Sergio Pinto (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personal information
Sergio Pinto
Date of birth	October 16, 1980 (1980-10-16) (age 27)
Place of birth	Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Hannover 96
Number	7
Youth clubs
1989-1993 1993-1995 1995-1999	FC Porto TuS Haltern FC Schalke 04
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999-2004 2004-2007 2007-	FC Schalke 04 Alemannia Aachen Hannover 96	023 00(3) 087 0(10) 018 00(2)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 March 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Sergio Pinto (born October 16, 1980) is a Portuguese footballer, the younger brother of João Pinto. Despite being born in Portugal, he holds German citizenship.

In his early career he played for the club FC Schalke 04 both in their junior division and later in first division play. He appeared in 23 Bundesliga games for FC Schalke. Before the 2004/05 season he moved to Alemannia Aachen in the second division of the Bundesliga for 125,000 euros. In that season he played as a midfielder in 61 games and he scored 8 goals. Sergio Pinto has appeared in 7 games of the Uefa Cup for Aachen and 4 times for FC Schalke 04 as well as appearing in the DFB Cup games.

In the 2005/06 season, he joined Alemannia Aachen in their elevation to the first division of the Bundesliga. In the first season of Bundesliga play he scored and was awarded a "Tor des Monats" or "Goal of the month" from the ARD-Sportschau (ARD Sport Show) when Alemannia played against SC Paderborn.

In Summer 2007, he was reunited with his former Aachen coach Dieter Hecking at Hannover 96, who he joined with a 3 year contract.