Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)

Portuguese football manager (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)

Paulo Sérgio Bento Brito (born 19 February 1968), known as Paulo Sérgio, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a forward, currently manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Okhdood.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Paulo Sérgio
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Paulo Sérgio in 2023
Personal information
Full name Paulo Sérgio Bento Brito[1]
Date of birth (1968-02-19) 19 February 1968 (age 57)[1]
Place of birth Estremoz, Portugal[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Al-Okhdood (manager)
Youth career
1980–1982 Sanjoanense Lisboa
1982–1984 Petrogal
1984–1986 Olivais Moscavide
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Olivais Moscavide
1987–1988 Vilafranquense 36 (13)
1988–1993 Belenenses 66 (15)
1993–1994 Paços Ferreira 26 (5)
1994–1995 Salgueiros 8 (2)
1995–1997 Vitória Setúbal 28 (7)
1997 Feirense 6 (0)
1998 Santa Clara 16 (3)
1998–1999 Grenoble 32 (16)
1999–2001 Estoril 66 (32)
2002–2003 Olhanense 47 (25)
Total 331 (118)
Managerial career
2003–2006 Olhanense
2006–2007 Santa Clara
2008 Beira-Mar
2008–2009 Paços Ferreira
2009–2010 Vitória Guimarães
2010–2011 Sporting CP
2011–2012 Hearts
2012–2013 CFR Cluj
2013 APOEL
2014–2015 Académica
2016 Dibba Al-Fujairah
2018–2019 Sanat Naft
2019 Al Taawoun
2020–2024 Portimonense
2025– Al-Okhdood
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Close

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 86 matches and 18 goals over seven seasons, but played mainly in the lower divisions of Portugal.

Paulo Sérgio began his career as manager in 2003 and went on to be in charge of several teams, including Vitória Guimarães, Sporting CP, and Hearts in Scotland.

Playing career

Born in Estremoz, Alentejo Region, Paulo Sérgio's football career was spent mainly as a substitute, at least in the Primeira Liga. In 17 professional seasons, he represented C.D. Olivais e Moscavide, U.D. Vilafranquense, C.F. Os Belenenses – his most steady period, helping the Lisbon side finish in second position in the Segunda Liga in 1991–92 with a career-best eight goals, with the consequent promotion – F.C. Paços de Ferreira (his best year in the top division came whilst at this club, scoring five times in 26 games in the 1993–94 campaign, even though 14 of those came from the bench, as they were eventually relegated), S.C. Salgueiros, Vitória de Setúbal, C.D. Feirense, C.D. Santa Clara, G.D. Estoril Praia and S.C. Olhanense.

In 1998–99, Paulo Sérgio had a spell abroad with French team Grenoble Foot 38, in the Championnat de France Amateur.[2]

Coaching career

Summarize
Perspective

Portugal

Paulo Sérgio took up coaching after retiring in 2003, his first experience being with his last club Olhanense, for three seasons. He next managed another former team, Azores's Santa Clara.[3]

Paulo Sérgio's first spell in the top flight occurred in 2008–09, with yet another side he had represented as a footballer, Paços de Ferreira.[3] However, on 14 October 2009, he left for Vitória S.C. to take the place of the sacked Nelo Vingada, signing until summer 2011.[4]

In late April 2010, Paulo Sérgio reached an agreement to succeed Carlos Carvalhal at the helm of Sporting CP, effective as of July.[5] After dispatching FC Nordsjælland of Denmark in the UEFA Europa League, he made his league debut on 14 August, suffering a 1–0 defeat at Paços.[6]

On 26 February 2011, following a 0–2 home loss against S.L. Benfica in the league, and Europa League elimination at the hands of Rangers, with Sporting also out of domestic cup contention and trailing FC Porto by 23 points in the league, Paulo Sérgio's contract was mutually terminated.[7]

Heart of Midlothian

Paulo Sérgio was appointed manager of Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian on 2 August 2011, following the removal of his predecessor Jim Jefferies on the previous day.[8] In October, the team withdrew their staff from all media events in protest at him being called in front of the Scottish Football Association following his remarks about referee Iain Brines after a defeat against Ayr United the following month.[9] He was also sent to the stands for dissent during a game against Kilmarnock after Ian Black was sent off and Marius Žaliūkas fouled Paul Heffernan, allowing Dean Shiels to score the game's only goal from the penalty spot.[10]

On 19 May 2012, Paulo Sérgio and Hearts won the Scottish Cup – the eighth overall for the club and the first in six years – after a 5–1 win over fellow Edinburgh side Hibernian.[11] He rejected a new contract offer, and left on 7 June.[12]

