Tony Dorigo has turned property developer

The Algarve's upmarket Quinta do Lago estate, with its large villas backing on to various golf courses, is home to Michael Owen, Alan Shearer and Dragons' Den star Peter Jones.

Recently, footballer Robbie Fowler and manager Gareth Southgate have joined a similarly star-studded list of buyers along with Jose Mourinho at the new neighbouring six-star resort, Palacio da Quinta.

Now former England defender Tony Dorigo has turned property developer in a beachside village two miles from the new £150million Autodromo Internacional Formula 1 race track at Portimao, and 40 minutes from Faro Airport.

Dorigo, who won 15 England caps before retiring in 2001 and becoming a TV pundit, now runs Premiership Developments and is building the five-star Parque Vale da Lapa resort, set in 15 acres with sports and spa facilities, where 20 of the 85 properties have been sold off-plan.

'I used to train on the Algarve when I was playing but my only investments then were flats in Manchester and Burnley,' says Dorigo, 42, who lives in Hartford, Cheshire, with his wife Heather, 41, sons Luke, 20, and Todd, 17, and daughter Sasha, 14.

'Then I saw this plot in Carvoeiro with beautiful sea views and decided to create this development.

The good thing is Portugal is not a Bulgaria about to explode. It's not easy to get planning permission but that helps protect it from overdevelopment.

'Most of the footballers with homes on the Algarve, including Steven Gerrard and Paul Ince, want big, private villas, which is why they choose Quinta do Lago. My development will have fivestar facilities but you won't have to pay £4million for a house. It's also a more personal, quaint setting.'

The average holiday-home buyer is still showing confidence in Portugal, which is weathering Europe's downturn better than Spain. Tourist numbers on the Algarve were up ten per cent last year and Ryanair is launching new winter flights to Faro from East Midlands and Liverpool.

To find out more information on buying property abroad visit APLNET