Luís Oliveira Gonçalves
Encyclopedia
Luís de Oliveira Gonçalves (born 22 June 1960 in Angola
) is the former head coach of the Angola national football team
. A studious, tactically astute coach, Gonçalves was not a prolific player in his younger days, but has earned the nickname the "Professor" for his reading of the game, and is a popular figure in Angola for his efforts of turning round his nation's footballing fortunes.
, before assuming control of the senior team in 2004 for Angola's World Cup qualify campaign, in which he sprang one of the continent's biggest ever upsets when Angola managed to pip Nigeria to the top of a tough qualifying group, ensuring qualification to the pinnacle of world football in 2006
.
, then FIFA World Ranked 4th nation
and seeds Mexico
, and previous qualifier Iran
in Group D. Despite predictions that Angola would be the whipping boys of the group, Gonçalves employed disciplined and organised tactics amongst his defence, and coupled this with a strong midfield and quick wingers both capable of retaining possession in the middle of the park and also launching pacey counter-attacks, with onus particularly placed on playmaker Figueiredo
, wingers Ze Kalanga and Edson
, and lone striker and national icon Akwa. Gonçalves's dedication to these tactics paid off with Angola only being edged out by Portugal 1-0 in their opening game, a marked difference over the previous meeting between the rivals, where the game had been abandoned due to wild challenges from the Pancalas Negras on Portuguese players. Gonçalves then arguably masterminded Angola's greatest ever sporting moment in the following game against 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
winners Mexico. Once again disciplining his defence to be watertight, and also entrusting free agent Joao Ricardo
in goal, Angola kept a clean sheet against the Mexicans to draw 0-0 against the odds. Gonçalves's impressive stewardship of the much unfavoured Angolans meant that remarkably the then 57th FIFA Ranked team in the world had a conceivable chance of qualifying from the group as runners-up. Gonçalves's resolute defending plus quick counter-attacking tactics continued into his team's match against Iran, with Flavio
creating history by scoring Angola's first ever goal in the World Cup. An Iranian equaliser finally ended Angola's brave World Cup campaign, leaving the West Africans third in Group D with a respectable two points and only two goals conceded, much credit going to Gonçalves strict management of his team - the only African coach at the tournament.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
) is the former head coach of the Angola national football team
Angola national football team
The Angola national football team, nicknamed Palancas Negras , is the national team of Angola and is controlled by the Federação Angolana de Futebol. Angola reached 45th in the FIFA Rankings in July 2002...
. A studious, tactically astute coach, Gonçalves was not a prolific player in his younger days, but has earned the nickname the "Professor" for his reading of the game, and is a popular figure in Angola for his efforts of turning round his nation's footballing fortunes.
Appointment
Before coaching the senior side, Gonçalves was in charge of the Under-20 team, with which he won the African Youth ChampionshipAfrican Youth Championship
The African Youth Championship is the main international youth football competition for CAF nations, and is competed for by under 20 year olds...
, before assuming control of the senior team in 2004 for Angola's World Cup qualify campaign, in which he sprang one of the continent's biggest ever upsets when Angola managed to pip Nigeria to the top of a tough qualifying group, ensuring qualification to the pinnacle of world football in 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
2006 FIFA World Cup
Perceived by many as one of the weaker nations in the World Cup, Angola were paired with former colonial masters and Euro 2004 runners-up PortugalPortugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, then FIFA World Ranked 4th nation
FIFA World Rankings
The FIFA World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, currently led by Spain. The teams of the member nations of FIFA , football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
and seeds Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, and previous qualifier Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
in Group D. Despite predictions that Angola would be the whipping boys of the group, Gonçalves employed disciplined and organised tactics amongst his defence, and coupled this with a strong midfield and quick wingers both capable of retaining possession in the middle of the park and also launching pacey counter-attacks, with onus particularly placed on playmaker Figueiredo
Figueiredo
Figueiredo is a common Portuguese surname, and also the name of many parishes in Portugal. It can also mean:* Figueiredo, Portugal, a parish in Amares municipality* Elísio de Figueiredo, the first ambassador of Angola to the United Nations...
, wingers Ze Kalanga and Edson
Édson Nobre
Édson de Jesus Nobre, simply Édson is an Angolan footballer who plays for F.C. Arouca in Portugal, mainly as a winger.-Club career:...
, and lone striker and national icon Akwa. Gonçalves's dedication to these tactics paid off with Angola only being edged out by Portugal 1-0 in their opening game, a marked difference over the previous meeting between the rivals, where the game had been abandoned due to wild challenges from the Pancalas Negras on Portuguese players. Gonçalves then arguably masterminded Angola's greatest ever sporting moment in the following game against 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
winners Mexico. Once again disciplining his defence to be watertight, and also entrusting free agent Joao Ricardo
João Ricardo
João Ricardo Pereira Batalha dos Santos Ferreira , known as João Ricardo , is a retired Portuguese-Angolan footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:...
in goal, Angola kept a clean sheet against the Mexicans to draw 0-0 against the odds. Gonçalves's impressive stewardship of the much unfavoured Angolans meant that remarkably the then 57th FIFA Ranked team in the world had a conceivable chance of qualifying from the group as runners-up. Gonçalves's resolute defending plus quick counter-attacking tactics continued into his team's match against Iran, with Flavio
Flavio
Flavio, re de' Longobardi is an opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The Italian-language libretto was by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Matteo Noris's Il Flavio Cuniberto. It was Handel's fourth full-length opera for the Royal Academy of Music...
creating history by scoring Angola's first ever goal in the World Cup. An Iranian equaliser finally ended Angola's brave World Cup campaign, leaving the West Africans third in Group D with a respectable two points and only two goals conceded, much credit going to Gonçalves strict management of his team - the only African coach at the tournament.