Paulo Bento
Paulo Bento (©Getty Images)
Date of birth: 20 June 1969
Nationality: Portuguese
Playing career: CF Estrela da Amadora, Vitória SC, SL Benfica, Real Oviedo CF, Sporting Clube de Portugal
Coaching career: Sporting Clube de Portugal
A former international midfielder who made an instant impact upon rising to the top job at Sporting Clube de Portugal in October 2005, Paulo Bento has been a winner throughout his footballing life. He began his playing career at CF Estrela da Amadora, helping them win the Portuguese Cup in 1989/90. He then moved on to Vitória SC before a switch to SL Benfica brought him another cup triumph in 1995/96, prior to four seasons in Spain with Real Oviedo CF.
He returned to Portuguese football and Sporting for the 2000/01 campaign, and a season later helped them win the Portuguese double. He retired from playing at the end of 2003/04, and quickly accepted a role in the Sporting coaching setup where he guided the youth team to the national title in 2004/05. In October 2005, he was promoted to first-team coach after the sacking of José Peseiro, and quickly improved the side's fortunes, leading Sporting on a run of ten straight victories between January and April 2006.
Overall, in his 27 league games in charge in 2005/06, he achieved 18 wins and six draws, although a 1-0 defeat against FC Porto in a decisive meeting meant a second-place finish. Sporting also lost to Porto after a penalty shoot-out in the Portuguese Cup semi-finals. The following campaign Sporting were again just pipped to the title by Porto but glory did come with a 1-0 win against CF Os Belenenses in the Portuguese Cup final. The 2007/08 season was Paulo Bento's first as a fully qualified coach for UEFA club competition purposes and after finishing third in their UEFA Champions League group, Sporting reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. They also ended second in Portugal behind Porto, whom they beat to retain the Portuguese Cup.
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