Manuel Cajuda
Encyclopedia
Manuel Ventura Cajuda de Sousa (born 27 June 1951 in Olhão
, Algarve) is a Portuguese
football manager, currently in charge of União de Leiria.
In a career which spanned three decades, he managed nearly 20 teams in his country, also working in Egypt
and the United Arab Emirates
.
.
In the 1983 summer, even though the Faro
outfit had just promoted to the top level, 32-year old Cajuda decided to retire from playing.
, Olhanense and Louletano DC
.
In 1994, after years of working almost exclusively in the second level - the exception being S.C.U. Torreense
in 1991–92 - Cajuda signed for Sporting de Braga, remaining in Minho for the following eight years (leading the team to the fourth place in 1997 and 2001), with two incomplete seasons with C.F. Os Belenenses in between. He managed to finish in the top-six with his following two teams, U.D. Leiria - he had already been in charge of the club nine years before, in division two - and C.S. Marítimo.
Cajuda left the Madeira
side only one game into the 2004–05 season, and joined fellow top-divisioner S.C. Beira-Mar, but only lasted an additional ten matches in Aveiro. After a brief spell with Associação Naval 1º de Maio
, he left for Egypt
with Zamalek SC, becoming the second Portuguese coach to be appointed at the club after Nelo Vingada
.
Cajuda returned to Portugal midway through 2006–07 joining Vitória de Guimarães - being announced on Christmas
Day - which he led to promotion, and a third position in the following year, just narrowly surpassing S.L. Benfica for the last UEFA Champions League
berth, only to lose controversially in the last qualifying round against FC Basel
of Switzerland
. He left Vitória at the conclusion of the 2008–09 campaign, with an eighth-place finish, joining Al Sharjah SC of the United Arab Emirates
.
In late September 2011, Cajuda became Leiria's third coach of the season
, after dismissed Pedro Caixinha and Vítor Pontes.
in his youth, but later took up an acting
career.
Olhão
Olhão , or Olhão da Restauração, is a city and a municipality in the Algarve region, in Southern Portugal. It is located near Faro, which is the district's capital and the capital of the Algarve. It is mostly a fishing port city...
, Algarve) is a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
football manager, currently in charge of União de Leiria.
In a career which spanned three decades, he managed nearly 20 teams in his country, also working in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
Playing career
Cajuda played exclusively in the Algarve region during his career, starting out at S.C. Olhanense. In 1975, he joined what would be his main club, S.C. Farense, also in the second divisionLiga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
.
In the 1983 summer, even though the Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
outfit had just promoted to the top level, 32-year old Cajuda decided to retire from playing.
Manager career
Immediately after retiring, Cajuda started working as a manager with Farense, leading the team through 12 games in its first-ever season in the first division, and managing to help it retain it league status, after finishing 12th. He continued to work in his native region in the following years, with Portimonense SCPortimonense S.C.
Portimonense Sporting Clube is a Portuguese football team based in Portimão. Founded on 14 August 1914, the club is one of the few professional clubs in the Algarve region, and currently plays in second division....
, Olhanense and Louletano DC
Louletano D.C.
Louletano Desportos Clube is a Portuguese association football club originally from Loulé, but currently based in Faro. The club currently play in the Portuguese Second Division South....
.
In 1994, after years of working almost exclusively in the second level - the exception being S.C.U. Torreense
S.C.U. Torreense
Sport Clube União Torreense was founded in Torres Vedras in 1917, with the original name Sport União Torreense. It participated 6 times in the Portuguese Liga and its best result was two seventh final places , coincidentally the team's first two years in the top flight...
in 1991–92 - Cajuda signed for Sporting de Braga, remaining in Minho for the following eight years (leading the team to the fourth place in 1997 and 2001), with two incomplete seasons with C.F. Os Belenenses in between. He managed to finish in the top-six with his following two teams, U.D. Leiria - he had already been in charge of the club nine years before, in division two - and C.S. Marítimo.
Cajuda left the Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
side only one game into the 2004–05 season, and joined fellow top-divisioner S.C. Beira-Mar, but only lasted an additional ten matches in Aveiro. After a brief spell with Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Associação Naval 1º de Maio, commonly known as Naval, is a Portuguese football club based in Figueira da Foz, Coimbra District. Founded on 1 May 1893, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estádio Municipal José Bento Pessoa, with a capacity for 12,630 spectators.Naval is...
, he left for Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with Zamalek SC, becoming the second Portuguese coach to be appointed at the club after Nelo Vingada
Nelo Vingada
Eduardo Manuel Martinho Vingada, known as Nelo Vingada is a Portuguese football manager who currently manages Chinese Super League team Dalian Shide F.C.-Coaching career:...
.
Cajuda returned to Portugal midway through 2006–07 joining Vitória de Guimarães - being announced on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day - which he led to promotion, and a third position in the following year, just narrowly surpassing S.L. Benfica for the last UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
berth, only to lose controversially in the last qualifying round against FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He left Vitória at the conclusion of the 2008–09 campaign, with an eighth-place finish, joining Al Sharjah SC of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
In late September 2011, Cajuda became Leiria's third coach of the season
2011–12 Primeira Liga
-Personnel and kits:Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.-Managerial changes:-League table:-Positions by round:...
, after dismissed Pedro Caixinha and Vítor Pontes.
Personal
Cajuda's sons, Hugo (born 1979) and João (1984), were both involved in sports: the former played twice for Braga in the top division - under the management of his father - mainly representing the club's reserves during a short spell. The latter was engaged in gymnasticsGymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
in his youth, but later took up an acting
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
career.