Hugo Faria

Hugo Miguel da Encarnação Pires Faria (born 15 February 1983) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career
Born in São Brás de Alportel, Faro District, Faria played youth football for three clubs, including FC Porto from ages 16 to 18. He started his senior career with Louletano DC, with which he spent three seasons in the third division.

Faria moved straight to the Primeira Liga in the summer of 2004, signing with U.D. Leiria. He made his debut as a professional on 7 November, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 away win against Académica de Coimbra; it would be the first of only two league appearances during the season.

From 2008 to 2013, Faria competed in the Cypriot First Division, always with Enosis Neon Paralimni FC. For the following campaign he joined AEL Kalloni FC, starting in 19 games to help his team to finish 12th in the Super League Greece.

Faria split 2014–15 with Valletta F.C. from Malta and Apollon Smyrnis F.C. in the Greek second division. He signed for Livingston on 19 August 2015, agreeing to a five-month contract after a successful trial. His maiden appearance in the Scottish Championship took place only three days later, as he played the full 90 minutes and was booked in a 1–2 home defeat to Falkirk.

Faria left Livingston in January 2016, and signed for Airdrieonians also in the country shortly after. He was suspended by the latter in October pending investigation of an accusation of bullying made against him, leaving two months later in order to return to Portugal.

On 8 November 2018, immediately after retiring following a spell in the Portuguese third tier with Louletano, the 35-year-old Faria was appointed first-team coach at English Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

International career
Faria represented Portugal at under-20 level, earning his first cap on 5 February 2003 in a 5–2 friendly victory over the Czech Republic in Elvas. He represented the country in the 2004 edition of the Toulon Tournament, scoring an own goal in a 1–0 group stage defeat against Sweden.