Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)

Paulo Sérgio
Paulo Sérgio in 2023
Personal information
Full name Paulo Sérgio Bento Brito
Date of birth (1968-02-19) 19 February 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Estremoz, Portugal
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
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
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paulo Sérgio Bento Brito (born 19 February 1968), known as Paulo Sérgio, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a forward, currently a manager.

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

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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.[1]

Coaching career

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Portugal

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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.[2]

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.[2] However, on 14 October 2009, he left for Vitória S.C. to take the place of the sacked Nelo Vingada, signing until summer 2011.[3]

In late April 2010, Paulo Sérgio reached an agreement to succeed Carlos Carvalhal at the helm of Sporting CP, effective as of July.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

Heart of Midlothian

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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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] He rejected a new contract offer, and left on 7 June.[11]

CFR Cluj

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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.[12][13]

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.[14]

APOEL

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On 20 May 2013, Paulo Sérgio signed a one-year contract with reigning Cypriot champions APOEL FC.[15] 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,[16] with the tie being lost on the away goals rule.[17] On 17 August he won his first trophy with his new club, after a 1–0 victory over Apollon Limassol in the Super Cup.[18]

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.[19][20]

Académica

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On 31 May 2014, Paulo Sérgio signed a one-year deal with Académica de Coimbra.[21] His first official game in charge occurred on 16 August, a 1–1 home draw with Sporting.[22]

Club and Paulo Sérgio agreed to part ways on 15 February 2015, with the team second from bottom having won once in 21 games.[23]

Middle East

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In June 2016, Paulo Sérgio was hired at Dibba Al-Fujairah Club.[24] 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.[25]

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.[26] 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;[27] he blamed U.S. sanctions against Iran for making his previous job difficult.[28]

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.[29]

Portimonense

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In February 2020, Paulo Sérgio became the second manager of second-from-bottom Portimonense S.C. in the Portuguese top-tier campaign.[30] Though he improved their performance, earning himself the Manager of the Month award for June,[31] 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.[32]

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.[33] 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.[34]

Managerial statistics

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As of 2 June 2024[35]
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win % Ref
Olhanense Portugal 1 July 2003 17 May 2006 111 52 32 27 046.85 [36]
Santa Clara Portugal 17 May 2006 31 December 2007 50 24 9 17 048.00 [36]
Beira-Mar Portugal 8 February 2008 15 May 2008 12 5 3 4 041.67 [36]
Paços de Ferreira Portugal 22 May 2008 14 October 2009 55 18 15 22 032.73 [36]
Vitória de Guimarães Portugal 15 October 2009 13 May 2010 30 13 7 10 043.33 [36]
Sporting CP Portugal 14 May 2010 26 February 2011 38 20 8 10 052.63 [36]
Hearts Scotland 2 August 2011 7 June 2012 47 21 10 16 044.68 [37]
CFR Cluj Romania 28 October 2012 13 April 2013 19 7 5 7 036.84 [38]
APOEL Cyprus 20 May 2013 4 October 2013 11 3 5 3 027.27 [38]
Académica Portugal 31 May 2014 15 February 2015 26 3 12 11 011.54 [36][37]
Dibba Al-Fujairah United Arab Emirates 1 July 2016 11 December 2016 16 2 6 8 012.50
Sanat Naft Iran 1 July 2018 22 May 2019 33 8 17 8 024.24 [27]
Al Taawoun Saudi Arabia 22 May 2019 29 December 2019 16 9 1 6 056.25
Portimonense Portugal 10 February 2020 3 June 2024 167 47 35 85 028.14
Total 631 232 165 234 036.77

