Paulinho Santos
Encyclopedia
João Paulo Maio dos Santos (born 21 November 1970), aka Paulinho Santos, is a retired Portuguese
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent 11 years of his professional career with Porto, playing in several positions and winning 19 major titles, appearing in more than 300 official games for the club.
Santos represented Portugal
at Euro 1996.
and one in the third
. He moved in 1992 to F.C. Porto, helping the latter (often in an instrumental role) to seven league titles and five domestic cups
, having taken over from the player he idolized while growing up, António André
- who had also played in his first club.
In Porto, he and four others became the only players in the history of Portuguese football to win five consecutive league titles (1994–1999). When Porto won the 2003 UEFA Cup, Santos was already second-fiddle - five games in his last two seasons combined - and retired at the end of that season.
A player of aggressive approach, Santos often scuffled with Sport Lisboa e Benfica's João Vieira Pinto
during his career: As a symbolic gesture, however, they exchanged shirts before Santos' last match, against Sporting Clube de Portugal (where Pinto was then playing), at Estádio das Antas
, in June 2003.
Three years later, Santos began a coaching career, spending several years with Porto's various youth sides, mainly as an assistant.
, Santos received 30 international caps
, scoring two goals (including a solo effort in a 1–1 away draw against Austria
on 11 October 1995). His first game was on 19 January 1994 in a 2–2 draw with Spain
in Vigo
, in a friendly match
, and his last came on 10 February 1999, in a 0–0 draw with Holland
at the Parc des Princes
in Paris
, in another friendly.
Santos participated at UEFA Euro 1996, where he played as left back, and missed Euro 2000, due to injury.
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...
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
He spent 11 years of his professional career with Porto, playing in several positions and winning 19 major titles, appearing in more than 300 official games for the club.
Santos represented Portugal
Portugal 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...
at Euro 1996.
Club career
Born in Vila do Conde, Santos started playing with hometown Rio Ave FC, competing two seasons 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...
and one in the third
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
. He moved in 1992 to F.C. Porto, helping the latter (often in an instrumental role) to seven league titles and five domestic cups
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
, having taken over from the player he idolized while growing up, António André
António André
António dos Santos Ferreira André is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder....
- who had also played in his first club.
In Porto, he and four others became the only players in the history of Portuguese football to win five consecutive league titles (1994–1999). When Porto won the 2003 UEFA Cup, Santos was already second-fiddle - five games in his last two seasons combined - and retired at the end of that season.
A player of aggressive approach, Santos often scuffled with Sport Lisboa e Benfica's João Vieira Pinto
João Vieira Pinto
João Manuel Vieira Pinto is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a forward.Blessed with formidable skills and scoring ability, he made his name mostly at a domestic level and as a key figure in the Portuguese national team's "Golden Generation", collecting 138 caps and scoring 35...
during his career: As a symbolic gesture, however, they exchanged shirts before Santos' last match, against Sporting Clube de Portugal (where Pinto was then playing), at Estádio das Antas
Estadio das Antas
The Estádio das Antas was the third stadium of the Portuguese football side FC Porto. It was in use from 1952 to 2004, replacing the earlier Campo da Constituição and later replaced by Estádio do Dragão. As well the stadium, it had an indoor arena and three training grounds...
, in June 2003.
Three years later, Santos began a coaching career, spending several years with Porto's various youth sides, mainly as an assistant.
International career
For 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...
, Santos received 30 international caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, scoring two goals (including a solo effort in a 1–1 away draw against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
on 11 October 1995). His first game was on 19 January 1994 in a 2–2 draw with Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in Vigo
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
, in a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
, and his last came on 10 February 1999, in a 0–0 draw with Holland
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
at the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, in another friendly.
Santos participated at UEFA Euro 1996, where he played as left back, and missed Euro 2000, due to injury.
Honours
- Portuguese League: 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 1993–94, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03 - Portuguese Supercup: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001
- UEFA Cup: 2002–03