Paulo Bento

Paulo Jorge Gomes Bento (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpawlu ˈbẽtu]; born 20 June 1969) is a Portuguese retired footballer, and the current manager of the South Korea national team.

For the municipality in Brazil, see Paulo Bento, Rio Grande do Sul.
This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Gomes and the second or paternal family name is Bento.

Paulo Bento
Bento coaching South Korea at the 2019 Asian Cup
Personal information
Full name Paulo Jorge Gomes Bento[1]
Date of birth (1969-06-20) 20 June 1969[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal[1]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 South Korea (manager)
Youth career
1982–1987 Académico Alvalade
1987–1988 Palmense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 Futebol Benfica 20 (2)
1989–1991 Estrela Amadora 37 (0)
1991–1994 Vitória Guimarães 95 (13)
1994–1996 Benfica 49 (2)
1996–2000 Oviedo 136 (4)
2000–2004 Sporting CP 92 (2)
Total 429 (23)
National team
1992–2002 Portugal 35 (0)
Teams managed
2004–2005 Sporting CP (juniors)
2005–2009 Sporting CP
2010–2014 Portugal
2016 Cruzeiro
2016–2017 Olympiacos
2017–2018 Chongqing Lifan
2018– South Korea
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A defensive midfielder with tackling ability and workrate as his main assets,[2] he played for two of the major three teams in his country, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 284 matches and 16 goals over 11 seasons, and also spent four years in Spain. He represented the Portuguese national team in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Bento took up a coaching career in 2005, managing Sporting for four years and four months, with relative success, and also being in charge of the national team in two major tournaments.

Playing career

Born in Lisbon, Bento played professionally in his homeland for C.F. Estrela da Amadora, Vitória de Guimarães and S.L. Benfica, and had a four-year abroad spell with Real Oviedo,[3] helping the Spanish club always retain its La Liga status before moving to Sporting CP, where he finished his career as a player.[4] With the latter, he was part of the star-studded team that achieved the double in 2002 under the direction of Laszlo Bölöni,[5] contributing with 31 games and one goal in the Primeira Liga and playing alongside Mário Jardel and João Vieira Pinto among others.

Bento earned 35 caps for the Portugal national team, his first game coming on 15 January 1992 in a 0–0 draw with Spain and his last being the 0–1 loss to South Korea on 14 June 2002 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also played at UEFA Euro 2000 where, along with teammates Abel Xavier – who played with him at Oviedo for two seasons – and Nuno Gomes, he was suspended (in Bento's case for five months) due to bad behaviour, during the semi-final loss with France.[6]

Coaching career

Sporting

After an emotional 2004 retirement, aged 35, Bento got the job of Sporting's youth team coach. He won the junior championship in 2005, and developed a base to the future. After the sacking of José Peseiro midway through 2005–06 season, he was promoted to first-team duties in spite of being relatively inexperienced.[7]

Despite a slow start, Bento managed an impressive turnaround of Sporting's fortunes in the second half of the campaign, as a series of ten consecutive wins placed them within distance of leaders and eventual league champions FC Porto, as the former went on to rank second in that and the following seasons, achieving direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League. He was responsible for bringing youth products Nani, João Moutinho and Miguel Veloso into the spotlight.

In June 2007, Bento signed a two-year contract extension.[8] Sporting had a turbulent pre-season in preparation for 2007–08, with defense mainstays Rodrigo Tello and Marco Caneira leaving the club while Portuguese international goalkeeper Ricardo was sold to Real Betis. With little resources to invest, the club brought Eastern promises – Marat Izmailov, Vladimir Stojković and Simon Vukčević – aboard.

After a very irregular season, Bento managed to lead Sporting to an unprecedented third consecutive qualification for the Champions League, with another second-place finish in spite of spending most of the year below third place, pipping Guimarães and Benfica in the final matchday. He also retained the Taça de Portugal, beating Porto in the final (2–0 after extra time) after knocking-out eternal rivals Benfica in the last-four stage with a 5–3 triumph.