CFR Cluj

On 28 October 2012, Paulo Sérgio was appointed at CFR Cluj in Romania, after the Liga I team failed to reach an agreement with compatriot Sérgio Conceição.[13][14]

He managed to lead the side to the Europa League knockout phase, but the year 2013 started badly with seven consecutive games without a win; thus, he was sacked on 13 April.[15]

APOEL

On 20 May 2013, Paulo Sérgio signed a one-year contract with reigning Cypriot champions APOEL FC.[16] He made his debut against NK Maribor at GSP Stadium on 31 July in a 1–1 first leg draw in the third qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League,[17] with the tie being lost on the away goals rule.[18] On 17 August he won his first trophy with his new club, after a 1–0 victory over Apollon Limassol in the Super Cup.[19]

On 4 October 2013, APOEL parted company with Paulo Sérgio, who spent less than five months in charge of the team and managed just three wins in 11 matches.[20][21]

Académica

On 31 May 2014, Paulo Sérgio signed a one-year deal with Académica de Coimbra.[22] His first official game in charge occurred on 16 August, a 1–1 home draw with Sporting.[23]

Club and Paulo Sérgio agreed to part ways on 15 February 2015, with the team second from bottom having won once in 21 games.[24]

Middle East

In June 2016, Paulo Sérgio was hired at Dibba Al-Fujairah Club.[25] He was dismissed on 10 December, after taking five points with no wins in the first 11 UAE Pro-League matches of the season and immediately following an 8–0 loss to Al-Wasl FC.[26]

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Paulo Sérgio in 2018

Remaining in the Middle East, Paulo Sérgio signed a one-year deal with Sanat Naft Abadan F.C. in June 2018.[27] He took the team to eighth in the Iran Pro League, and at the end of the campaign was hired by Al Taawoun FC in Saudi Arabia;[28] he blamed U.S. sanctions against Iran for making his previous job difficult.[29]

Paulo Sérgio left the club shortly before the end of 2019, with the team in sixth place – the holders had also been eliminated from the last 16 of the Kings Cup by Abha Club.[30]

Portimonense

In February 2020, Paulo Sérgio became the second manager of second-from-bottom Portimonense S.C. in the Portuguese top-tier campaign.[31] Though he improved their performance, earning himself the Manager of the Month award for June,[32] the Algarve team were relegated on the final day; he voted to stay with them even before they were restored to the league as a result of Vitória de Setúbal's irregularities.[33]

After finishing in 14th and 13th place, Paulo Sérgio signed a new contract in May 2022, tying him to Portimonense until 2024 in the aim of qualifying for European competition.[34] On 3 June 2024, however, following their relegation in the playoffs with a 4–2 aggregate loss to newly formed AVS Futebol SAD, he resigned.[35]

Al-Okhdood

Paulo Sérgio returned to Saudi Arabia on 2 March 2025, being appointed head coach of Al-Okhdood Club on a deal until the end of the top-division season.[36]

Managerial statistics

As of 2 June 2024
More information Team, Nat ...
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %Ref
Olhanense Portugal 1 July 2003 17 May 2006 111523227046.85 [1]
Santa Clara Portugal 17 May 2006 31 December 2007 5024917048.00 [1]
Beira-Mar Portugal 8 February 2008 15 May 2008 12534041.67 [1]
Paços de Ferreira Portugal 22 May 2008 14 October 2009 55181522032.73 [1]
Vitória de Guimarães Portugal 15 October 2009 13 May 2010 3013710043.33 [1]
Sporting CP Portugal 14 May 2010 26 February 2011 3820810052.63 [1]
Hearts Scotland 2 August 2011 7 June 2012 47211016044.68 [37]
CFR Cluj Romania 28 October 2012 13 April 2013 19757036.84 [1]
APOEL Cyprus 20 May 2013 4 October 2013 11353027.27 [1]
Académica Portugal 31 May 2014 15 February 2015 2631211011.54 [1][37]
Dibba Al-Fujairah United Arab Emirates 1 July 2016 11 December 2016 16268012.50 [38]
Sanat Naft Iran 1 July 2018 22 May 2019 338178024.24 [28][38]
Al Taawoun Saudi Arabia 22 May 2019 29 December 2019 16916056.25 [38]
Portimonense Portugal 10 February 2020 3 June 2024 167473585028.14 [1]
Total 631232165234036.77
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Honours

Player

Belenenses

Santa Clara

Grenoble

Manager

Olhanense

Heart of Midlothian

APOEL

References

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