Name Humberto Coelho 1964–1966 Ramaldense Role Footballer | Height 1.85 m Years Team | |
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Full name Humberto Manuel de Jesus Coelho Date of birth (1950-04-20) 20 April 1950 (age 65) | ||
Golas classicas fair play manuel fernandes e humberto coelho
Humberto Manuel de Jesus Coelho (born 20 April 1950) is a retired Portuguese footballer and manager.
Contents
- Golas classicas fair play manuel fernandes e humberto coelho
- Playing career
- Managerial career
- Club
- International
- Individual
- References
In a career mainly associated with Benfica, the central defender also competed professionally in France and the United States, during a 16-year career. He gained more than 60 caps for Portugal, being the player with the most appearances for several years.
Coelho worked as a manager since 1985, also being in charge of several national teams including his own.
Playing career
Born in Cedofeita, Porto, Coelho was regarded as one of the best stoppers in Portuguese football, imposing himself in Lisbon-based S.L. Benfica's first team at the age of 18 – four years later, he had already played in 101 Primeira Liga matches for the club. On 27 October 1968 he made his debut for Portugal, in a 3–0 win over Romania for the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifying stages; during the next 15 years, he would appear in a further 63 internationals, scoring six goals.
From 1975 and during two seasons, Coelho played abroad with Paris Saint-Germain FC, continuing to display the traditional offensive penchant in spite of his position as he netted six times, although the side could only finish in 14th position in Ligue 1.
Subsequently, he returned to Benfica, helping it to further leagues (three) and domestic cups (four). He last appeared for the national team at the age of 33, during the 0–5 defeat in the Soviet Union for the UEFA Euro 1984 qualifiers. Portugal would qualify for the final stages in France, but he was severely injured during that period and retired shortly after, having appeared for his main club in 496 competitive matches – 355 in the league alone – and scoring 76 goals.
Managerial career
More than one decade after starting as a coach, with spells with S.C. Salgueiros and S.C. Braga, both in the top level, Coelho led Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2000, but his contract was not renewed.
Late into that same year, he was appointed national coach of Morocco, being released after the Atlas Lions failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
After a third spell with a national team, South Korea, which ended after roughly one year with the manager claiming he had not had enough time to form a competitive side, Coelho joined another one in 2008, Tunisia, after a brief return to club action in Saudi Arabia.
On 18 November 2009, Coelho was fired as national coach of Tunisia, following a 0–1 loss in Mozambique for the 2010 World Cup qualification, which ended the country's streak of three consecutive presences in the tournament. Subsequently, he acted as a director in the Portuguese Football Federation.