Silvino Louro: A Life in Football

Silvino de Almeida Louro, known simply as Silvino, passed away on March 19, 2026, at the age of 67 in Madrid, Spain. A distinguished figure in Portuguese football, Silvino enjoyed a lengthy career as a goalkeeper and later transitioned into coaching, notably working alongside José Mourinho.

Early Career and Playing Days

Born in Setúbal, Portugal, on March 5, 1959, Silvino began his professional journey with Vitória de Setúbal in 1977. He spent five years with the club before moving to Vitória de Guimarães.^Wikipedia

Benfica and European Finals

In 1984, Silvino joined Benfica, although he initially faced competition for the starting position. After a loan spell at Aves, he established himself as a key player, contributing to four league titles.^Wikipedia He participated in the European Cup finals in both 1988 and 1990, captaining the side in the latter.^Wikipedia

Later Career and International Representation

Silvino continued his career with Benfica until 1994, returning briefly to Vitória de Setúbal before spells with Porto and Salgueiros, concluding his playing career after 21 Primeira Liga seasons with 408 appearances.^Wikipedia He also represented Portugal at the Under-21 and senior levels, earning 23 caps for the national team.^Wikipedia

Coaching Career with Mourinho

Following his retirement as a player, Silvino transitioned into coaching, specializing in goalkeeper training. He began this phase of his career in 2000.^{Tribuna Expresso} He notably worked with José Mourinho at Inter Milan between 2008 and 2010, where they won the Champions League, adding to his earlier triumph with FC Porto.^{A BOLA} He also served as a goalkeeper coach at Real Madrid, training goalkeepers alongside Iker Casillas.^{Europe Says}

Tributes and Legacy

Silvino was trained by the legendary Eusébio.^{A BOLA} His passing marks the end of an era for Portuguese football, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, expertise, and success both on and off the pitch.