Ex-winger Hugo Porfirio has found a new venture after hanging up his boots. The 53-year-old former player for West Ham and Nottingham Forest is now behind the wheel of an Uber in the streets of Lisbon.
The Portuguese forward played for West Ham on loan during the 1996/97 season, making 23 appearances in the Premier League and scoring four goals across all competitions. In England, he found the net against Chelsea and Blackburn, while also showing his prowess in cup competitions with goals for Nottingham Forest and Wrexham. After his stint in the UK, Porfirio returned to Sporting Lisbon before joining Benfica. In early 1999, he returned to England on loan, where he played nine matches for Nottingham Forest, netting once against Sheffield Wednesday.
On the international stage, Porfirio earned three caps for Portugal and was part of the squad at the Euro 1996 tournament, sharing a dressing room with legends such as Luis Figo, Rui Costa, and Vitor Baia. Porfirio hung up his boots for good in 2008 after a spell with Saudi club Al-Nasr. Following his retirement, he worked as a scout for Sporting but left that role around thirteen years ago, disappearing from the public eye.
This month, the former footballer made headlines when he was recognised by a blogger named Andre Ramalhu. Ramalhu ordered an Uber for a short trip with a friend and was taken aback when he realised who was driving.
We only needed to walk ten minutes, but we were running late and tired, so we decided to call an Uber. We were amazed to see who was behind the wheel. How can a guy who played at Euro 1996 be doing such a normal job?— Ramalhu recalled.
The passenger praised Porfirio's driving skills and personal qualities.
He’s the coolest guy ever and just an excellent person. Plus, he drives really well. Footballers aren’t usually known for their driving skills,— the blogger added.