Bento's team broke a number of long-standing club records, including the first season without home defeats since 1987, the first capture of back-to-back Portuguese cups since 1974 and the first time since 1962 that Sporting finished three consecutive campaigns in the top two league positions. At the age of 38, he also became only the fifth manager in the history of Portuguese football to win back-to-back Portuguese cups, alongside the likes of Janos Biri, John Mortimore or José Maria Pedroto.

On 15 July 2008, The Sun and The Daily Telegraph reported that Manchester United were planning to hire Bento (reportedly Cristiano Ronaldo's friend and former teammate) as manager Alex Ferguson's new assistant after the departure of previous number two Carlos Queiroz to manage the Portuguese national team.[9] He quickly denied any speculation, and reaffirmed his intention to stay at Sporting.[10]

On 16 August 2008, Bento managed Sporting to a 2–0 victory in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira over champions Porto, at the opening of the new season.[11] One of the players that were kept in the team despite heavy criticism, Rui Patrício, was a key element and saved a penalty from Lucho González during the second half;[12] this win raised the manager's tally in cup finals against counterpart Jesualdo Ferreira to 3–0 (2007 and 2008 Supercups, and the 2008 Portuguese Cup),[13] and it also marked the first ever capture of back-to-back Portuguese Supercups in the Lions' history, thus adding to the list of records broken during his tenure.

Already the second-most successful coach in the history of the club in terms of trophies won, only surpassed by Josef Szabo, Bento gained the nickname "Papa-Taças" (roughly translated as "cup-eater") as a consequence of the four pieces of silverware added to Sporting's cabinet under his command.[14]

Bento as Sporting manager in 2009

On 4 November 2008, Bento led Sporting to a 1–0 home win over FC Shakhtar Donetsk, therefore mathematically securing automatic qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history. In the process, his team also broke the club's record number of points in UEFA's main competition (nine) and remarkably did so with two matches to spare, becoming the first team to qualify from the group phase (alongside FC Barcelona, from the same group).[15][16]

Later, Bento also lead Sporting to break the record for most goals suffered by a team in a Champions League knockout round, after a 1–12 aggregate ousting at the hands of FC Bayern Munich at the round-of-16. In the league, another second place to Porto befell, with the season also featuring the controversial Taça da Liga final loss against Benfica, on penalties.[17]

That Champions League ousting marked the beginning of fan discontent towards Bento, especially regarding the team's playing style (which was perceived as becoming dull and unattractive)[18] as presidential elections were to be held. Supported by the winning candidate José Eduardo Bettencourt, he signed a two-year contract extension; in spite of maintaining the same base squad and adding the talent of Felipe Caicedo or Matías Fernández, Sporting was unable to start the new campaign brightly: knocked out in the Champions League playoff round by ACF Fiorentina on away goals,[19] the side's form slumped quickly and after nine matches they found themselves mired in seventh place, 12 points behind leaders S.C. Braga.

After a 1–1 home draw in the Europa League group stage against FK Ventspils on 5 November 2009, and facing considerable pressure to step down, Bento resigned.[20][21]

Portugal
Bento at a press conference in 2011

On 20 September 2010, following Queiroz's dismissal after a poor start to the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Bento was named his successor, initially until the last match of that stage.[22] His first game in charge came on 8 October, a 3–1 win against Denmark in Porto.[23]

On 17 November 2010, Portugal defeated World Cup champions Spain 4–0 in Lisbon, imposing the largest defeat to its Iberian neighbours since 13 June 1963 (2–6 against Scotland, in another friendly).[24] He led the national team to the Euro 2012 semi-finals in Poland and Ukraine, where they narrowly lost to eventual champions Spain on penalties.[25]

After a second-place finish in Group F in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Bento led Portugal to a 4–2 aggregate win over Sweden in the playoffs, securing a spot at the finals in Brazil.[26] On 9 April 2014, he extended his contract until after Euro 2016,[27] but the national team exited in the World Cup's group stage in spite of a 2–1 success against Ghana in the last match, with the United States progressing on goal difference instead.[28]

