Oceano Andrade da Cruz (born 29 July 1962), known simply as Oceano, is a Portuguese former professional footballer, currently a manager.
A defensive midfielder with tremendous physical strength and leadership skills as his main assets,[1] he was widely regarded as the best footballer ever hailing from Cape Verde, and represented most notably Sporting CP, appearing in more than 400 official matches for the club over 11 seasons (two separate spells).
Having earned more than 50 caps for Portugal, Oceano played with his adopted nation at Euro 1996.
Oceano was an undisputed starter for the Lisbon side during his stay, which consisted at first of seven seasons. In 1991, he moved alongside compatriot and teammate Carlos Xavier to Spain's Real Sociedad, where the pair was equally influential, having been reunited with former Sporting boss John Toshack.[2][3]
Both Oceano and Xavier returned to the Lions in the summer of 1994, and the former continued to perform at a consistent level until the end of the 1997–98 campaign, when he was almost 36; his Sporting trophies consisted, however, of a single Taça de Portugal, in 1995. He wrapped up his career in 1999, after a stint in France with Toulouse FC.
After retiring, Oceano worked as a color commentator for several TV networks. In early March 2011, he returned to his main club Sporting, joining newly appointed José Couceiro's coaching staff; exactly one year after, he moved in the same capacity to U.D. Leiria under another old Sporting acquaintance, José Dominguez.[4]
Oceano played 54 times for Portugal, scoring eight goals.[10] His debut came on 30 January 1985 in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Romania, and his last game occurred thirteen years later in a 0–3 loss against England on 22 April 1998. He was a leading presence in the national team throughout the 1990s, notably at UEFA Euro 1996 where he helped them to the quarter-finals.[11][12]
^Rodríguez, Néstor (23 April 2015). "25 años, 71 extranjeros" [25 years, 71 foreigners]. Noticias de Gipuzkoa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^"Histórico da Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira" [Supercup Cândido de Oliveira all-time record] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 11 August 2012. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2024.