By Melody Gross 
The former player, Sporting's record holder, underwent surgery last May 22 to treat a tumor. In the hospital, he also received a visit from Victor Geukeris and Federico Varandas with the national championship trophy that Sporting won this season.
Born in 1951, Manuel Fernandes made 30 international appearances and scored seven goals for Portugal, but it was with Sporting that the former striker became one of the best players ever in Portuguese football.
“I did what I loved most, which was to come to Sporting one day. Even if it's just one game, I'll be happy.”
There were 433 games, 257 goals and the life of a lion on his chest.
𝐎𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐃𝐎, eternal leader Manuel Fernandez 💚 pic.twitter.com/VkDtedrwne
— Sporting Lisbon 🏆 (@SportingCP) June 27, 2024
by the black, Manuel Fernandez represented the club between 1975 and 1987. In 433 matches, he scored 257 goals. Sporting posted a video clip on social media in honor of the former number 9.
Manuel Fernandez also had a career as a coach, coaching Sporting CP, Campomaiorense, Santa Clara, Penafiel, Vitoria de Setubal and Uniao de Leiria.
One of the most famous moments in Manuel Fernandes' career came in the match between Sporting and Benfica, when the black They won 7-1. In that match, the former striker scored four of Alvalade's seven goals.
He won two Portuguese titles, two Portuguese Cups and one Portuguese Super Cup. In a career full of success, Manuel Fernandes played more than 600 matches and scored more than three hundred goals.