On 11 September 2014, after the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign began with a 0–1 home defeat to Albania, the Portuguese Football Federation announced Bento's dismissal.[29]

Cruzeiro

On 11 May 2016, Bento moved abroad for the first time in his managerial career, taking the helm at Brazil's Cruzeiro Esporte Clube.[30] His first game, ten days later, was a 2–2 draw at home to Figueirense FC which continued his side's winless start to the season.[31]

On 25 July 2016, Cruzeiro announced that Bento had resigned from the club following a 1–2 home defeat against Sport Recife.[32][33]

Olympiacos

On 11 August 2016, Bento became the head coach of Superleague Greece title holders Olympiacos FC.[34] He was sacked on 6 March 2017 with the team seven points clear at the top of the table and qualified for the semi-finals of the domestic cup and last 16 of the Europa League,[35] mainly due to a string of poor performances in official competitions, a three-game losing streak in the league with no goals scored and various press conference comments targeting the "weakness" of certain squad members and the roster as a whole.[36]

Chongqing Dangdai Lifan

On 11 December 2017, Bento was appointed manager at Chongqing Dangdai Lifan FC.[37] The following 22 July, he was relieved of his duties due to poor results.[38]

South Korea

On 17 August 2018, Bento was appointed as the manager of the South Korea national team, with a contract to run up to and including the 2022 World Cup.[39] At the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the side were eliminated 1–0 in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Qatar.[40]

Bento led his team to the conquest of the 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, after a 1–0 defeat of Japan. This marked the third time they won the tournament, this being the second consecutive victory over that opposition.[41]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[42]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Futebol Benfica 1988–89 202—200
Estrela Amadora 1989–90 120—120
1990–91 2504020310
Total 3704020430
Vitória Guimarães 1991–92 323—323
1992–93 31530—344
1993–94 32520—345
Total 95132030—10013
Benfica 1994–95 200403010280
1995–96 2926051—403
Total 4921008110683
Oviedo 1996–97 30241—343
1997–98 36020—380
1998–99 340—340
1999–00 362—362
Total 136461—1425
Sporting 2000–01 320200030370
2001–02 3114051—402
2002–03 291202010341
2003–04 1102010—140
Total 93210081401153
Career total 430232812327048826
  1. Includes the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

Managerial statistics
As of match played 17 November 2020
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Sporting CP 21 October 2005[7] 5 November 2009[20] 194 117 46 31 311 152 +159 060.31
Portugal 21 September 2010[22] 11 September 2014[29] 47 26 12 9 91 49 +42 055.32
Cruzeiro 11 May 2016[30] 25 July 2016[32] 17 6 3 8 23 28 −5 035.29
Olympiacos 11 August 2016[34] 6 March 2017 40 26 8 6 69 22 +47 065.00
Chongqing Lifan 11 December 2017 22 July 2018 15 5 2 8 20 20 +0 033.33
South Korea 17 August 2018 Present 27 16 8 3 42 17 +25 059.26
Total 340 196 79 65 556 288 +268 057.65

