Paulo Fonseca

Paulo Alexandre Rodrigues Fonseca (born 5 March 1973) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Rodrigues and the second or paternal family name is Fonseca.

Paulo Fonseca
Fonseca with Shakhtar in 2017
Personal information
Full name Paulo Alexandre Rodrigues Fonseca[1]
Date of birth (1973-03-05) 5 March 1973[1]
Place of birth Nampula, Mozambique
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1982–1983 Galitos
1983–1984 UD Vila Chã
1985–1986 Santoantoniense
1986–1991 Barreirense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1995 Barreirense 91 (6)
1995–1998 Porto 0 (0)
1995–1996 → Leça (loan) 22 (0)
1996–1997 → Belenenses (loan) 27 (1)
1997–1998 → Marítimo (loan) 31 (2)
1998–2000 Vitória Guimarães 6 (0)
2000–2005 Estrela Amadora 72 (4)
Total 249 (13)
Teams managed
2005–2007 Estrela Amadora (youth)
2007–2008 1º Dezembro
2008–2009 Odivelas
2009–2011 Pinhalnovense
2011–2012 Aves
2012–2013 Paços Ferreira
2013–2014 Porto
2014–2015 Paços Ferreira
2015–2016 Braga
2016–2019 Shakhtar Donetsk
2019–2021 Roma
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 111 matches and three goals over seven seasons, mainly with Estrela da Amadora. He became a manager in 2005, notably winning the 2015–16 Taça de Portugal with Braga as well as three editions of the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Playing career

Born in Nampula, Portuguese Mozambique to a military father, Fonseca was a year old when his family relocated to Barreiro following the Carnation Revolution.[2] He played 14 years as a senior, beginning with his adopted hometown's F.C. Barreirense in the third division and moving straight to the Primeira Liga with Leça F.C. in the 1995–96 season, starting in 21 of his league appearances as the club finished 14th and narrowly avoided relegation. In the following five years he continued in the latter competition, being first choice with C.F. Os Belenenses and C.S. Marítimo but only a backup with Vitória S.C. and C.F. Estrela da Amadora.[3][4]

Fonseca retired in June 2005 at the age of 32 after a further four campaigns with Estrela, three of those spent in the Segunda Liga. In the 2003–04 campaign he participated in 15 games as the Lisbon side ranked last in the top tier, with the subsequent relegation.[4]

Coaching career

Early years / Paços Ferreira

Fonseca started coaching immediately after retiring, remaining two years at the helm of Estrela da Amadora's youths. From 2007 to 2011 he was in charge of several modest teams, notably C.D. Pinhalnovense which he led to the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal in both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.[5][6]

In 2011–12, Fonseca was appointed at C.D. Aves in division two for his first job in the professionals,[7] and he led the team to the third position, just two points shy of promotion. In the following campaign he signed for F.C. Paços de Ferreira, again finishing third to qualify the club for their maiden campaign in the UEFA Champions League; highlights included winning both games against S.C. Braga (2–0 at home, 3–2 away) and Sporting CP (1–0 on both occasions).[8][9]

Porto

Fonseca succeeded Vítor Pereira at FC Porto – winners of the last three league titles – when he signed a two-year contract on 10 June 2013.[10][11] He started his spell on a high note, winning the year's Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira after a 3–0 victory over Vitória de Guimarães which marked his first honour as a coach.[12][13]

However, on 5 March 2014, following a string of poor results that left the club in the third position in the league, nine points behind leaders S.L. Benfica, Fonseca was relieved of his duties.[14] Previously, on 12 January, he had stated that Porto would be champions in the last matchday against that opponent.[15]

Paços return / Braga

On 11 June 2014, Fonseca returned to Paços de Ferreira[16] His one season back at the Estádio da Mata Real resulted in an 8th-place finish, missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification on the final day.[17]

Fonseca signed a two-year deal with Braga on 1 July 2015.[18] He led them to fourth position, also winning the domestic cup with a penalty shootout victory over Sporting in the final.[19]