Honours

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Player

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Belenenses

Santa Clara

Grenoble

Manager

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Olhanense

Heart of Midlothian

APOEL

References

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  1. ^ a b "Grenoble saison football 1998/1999" [Grenoble football season 1998/1999] (in French). Stat2Foot. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (2 February 2020). "Paulo Sérgio: "O Bettencourt dizia-me: 'Se admitir que o Sporting não pode lutar com os rivais, matam-me, penduram-me na rua'"" [Paulo Sérgio: "Bettencourt used to tell me: 'If I admit Sporting cannot fight with their rivals, they will kill me, they will hang me in the street'"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Paulo Sergio confirmed as new Vitoria de Guimaraes coach". PortuGOAL. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Paulo Sérgio to succeed Carlos Carvalhal". Sporting CP. 20 April 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  5. ^ Costa, Luís Octávio (14 August 2010). "A "melhor equipa do mundo" mostrou demasiados defeitos antigos" [The "world's best team" showed too many old flaws]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Paulo Sérgio não resiste a série negra" [Paulo Sérgio does not resist black streak]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 February 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Jefferies rejects Hearts role as Sergio takes over". BBC Sport. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Hearts withdraw staff from media events". BBC Sport. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Hearts manager Paulo Sergio defends touchline conduct". BBC Sport. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  10. ^ a b McCarra, Kevin (19 May 2012). "Hearts's demolition of Hibernian in Scottish Cup final devoid of fire". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Manager Paulo Sergio leaves Hearts after rejecting deal". BBC Sport. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  12. ^ Bolat, Leila (29 October 2012). "Presă: Paulo Sergio va antrena echipa CFR Cluj până la finalul sezonului" [Press: Paulo Sergio to coach CFR Cluj until end of season] (in Romanian). Mediafax. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Prezentarea oficială a noului antrenor, Paulo Sergio!" [Official presentation of our coach, Paulo Sergio!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Paulo Sergio a fost demis de la CFR Cluj. Eugen Trică este noul antrenor" [Paulo Sergio sacked by CFR Cluj. Eugen Trică is the new manager] (in Romanian). Orice Sport. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  15. ^ Υπογραφές και Ενημέρωση [Signatures and update] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Battling Maribor hold APOEL". UEFA. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Maribor ride luck to oust APOEL". UEFA. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  18. ^ a b ΑΠΟΕΛ – Απόλλωνας 1–0 (τελικό) [APOEL – Αpollon 1–0 (end)] (in Greek). Cyprus Football Association. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  19. ^ Ανακοίνωση [Announcement] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Paulo Sérgio makes way at APOEL". UEFA. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Paulo Sérgio é o novo treinador da Académica" [Paulo Sérgio is the new Académica coach] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Académica 1–1 Sporting" [Académica 1–1 Sporting] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Paulo Sérgio sai da Académica" [Paulo Sérgio leaves Académica] (in Portuguese). Notícias de Coimbra. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  24. ^ Youssef, Ram (28 June 2016). "Dibbah Al-Fujairah reach an agreement with Paulo Sergio". Goal. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  25. ^ Youssef, Ram (10 December 2016). "Dibbah Al Fujairah sack coach after 8–0 humiliation". Goal. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Paulo Sergio appointed Sanat Naft coach". Persian League. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Sanat Naft coach Paulo Sergio takes charge of Al-Taawoun". Tasnim News Agency. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Ex-Hearts manager Paulo Sergio reveals how Donald Trump made his job a nightmare". The Scotsman. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Paulo Sérgio deixou o Al Taawon (Arábia Saudita)" [Paulo Sérgio left Al-Taawoun (Saudi Arabia)]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 29 December 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Paulo Sérgio assume o comando técnico do Portimonense" [Paulo Sérgio takes over at Portimonense]. Público (in Portuguese). 10 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Paulo Sérgio eleito o treinador do mês de junho" [Paulo Sérgio chosen as June's Manager of the Month]. Record (in Portuguese). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  32. ^ Nascimento, Hélio (31 July 2020). "Treinador para a nova época já é assunto resolvido em Portimão" [Manager for the new season already resolved matter in Portimão]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Paulo Sérgio renova com o Portimonense para levar os algarvios à Europa" [Paulo Sérgio renews with Portimonense to take the Algarveans to Europe] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  34. ^ Nascimento, Hélio (3 June 2024). "Um dia depois da descida, Paulo Sérgio deixa o Portimonense" [One day after relegation, Paulo Sérgio leaves Portimonense]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  35. ^ Paulo Sérgio coach profile at Soccerway
  36. ^ a b c d e f g "Paulo Sérgio" (in Portuguese). Zerozero. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Paulo Sergio". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  38. ^ a b "Paulo Sérgio". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  39. ^ "Homenagem aos vencedores da Taça de Portugal de 1989" [Tribute to the 1989 Portuguese Cup winners] (in Portuguese). C.F. Os Belenenses. November 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
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