Honours

Player

Estrela Amadora

Benfica

Sporting

Manager

Sporting

Olympiacos

South Korea

Individual

References
  1. "Paulo Bento" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. Paulo Bento; at BBC Sport
  3. "La familia ovetense de Paulo Bento" [Paulo Bento's family from Oviedo]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 18 November 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  4. Bento to join Sporting Lisbon; BBC Sport, 30 May 2000
  5. "Bölöni mexe na equipa e aposta em Rui Bento" [Bölöni moves pieces and bets on Rui Bento]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 March 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  6. UEFA suspends Portuguese trio; BBC Sport, 2 July 2000
  7. "Paulo Bento handed Sporting chance". UEFA. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. Bento refreshes Sporting ties; UEFA, 12 June 2007
  9. Lawless, Matt (15 July 2008). "Manchester United turn to Cristiano Ronaldo friend in search for new assistant". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  10. "Bento rejects Red Devils talk". Sky Sports. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  11. "Djalo fires Sporting to Supercup win". PortuGOAL. 18 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  12. "Sporting beat Porto in Portuguese Super Cup". ESPN Soccernet. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  13. "Paulo Bento imparável" [Paulo Bento unstoppable]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 August 2008. Archived from the original on 18 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  14. "Paulo Bento aceita a alcunha "papa-taças": "É bom sinal"" [Bento accepts "cup-eater" nickname: "It's a good sign"] (in Portuguese). Diário IOL. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
  15. "Derlei sparks Sporting celebrations". UEFA. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  16. "Bento basks in Sporting success". UEFA. November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  17. "Quim the hero of Benfica triumph". UEFA. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  18. Roseiro, Bruno (6 October 2009). "Crise no Sporting: todos admitem, poucos assumem e ninguem reage" [Sporting crisis: all admit, few acknowledge and none react]. i (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  19. "Viola find edge to go through". UEFA. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  20. "Paulo Bento demitiu-se" [Paulo Bento resigned]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 November 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  21. "Bento calls time on Sporting tenure". UEFA. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  22. "Portugal confirm appointment of Paulo Bento". ESPN Soccernet. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  23. "Denmark defeated on Bento's Portugal debut". UEFA. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  24. "Portugal 4–0 Spain". ESPN Star Sports. 18 November 2010. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  25. "Spain survive test of nerve to reach final". UEFA. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  26. "Sweden 2–3 Portugal". BBC Sport. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  27. "Paulo Bento extends Portugal stay". ESPN FC. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  28. "Ronaldo downs Ghana but Portugal crash out". FIFA. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  29. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  30. "Cruzeiro anuncia acerto com técnico Paulo Bento, ex-Seleção Portuguesa, após longa reunião" [Cruzeiro announce agreement with manager Paulo Bento, formerly of the Portugal national team, after long meeting] (in Portuguese). Super Esportes. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  31. "Na estreia do técnico Paulo Bento, Cruzeiro sofre para empatar com Figueirense no Mineirão" [On manager Paulo Bento's debut, Cruzeiro suffer to draw against Figueirense in the Mineirão] (in Portuguese). Super Esportes. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  32. Astoni, Marco Antônio (25 July 2016). "Paulo Bento não é mais técnico do Cruzeiro; diretoria foca em Mano" [Paulo Bento is not manager of Cruzeiro anymore; directors eyeing Mano] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  33. Cabral, Mariana (25 July 2016). "Não foi bom enquanto durou: Paulo Bento despedido do Cruzeiro" [Not good while it lasted: Paulo Bento fired from Cruzeiro]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  34. "Paulo Bento named Olympiakos boss after Victor Sanchez dismissal". ESPN FC. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  35. "Paulo Bento: Olympiakos sack manager despite leading Greek Superleague". BBC Sport. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  36. Τέλος και επίσημα ο Πάουλο Μπέντο [Paulo Bento finally and officially] (in Greek). Contra. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  37. 力帆官宣前葡萄牙主帅上任 曾带队进欧洲杯4强 (in Chinese). Sports Sina. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  38. "Paulo Bento despedido por clube chinês" [Paulo Bento dismissed by Chinese club]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 22 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  39. "S. Korea appoints Paulo Bento nat'l football team head coach". Yonhap News Agency. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  40. Reidy, Paul (25 January 2019). "Qatar stun South Korea to reach first Asian Cup semi-final". Diario AS. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  41. "Hwang's sweet strike makes it three in a row for Korea Republic". Asian Football Confederation. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  42. "Paulo Bento". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  43. Marques, Sara (1 June 2015). "O dia em que o Estrela da Amadora venceu a Taça de Portugal" [The day Estrela da Amadora won the Portuguese Cup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
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