utaka and his own previous achievement in the 2006-07 season.
During his time with Al Ahly, Flávio maintained a remarkably low profile, rarely appearing in the media or giving press statements, an attitude highly valued by the club's administration. With Al Ahly, he won four consecutive Egyptian Premier League titles (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09), two Egyptian Cups (2006, 2007), and four Egyptian Super Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). On the continental stage, he lifted the CAF Champions League trophy three times (2005, 2006, 2008) and the CAF Super Cup three times (2006, 2007, 2009).
Flávio also helped Al Ahly participate in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 and 2006. In the 2006 tournament, he scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win against Auckland City and an equalizer with a header in the semi-final against South American champions Internacional, though Al Ahly ultimately lost that match 1-2. Al Ahly finished third in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, a significant achievement for the club.
1.3. Al Shabab FC
From 2009 to 2011, Flávio played for Al Shabab FC in the Saudi Professional League. During his time in Saudi Arabia, he contributed to the team's success, including winning the Saudi King Cup in 2009. He also helped Al Shabab reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2010, showcasing his continued impact in continental competitions.
1.4. Lierse SK
Following his spell in Saudi Arabia, Flávio moved to Belgium, where he briefly played for Lierse SK in the Belgian Pro League during the 2011-12 season. This marked his only period playing in European club football before returning to Angola.
2. International Career
Flávio Amado was a prominent member of the Angola national football team, representing his country for 14 years from 2000 to 2014. He became one of Angola's most impactful players, leading them to their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance and achieving significant success in the Africa Cup of Nations.
2.1. Angola National Team Debut and Activities
Flávio received his first call-up to the Angola national team in 2000. He scored his debut international goal against Burundi in the final match of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group 4.
He was a key player in Angola's two COSAFA Cup victories in 2001 and 2004, scoring three goals across these tournaments. His contributions were crucial in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, where he scored two goals, helping Angola secure their historic first-ever qualification for the World Cup finals.
2.2. 2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany marked Angola's debut appearance on the global stage. Flávio played a significant role in this historic moment. In Angola's final group stage match against Iran on 21 June 2006, he scored a crucial header, giving Angola a 1-0 lead in a match that eventually ended in a 1-1 draw. This goal was Angola's only goal of the tournament, making Flávio the sole Angolan player to score in a FIFA World Cup to date. Despite playing only 39 minutes throughout the entire tournament, his goal secured a valuable point for Angola and contributed to their record of earning points in two consecutive World Cup matches.
2.3. Africa Cup of Nations
Flávio participated in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, showcasing his prolific scoring ability on the continental stage. He featured in the 2006, 2008, and 2010 editions.
In the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, he scored three goals, including strikes against Cameroon and Togo. Despite his strong performance, Angola exited the tournament in the group stage.
He continued his impressive form in subsequent tournaments. In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (hosted by Angola), he scored a combined total of four goals. His overall record in the Africa Cup of Nations stands at seven goals in 11 appearances, a testament to his consistent threat in front of goal. His contributions helped Angola reach the quarter-finals in both the 2008 and 2010 tournaments, marking a period of sustained success for the national team.
2.4. International Records and Achievements
Flávio holds several notable records and achievements in Angolan football history. He is the most capped player for the Angola national team, having made 91 international appearances. With 34 goals, he is also the second-highest goalscorer in the team's history, only behind Akwá.
His most significant achievement was leading Angola to their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 2006, a monumental milestone for Angolan football. His solitary goal in the 2006 World Cup against Iran remains Angola's only goal in the tournament's history. In 2012, the IFFHS recognized his prolific scoring by ranking him 8th among the world's highest goalscorers of the century, a remarkable distinction among global footballing legends.
3. Playing Style
Flávio Amado was primarily known as a striker with a keen eye for goal. His most distinctive playing characteristic was his exceptional heading ability, which he frequently utilized to score crucial goals for both club and country. He was often positioned to receive long balls, particularly from wide areas, and his aerial prowess allowed him to convert these opportunities effectively. This made him a prolific and dangerous forward, especially within the penalty area.
4. Career Statistics
This section provides comprehensive statistical data from Flávio Amado's professional football career, detailing his appearances and goals for both clubs and the national team.
