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HENRIQUE
HILARIO
A new third choice keeper was needed when young Lenny Pidgeley moved on in the summer of 2006. Experience was chosen.
Hilário, 30-years-old, agreed to join the Portuguese contingent at Stamford Bridge as a support player, having come to the end of a contract at Nacional, a top flight club in his homeland.
Previously, the former Under 21 international played two spells at Porto where he was a part of domestic league and cup wins. The second spell was under José Mourinho before leaving for Nacional to gain more first team games.
Neither could have guessed what awaited so early in the keeper's first Chelsea year. Head injures to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini in the same game meant Hilário's Chelsea debut came in the Champions League against European champions Barcelona. He kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
By the end of the campaign, Hilário had played 18 games and fulfilled all that was expected of a number three choice thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight.
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