Luís Castro (football manager, born 1980) explained

Luís Castro
Fullname:	Luís Manuel Ferreira de Castro
Birth Date:	7 May 1980
Birth Place:	Moreira de Cónegos, Portugal
Currentclub:	Dunkerque (manager)
Manageryears1:	2002–2005
Managerclubs1:	Vizela (youth)
Manageryears2:	2005–2007
Managerclubs2:	Moreirense (youth)
Manageryears3:	2009–2010
Managerclubs3:	Vizela (youth)
Manageryears4:	2011–2012
Managerclubs4:	Al Nassr (youth)
Manageryears5:	2012–2015
Managerclubs5:	Vitória Guimarães (youth)
Manageryears6:	2018–2019
Managerclubs6:	Vitória Guimarães U23
Manageryears7:	2019
Managerclubs7:	Panetolikos
Manageryears8:	2019–2022
Managerclubs8:	Benfica (youth)
Manageryears9:	2022–2023
Managerclubs9:	Benfica B
Manageryears10:	2023–
Managerclubs10:	Dunkerque

Luís Manuel Ferreira de Castro (born 7 May 1980) is a Portuguese football manager who is in charge of the French club Dunkerque.

Career

Castro was born in Moreira de Cónegos, Braga District, and began his managerial career with the under-10 squad at Vizela. In 2005, he was invited by Moreirense to be their youth coordinator and manager of the under-19 squad.^[1]

In 2009, after a year in charge of the under-14s of the Braga Football Association, Castro returned to Vizela. In 2011, he moved abroad and took over the under-15 team of Saudi club Al Nassr FC.

Castro returned to his home country in 2012, after being named manager of Vitória de Guimarães' under-15 squad. He then took over the under-19s and worked as a youth coordinator before moving to Hungary in July 2016, with Debreceni VSC.^[2]

In 2017, Castro returned to Vitória de Guimarães under the same role, and was also in charge of the under-23s in the 2018–19 season. On 30 May 2019, he was named manager of Super League Greece side Panetolikos.^{[3] [4]}

On 11 October 2019, Castro was sacked by Panetolikos,^[5] and joined Benfica on 27 November, after being named manager of the under-23s.^[6] On 2 June 2022, after leading the under-19s to the UEFA Youth League title, he took over the B-team, before winning the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup with under-20s.^{[7] [8]} In 2022–23, he led Benfica B to a 15th place in Liga Portugal 2, close to relegation.

On 26 September 2023 he was named new manager of Ligue 2 club USL Dunkerque.^[9]

Honours

Benfica^[10]

• Campeonato Nacional de Juniores

2021–22

• UEFA Youth League

2021–22

• Under-20 Intercontinental Cup

2022

Notes and References

1. Web site: «Dei aulas de natação, trabalhei com idosos... tenho um orgulho tremendo no meu percurso». "I gave swimming classes, worked with the elders... I have a big pride of my path". Mais Futebol. pt. 30 April 2022. 1 July 2022.
2. Web site: Portugáliából kapott erősítést a Debreceni Labdarúgó Akadémia – videóval. Debreceni Football Academy received reinforcements from Portugal - with video. Dehir. hu. 13 July 2016. 1 July 2022.
3. Web site: Luís Castro deixa sub-23 do V. Guimarães para assumir Panetolikos. Luís Castro leaves the under-23s of V. Guimarães to take over Panetolikos. Record. pt. 30 May 2019. 1 July 2022.
4. Web site: Νέος προπονητής ο Λουίς Κάστρο. Luís Castro is the new coach. Panetolikos FC. el. 30 May 2019. 1 July 2022.
5. Web site: Λύθηκε η συνεργασία με τον Λουίς Κάστρο. The collaboration with Luís Castro has ended. Panetolikos FC. el. 11 October 2019. 1 July 2022.
6. Web site: Luís Castro é o novo treinador dos Sub-23. Luís Castro is the new manager of the under-23s. SL Benfica. pt. 27 November 2019. 1 July 2022.
7. Web site: Sub-20: a Taça Intercontinental é nossa!. 21 August 2022. pt. S.L. Benfica. 25 August 2022.
8. Web site: Oficial: Luís Castro é o novo treinador da equipa B do Benfica. Official: Luís Castro is the new manager of the B-team of Benfica. O Jogo. pt. 2 June 2022. 1 July 2022.
9. Web site: Football (Ligue 2) : Dunkerque se tourne vers le Portugais Luis castro . La Voix du Nord . 26 September 2023.
10. https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/luis-manuel-ferreira-de-castro/627503/ Luís Castro at Soccerway