4.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | League Cup | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Petro de Luanda | 1999 | Girabola | 12 | 5 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 17 | 10 | ||||
| 2000 | 22 | 14 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 28 | 20 | ||||||
| 2001 | 25 | 23 | - | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 21 | |||||
| 2002 | 24 | 11 | - | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 20 | |||||
| 2003 | 20 | 10 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 42 | 19 | ||||||
| 2004 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 32 | ||||||||
| 2005 | 21 | 13 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 15 | 7 | - | - | - | 16 | 7 | |||||||
| 2014 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 16 | 6 | ||||||
| Total | 176 | 96 | ||||||||||||
| Al Ahly | 2005-06 | EPL | 20 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2006-07 | 24 | 17 | - | 4 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 27 | |||
| 2007-08 | 23 | 5 | - | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 8 | |||
| 2008-09 | 29 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 50 | 22 | ||
| Total | 96 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 45 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 159 | 61 | ||
| Al Shabab | 2009-10 | SPL | 16 | 8 | - | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | - | 26 | 15 | ||
| Lierse | 2011-12 | BPL | 5 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 1 | |||
4.2. International Statistics
Scores and results list Angola's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Flávio goal.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 9 | 6 | |
| 2007 | 7 | 5 | |
| 2008 | 13 | 6 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 1 | |
| Total | 91 | 34 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 June 2001 | Estádio Municipal do Tafe, Cabinda, Angola | Burundi | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2002 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 30 September 2001 | National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2001 COSAFA Cup |
| 3 | 6 July 2003 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Malawi | 3-0 | 5-1 | 2004 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 4 | 7 September 2003 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Namibia | 2-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 18 July 2004 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Botswana | 1-1 | 1-1 (5-3 pen.) | 2004 COSAFA Cup |
| 6 | 19 September 2004 | Estádio da Machava, Maputo, Mozambique | Mozambique | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2004 COSAFA Cup |
| 7 | 10 October 2004 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Zimbabwe | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 23 February 2005 | Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat, Brazzaville, Congo | Congo | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 27 May 2005 | Stade Olympique de Radès, Radès, Tunisia | Tunisia | 1-3 | 1-4 | Friendly |
| 10 | 5 June 2005 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Algeria | 1-0 | 2-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 21 January 2006 | Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Cameroon | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2006 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 12 | 29 January 2006 | Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Togo | 1-0 | 3-2 | 2006 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 13 | 2-1 | |||||
| 14 | 21 June 2006 | Zentralstadion, Leipzig, Germany | Iran | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup |
| 15 | 8 October 2006 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Kenya | 1-0 | 3-1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 16 | 2-0 | |||||
| 17 | 25 March 2007 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Eritrea | 1-0 | 6-1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 18 | 5-1 | |||||
| 19 | 17 June 2007 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Swaziland | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 20 | 22 August 2007 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo | DR Congo | 1-1 | 1-3 | Friendly |
| 21 | 17 November 2007 | Stade de Melun, Melun, France | Ivory Coast | 2-0 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 22 | 13 January 2008 | Complexo Desportivo FC Alverca, Alverca do Ribatejo, Portugal | Egypt | 2-2 | 3-3 | Friendly |
| 23 | 16 January 2008 | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco | Morocco | 1-0 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 24 | 27 January 2008 | Tamale Stadium, Tamale, Ghana | Senegal | 3-1 | 3-1 | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 25 | 1 June 2008 | Estádio dos Coqueiros, Luanda, Angola | Benin | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 26 | 8 June 2008 | Stade Général-Seyni-Kountché, Niamey, Niger | Niger | 1-1 | 2-1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 27 | 7 September 2008 | Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin | Benin | 1-1 | 2-3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 28 | 12 August 2009 | Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal | Togo | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 29 | 14 November 2009 | Estádio da Cidadela, Luanda, Angola | Congo | 1-0 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 30 | 10 January 2010 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola | Mali | 1-0 | 4-4 | 2010 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 31 | 2-0 | |||||
| 32 | 14 January 2010 | Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola | Malawi | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2010 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 33 | 4 September 2011 | Estádio Nacional do Chiazi, Cabinda, Angola | Uganda | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 34 | 14 January 2012 | Estádio Nacional do Chiazi, Cabinda, Angola | Sierra Leone | 3-1 | 3-1 | Friendly |
5. Honours
Flávio Amado achieved numerous team and individual accolades throughout his distinguished career, both at the club and international levels.
5.1. Club Honours
- Al Ahly
- Egyptian Premier League: 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
- Egypt Cup: 2006, 2007
- Egyptian Super Cup: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- CAF Champions League: 2005, 2006, 2008
- CAF Super Cup: 2006, 2007, 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup third place: 2006
- Petro Atlético
- Girabola: 2000, 2001
- Taça de Angola: 2000, 2002, 2013
- Angolan SuperCup: 2002
- Al Shabab
- Saudi King Cup: 2009
- AFC Champions League semi-finalist: 2010
5.2. International Honours
- Angola
- Qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.
- COSAFA Cup: 2001, 2004
5.3. Individual Awards
- CAF Champions League Best Player: 2001
- CAF Champions League Top Goalscorer: 2001
- Egyptian Premier League Top Goalscorer: 2006-07, 2008-09
- Girabola Top Goalscorer: 2001, 2002
6. Post-Retirement
After concluding his 15-year professional playing career in 2014, Flávio Amado transitioned into coaching. He currently serves as an assistant coach for his former club, Petro Atlético, where he began and ended his playing career.
