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Paulo BentoFormer Portuguese footballer, defensive midfielder, coach
Date of Birth: 20.06.1969
Country:  Portugal |
Content:
- Paulo Bento: Portuguese Football Legend and Coach
- International Success and Benfica Return
- Sporting Lisbon and Coaching Career
- Sporting's Golden Years
- Portugal National Team Manager
Paulo Bento: Portuguese Football Legend and Coach
Early Career and Club SuccessPaulo Bento, a former Portuguese footballer and defensive midfielder, began his career with the youth team of Palmense. He later moved to Benfica, but failed to make his debut within two years. He then joined Estrela da Amadora, starting with their youth team before joining the main squad and helping them win their first-ever trophy, the Portuguese Cup.
By the 1990/91 season, Bento had become a regular in the starting lineup, making 25 appearances. In summer 1991, he transferred to Vitória Guimarães, where he significantly elevated his game, becoming a key player in midfield.
International Success and Benfica Return
Bento made his debut for the Portuguese national team in 1992 and went on to make 34 appearances. He notably participated in the 2000 European Championship, where Portugal finished in third place. However, his participation was marred by a controversial incident in the semi-final, where he spat in the face of a linesman. As a result, he was banned by UEFA for six months.
Despite this setback, Bento played in the 2002 World Cup, though Portugal failed to progress beyond the group stage. His final international appearance came in a defeat against South Korea during the same tournament.
In 1994, Bento returned to Benfica, where he spent two seasons and won another Portuguese Cup. He later moved to Spanish club Real Oviedo for four seasons, captaining the team.
Sporting Lisbon and Coaching Career
Bento signed with Sporting Lisbon in 2000 after Oviedo failed to reach an agreement with Benfica. He initially faced a six-month suspension for his UEFA ban. With Sporting, Bento played for four seasons, winning a league title, a cup, and a supercup. He retired as a player in 2004.
After retiring, Bento became head coach of Sporting's youth team, winning the national championship in his first season. When first-team manager José Peseiro left in 2005, Bento was named interim coach, despite lacking a coaching license.
Sporting's Golden Years
Under Bento's guidance, Sporting enjoyed a remarkable run of success. They won ten consecutive matches and finished second in the league, qualifying for the Champions League. The following season, they again finished second, won the cup and supercup, and renewed Bento's contract for four years.
Bento's innovative use of young players fostered a new era at Sporting. With talents like Nani, João Moutinho, and Miguel Veloso, he led the team to three consecutive second-place finishes, two more cup wins, and two supercup wins. This placed him among the most successful coaches in Sporting's history.
Portugal National Team Manager
In 2010, Bento became head coach of the Portuguese national team. His first match saw a 3-1 victory over Denmark. Under his leadership, Portugal secured third place in the 2012 European Championship.