Shakhtar Donetsk
Fonseca presenting five new signings in July 2018

Fonseca moved abroad for the first time in his career on 31 May 2016, replacing legendary Mircea Lucescu (12 seasons) at the helm of FC Shakhtar Donetsk and signing a two-year contract at the Ukrainian Premier League side.[20][21] He won the double in all three seasons of his spell[22][23]– which earned him the distinction as the league's best coach in 2016–17.[24]

Fonseca's side reached the round of 16 of the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League,[25] after finishing second in the group stage following a 2–1 home defeat of Premier League club Manchester City.[26] Having inflicted a first defeat in 29 matches of Pep Guardiola's side, he kept a promise to do his next press conference dressed as the fictional hero Zorro.[27]

Roma

On 11 June 2019, Fonseca was appointed manager of A.S. Roma.[28] He led the side to the fifth place in the Serie A in his first season,[29] as well as the semi-finals of the subsequent Europa League.[30][31] He announced his departure in May 2021.[32]

Immediately after leaving Roma, Fonseca was director Fabio Paratici's top choice to be manager of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. However, the advanced negotiations were scrapped on 17 June 2021,[33] due to tax issues.[34] In October, he was interviewed by Newcastle United following their Saudi-led takeover, before the interest shifted to Unai Emery and Eddie Howe;[35] his name was then linked to a third English club, Aston Villa.[36]

Managerial style

At Shakhtar and Roma, Fonseca preferred a 4–2–3–1 formation and an emphasis on dominating possession. At both teams, the player behind the centre forward played as a second striker; Henrikh Mkhitaryan achieved 13 goals in 2020–21 from that position.[37][38][39]

Managerial statistics
As of match played 23 May 2021[40][41][42]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
1º Dezembro 1 July 2007 30 June 2008 34 13 11 10 39 32 +7 038.24
Odivelas 30 June 2008 1 July 2009 35 11 10 14 44 46 −2 031.43
Pinhalnovense 1 July 2009 7 June 2011 72 33 21 18 98 68 +30 045.83
Aves 7 June 2011 30 May 2012 38 16 16 6 49 29 +20 042.11
Paços de Ferreira 30 May 2012 9 June 2013 41 22 13 6 62 38 +24 053.66
Porto 10 June 2013 5 March 2014 37 21 9 7 69 31 +38 056.76
Paços de Ferreira 10 June 2014 1 July 2015 39 14 12 13 58 53 +5 035.90
Braga 1 July 2015 31 May 2016 57 29 15 13 90 58 +32 050.88
Shakhtar Donetsk 31 May 2016 11 June 2019 139 103 19 17 295 112 +183 074.10
Roma 11 June 2019 30 June 2021 102 53 22 27 195 139 +56 051.96
Total 594 315 148 131 999 606 +393 053.03

