Paulo Duarte (footballer) explained

Paulo Duarte
Fullname:Paulo Jorge Rebelo Duarte
Birth Date:6 April 1969
Birth Place:Massarelos, Portugal
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Al-Kholood (manager)
Youthyears1:1982–1987
Youthclubs1:Boavista
Years1:1987–1988
Years2:1988–1991
Years3:1991–1993
Years4:1993–1995
Years5:1995–2004
Clubs1:União Coimbra
Clubs2:União Leiria
Clubs3:Salgueiros
Clubs4:Marítimo
Clubs5:União Leiria
Caps1:26
Caps2:90
Caps3:42
Caps4:42
Caps5:155
Totalcaps:355
Goals1:0
Goals2:7
Goals3:2
Goals4:2
Goals5:4
Totalgoals:15
Manageryears1:2004–2006
Manageryears2:2006–2007
Manageryears3:2008–2012
Manageryears4:2009
Manageryears5:2012–2013
Manageryears6:2015
Manageryears7:2015–2019
Manageryears8:2020–2021
Manageryears9:2021–2024
Manageryears10:2024–
Managerclubs1:União Leiria (assistant)
Managerclubs2:União Leiria
Managerclubs3:Burkina Faso
Managerclubs4:Le Mans
Managerclubs5:Gabon
Managerclubs6:Sfaxien
Managerclubs7:Burkina Faso
Managerclubs8:1º de Agosto
Managerclubs9:Togo
Managerclubs10:Al-Kholood
Medaltemplates: (as manager)

Paulo Jorge Rebelo Duarte (born 6 April 1969) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender, currently the manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood.

In a 17-year senior career, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 238 matches and eight goals over 12 seasons, representing mainly União de Leiria. He became a manager in 2006, also working with that club and later being in charge of the Burkina Faso, Gabon and Togo national teams.

Playing career

Duarte was born in Massarelos, Porto District. After playing youth football for local Boavista F.C. and starting out as a senior at C.F. União de Coimbra, he signed for U.D. Leiria in 1988, also in the Segunda Liga.

Duarte then spent two years apiece with S.C. Salgueiros and C.S. Marítimo, making his Primeira Liga debut with the former and totalling 84 league games for those clubs. Subsequently, he returned to Leiria who now competed in the Portuguese top flight, retiring after almost one decade at the age of 34 and being first-choice in four of those seasons (in 2001–02, as the team qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup, he was managed by young José Mourinho).[1] [2]

Coaching career

After his retirement, Duarte immediately began his managerial career, staying with his last club Leiria as assistant. In the tenth round of 2006–07's top division he was named coach of the first team after replacing Domingos Paciência, eventually helping them to finish seventh.[3]

In late 2007, Duarte left Leiria[4] and, a couple of months later, was appointed manager of Burkina Faso. On 2 June 2009, however, he was signed by France's Le Mans Union Club 72 on a two-year contract while still working with the national side.[5]

Duarte was fired by Le Mans on 8 December 2009, becoming the first Ligue 1 manager casualty in the season,[6] but still was on the bench for Burkina Faso's 2010 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, exiting in the group stage after one draw and one loss (the team was in Togo's group). On 17 February 2012, following three matches and as many losses at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, he was dismissed.[7]

On 29 April 2012, Duarte was appointed interim coach of the Gabon national team. He was sacked on 23 September of the following year, after failing to qualify the country for both the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[8]

In late December 2015, after a brief club spell with Tunisia's CS Sfaxien, Duarte was again named manager of Burkina Faso.[9] He led the latter to the third place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, after a 1–0 win against Ghana in Port-Gentil.[10]

On 24 July 2019, as the team did not make it to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the Burkinabé Football Federation decided to terminate Duarte's contract.[11] In September 2020, he was announced as the new head coach of Angolan side C.D. Primeiro de Agosto.[12]

Duarte became manager of Togo in May 2021, following the departure of Claude Le Roy. As a result of his commitments to Primeiro de Agosto the deal was only made effective in August, with Jonas Komla acting as caretaker until his arrival.[13]

On 21 June 2024, Duarte was appointed as manager of newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Al-Kholood.[14]

Player eligibility controversy

Duarte selected players to play for the Burkina Faso national team who he believed were eligible to play for the nation after they married Burkinabé women.[15] Namibia complained about the fielding of Cameroonian Herve Xavier Zengue in two 2012 AFCON qualifying games, stating that the player was not eligible under FIFA's statutes.[16]

Duarte also chose to play Zengue after the complaint was received by CAF, fielding him alongside Ghanaian-born Nii Plange in a 3–0 loss with South Africa in an August 2011 friendly.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Especial U. Leiria: Mourinho e o inseparável 4x3x3. U. Leiria special: Mourinho and the inseparable 4x3x3. Mais Futebol. pt. 11 January 2002. 5 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Paulo Duarte: "Mourinho sentenciou uma geração de treinadores". Paulo Duarte: "Mourinho put the final nail in the coffin of a generation of managers". Relvado. Gonçalo. Moreira. pt. 28 May 2011. 5 May 2021.
  3. News: Jorge Jesus vence Taça dos Libertadores e mantém recorde na União de Leiria. Jorge Jesus wins Libertadores Cup and keeps record at União de Leiria. Região de Leiria. Marina. Guerra. pt. 23 November 2019. 20 April 2023.
  4. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=613521.html Paulo Duarte leaves Leiria
  5. http://goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2009/06/02/1301254/le-mans-appoint-burkina-faso-coach-paulo-duarte-as-new Le Mans appoint Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte as new trainer
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604031358/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=710598&cc=5739 Le Mans sack coach Duarte
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17075218 Burkina Faso coach gets the boot
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928113348/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=2179701.html Paulo Duarte fired by Gabon
  9. http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/made-in/africa/paulo-duarte-volta-a-ser-selecionador-do-burkina-faso Paulo Duarte volta a ser selecionador do Burkina Faso (Paulo Duarte is again head coach of Burkina Faso)
  10. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38779223 Burkina Faso 1–0 Ghana
  11. https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/kamou-malo-to-replace-outgoing-paolo-duarte-as-burkina-faso-head-/1qik9icqxnzkj1nvmj0hbg6uj4 Kamou Malo to replace outgoing Paolo Duarte as Burkina Faso head coach
  12. Web site: Paulo Duarte assume a orientação da equipa sénior de futebol. Paulo Duarte takes reins of senior football team. C.D. Primeiro Agosto. José. Júnior. pt. 17 September 2020. 17 September 2020.
  13. Web site: Paulo Duarte named new Togo coach. BBC Sport. 3 May 2021. 5 May 2021.
  14. Web site: رسمياً.. البرتغالي باولو دوارتي مدرباً للخلود .
  15. http://www.kickoff.com/news/23402/the-mourinho-of-africa-burkino-faso-coach-paulo-duarte.php The ‘Mourinho of Africa’
  16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13696662.stm Namibia launch Burkina complaint
  17. http://www.kickoff.com/news/23676/the-burkina-faso-media-condemn-coach-paulo-duarte-over-bafana-loss.php Faso probe – Players boycotted call-up