Francisco Filho (football coach)
Encyclopedia
Francisco Filho sometimes known simply as Francisco, is a Brazil
ian former footballer who works for A.C. St. Louis as their Director of Player Development. He spent 17 years as a professional footballer in Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal and France before going into coaching at the age of 33. After 29 years at Clairefontaine
, the academy of the French Football Federation
, Filho joined Manchester United
of England as a youth coach in 2002. He retired in 2005, but returned to the game with the newly formed A.C. St. Louis in 2009.
, Filho began his professional football career in 1957, at the age of 16. During a 17-year career, he played for clubs in Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal and France, where he retired. After retiring as a player, Filho became a coach and embarked on a 29-year career with the French Football Federation
's academy, Clairefontaine
. During that time, he oversaw the development of players such as Thierry Henry
, Eric Cantona
and Jean-Pierre Papin
.
In August 2002, Filho was hired by Premier League side, Manchester United
, to help with the development of their youth players. He was appointed manager of the Manchester United Under-17s team, and later the Under-18s, following the club's reorganisation of their youth teams. He retired from football in 2005 but was tempted back to the game four years later, when he linked up with American
side A.C. St. Louis as their Director of Player Development.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian former footballer who works for A.C. St. Louis as their Director of Player Development. He spent 17 years as a professional footballer in Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal and France before going into coaching at the age of 33. After 29 years at Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
, the academy of the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
, Filho joined Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
of England as a youth coach in 2002. He retired in 2005, but returned to the game with the newly formed A.C. St. Louis in 2009.
Career
Born in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Filho began his professional football career in 1957, at the age of 16. During a 17-year career, he played for clubs in Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal and France, where he retired. After retiring as a player, Filho became a coach and embarked on a 29-year career with the French Football Federation
French Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
's academy, Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
. During that time, he oversaw the development of players such as Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
, Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
and Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin
Jean-Pierre Papin is a former French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...
.
In August 2002, Filho was hired by Premier League side, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, to help with the development of their youth players. He was appointed manager of the Manchester United Under-17s team, and later the Under-18s, following the club's reorganisation of their youth teams. He retired from football in 2005 but was tempted back to the game four years later, when he linked up with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
side A.C. St. Louis as their Director of Player Development.