Honours

Manager

Porto

Braga

Shakhtar Donetsk

Individual

References
  1. Paulo Fonseca at WorldFootball.net
  2. Oliveira, Sara (21 September 2013). ""É magnífico o que tenho estado a viver", conta Paulo Fonseca" ["What I've been experiencing has been fantastic", tells Paulo Fonseca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  3. "Fonseca" (in Portuguese). Glórias do Passado. 22 October 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. "Antes de ganhar o segundo nome, que é apanágio dos treinadores, Paulo era só o Fonseca, defesa central forte no jogo aéreo, mas a quem faltaram sempre alguma velocidade e mais oportunidades mas sobraram as lesões" [Before earning a surname, which is second nature to coaches, Paulo was just Fonseca, stopper with strong aerial ability, but who always lacked some speed and more opportunities but had injuries to spare.] (in Portuguese). António Tadeia. 5 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  5. "Um mar de emoções no regresso dos heróis" [Sea of emotions in return of heroes]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 December 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  6. "A carreira de Paulo Fonseca" [The career of Paulo Fonseca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 10 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  7. "Paulo Fonseca é o novo treinador" [Paulo Fonseca is the new manager]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 June 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  8. "Pacos packing a punch in Portugal". FIFA. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  9. "Paços vence Sporting (1–0) e aproxima-se do sonho" [Paços beat Sporting (1–0) and come closer to dream] (in Portuguese). F.C. Paços Ferreira. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  10. "Paulo Fonseca appointed new Porto coach". PortuGOAL. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. "Porto appoint Fonseca". FIFA. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  12. "Porto win Supertaça in style". PortuGOAL. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  13. "FC Porto e Vitória de Guimarães disputam 35.ª edição em Aveiro" [FC Porto and Vitória de Guimarães challenge 35th edition in Aveiro] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  14. "Oficial: Paulo Fonseca saiu, Luís Castro é o treinador" [Official: Paulo Fonseca left, Luís Castro is the manager] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  15. "Fonseca: «Na última jornada seremos campeões»" [Fonseca: "In last matchday we will be champions"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  16. Pereira, Ana Isabel (10 June 2014). "Paços de Ferreira confirma regresso de Paulo Fonseca" [Paços de Ferreira confirm return of Paulo Fonseca] (in Portuguese). Porto 24. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  17. "Nacional goleia Paços de Ferreira, ambos falham Europa" [Nacional thrash Paços de Ferreira, both miss out on Europa League] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  18. "Braga oficializa Paulo Fonseca" [Braga make Paulo Fonseca official]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 1 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  19. Calaveiras, Carlos (22 May 2016). "Sp. Braga vence Taça de Portugal" [Sp. Braga win Portuguese Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  20. "Paulo Fonseca is Shakhtar head coach". Shakhtar Donetsk. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  21. "Oficial. Paulo Fonseca confirmado no Shakhtar" [Official. Paulo Fonseca confirmed at Shakhtar] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  22. "Paulo Fonseca diz que é "praticamente impossível fazer melhor" no Shakhtar" [Paulo Fonseca says it's "nearly impossible to do better" at Shakhtar] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  23. "Ucrânia: Paulo Fonseca sagra-se tricampeão" [Ukraine: Paulo Fonseca crowned back-to-back-to-back champion] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  24. "Paulo Fonseca: depois da dobradinha, o primeiro prémio" [Paulo Fonseca: after the double, the first award]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 6 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  25. Falkingham, Katie (13 March 2018). "Roma 1–0 Shakhtar Donetsk". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  26. Emons, Michael (6 December 2017). "Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  27. "Paulo Fonseca: Shakhtar Donetsk boss celebrates win by wearing Zorro mask". BBC Sport. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  28. "Fonseca to become new Roma head coach". A.S. Roma. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  29. "Roma, zero vittorie contro le prime 10 della classifica di Serie A" [Roma, no wins against top 10 in Serie A table] (in Italian). Sky Sport. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  30. Stone, Simon (29 April 2021). "Manchester United 6–2 Roma". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  31. Stone, Simon (6 May 2021). "Roma 3–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  32. "Fonseca to leave Roma at end of season as Mourinho makes surprise return". ESPN. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  33. Stone, Simon (17 June 2021). "Paulo Fonseca: Tottenham end talks with Portuguese manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  34. Romano, Fabrizio (17 June 2021). "Paulo Fonseca to Tottenham is 100% OFF. Deal collapsed because of taxes issues despite contract already completed and set to be signed – Fonseca had tax advantages from an Italian law which is not applicable in the UK". Twitter. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  35. Hobbs, Joshua (7 November 2021). "Paulo Fonseca 'thought he was' going to be Newcastle United boss after three interviews". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  36. Whiley, Mark (2 November 2021). "Paul Merson highlights Paulo Fonseca problem amid Aston Villa claim". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  37. McCambridge, Ed (21 October 2021). "Who is Paulo Fonseca? Everything you need to know about the potential new Newcastle manager". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  38. "Is Paulo Fonseca the right fit to give Spurs a boost?". Eurosport. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  39. Hewitt, Matty (20 October 2021). "Who is Paulo Fonseca? The double winning manager linked with Newcastle United". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  40. "Paulo Fonseca". Zerozero. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  41. Paulo Fonseca coach profile at Soccerway
  42. Paulo Fonseca management career statistics at Soccerbase
  43. "VÍDEO: Paulo Fonseca conquista a Supertaça da Ucrânia" [VIDEO: Paulo Fonseca conquers Ukrainian Supercup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
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