Paulo Lopes (footballer) explained

Paulo Lopes
Fullname:Paulo Jorge Pedro Lopes[1]
Birth Date:29 June 1978
Birth Place:Mirandela, Portugal
Height:1.81 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Benfica U23 (coach)
Youthyears1:1991–1993
Youthclubs1:Mirandela
Youthyears2:1993–1997
Youthclubs2:Benfica
Years1:1997–2002
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1999–2000
Clubs2:→ Gil Vicente (loan)
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2000–2001
Clubs3:→ Barreirense (loan)
Caps3:25
Goals3:0
Years4:2001–2002
Caps4:26
Goals4:0
Years5:2002–2004
Caps5:62
Goals5:0
Years6:2004–2007
Caps6:33
Goals6:0
Years7:2007–2009
Caps7:47
Goals7:0
Years8:2009–2012
Caps8:84
Goals8:0
Years9:2012–2018
Caps9:4
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:282
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1995
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1997
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1997–2000
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2003
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Manageryears1:2023–
Managerclubs1:Benfica U23

Paulo Jorge Pedro Lopes (born 29 June 1978) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is the current head coach of Benfica's under-23 team.

He appeared in 81 Primeira Liga matches over 14 seasons, representing Benfica, Gil Vicente, Estrela da Amadora, Trofense and Feirense. Despite having made only 11 appearances for Benfica, he won seven trophies with the club always as third-choice.[2] [3]

Lopes added 150 games in the Segunda Liga, in a 21-year professional career.

Playing career

Born in Mirandela, Bragança District, Lopes joined S.L. Benfica's youth system at the age of 15, being promoted to the first team four years later and going on to serve two loans in his first two years as a senior.[2] On 19 February 2000, while at the service of Gil Vicente FC, he made his Primeira Liga debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in an eventual 1–1 away draw against Sporting CP after Paulo Jorge was sent off.[4] [5]

In June 2002, Lopes was released by Benfica. He alternated between the main division and the Segunda Liga the following decade, notably achieving top-tier promotions with C.D. Trofense (2007–08)[6] and C.D. Feirense (2010–11);[7] [2] during his stint with the former, on 4 January 2009, he was on goal to help the hosts defeat his parent club 2–0,[8] in a relegation-ending season.[9]

Lopes returned to the Estádio da Luz in the summer of 2012, aged 34.[10] He went on to act as third goalkeeper under several managers, collecting three league winners' medals by appearing in matches after his team had already been crowned champions;[11] [12] [13] he made his competitive debut on 18 October 2012, in a 4–0 away win over S.C. Freamunde in the third round of the Taça de Portugal.[2]

Coaching career

Lopes retired at the end of the 2017–18 campaign, being immediately appointed goalkeeper coach of Benfica's newly created under-23 team.[14] [15] On 16 January 2019, in the same capacity, he joined the reserve side.[16]

On 6 July 2023, Lopes became the new manager of Benfica's under-23.[17]

Personal life

Lopes' son, André, was also a footballer.[18]

Honours

Trofense

2007–08[6]

Benfica

2013–14,[11] 2015–16,[12] 2016–17[13]

2013–14[19]

2014,[20] 2016,[21] 2017[22]

Individual

2010–11[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paulo Lopes. Maisfutebol. pt. 29 October 2024.
  2. News: Paulo Lopes. Quando esperar é uma virtude. Paulo Lopes. When waiting is a virtue. i. pt. 5 May 2014. 29 October 2024.
  3. Web site: Paulo Lopes: The most successful third-choice goalkeeper of all time?. BBC Sport. Davis. Matt. 18 November 2018. 25 November 2018.
  4. News: Gil Vicente: Carlitos quebra-cabeças. Gil Vicente: Carlitos the puzzle. Record. Lopes. Octávio. pt. 20 February 2000. 24 October 2017.
  5. News: Sporting: Acosta lutador isolado. Sporting: Acosta the lonesome fighter. Record. Costa Nunes. Miguel. pt. 20 February 2000. 24 October 2017.
  6. News: Portimonense-Trofense, 2–2: De novo em festa agora com o título. Portimonense-Trofense, 2–2: Party time again now with title. Record. pt. 12 May 2008. 24 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Feirense assegura subida na vitória sobre o Aves. Feirense confirm promotion in win over Aves. TSF. pt. 21 May 2011. 24 October 2017.
  8. Web site: Trofense-Benfica, 2–0 (destaques). Trofense-Benfica, 2–0 (highlights). Maisfutebol. Cunha. Pedro Jorge. pt. 4 January 2009. 24 October 2017.
  9. News: Belenenses e Trofense despromovidos à Liga de Honra. Belenenses and Trofense relegated to Honour League. Expresso. pt. 23 May 2009. 29 October 2024.
  10. News: Guarda-redes Paulo Lopes regressa ao Benfica dez anos depois. Goalkeeper Paulo Lopes returns to Benfica ten years later. Público. pt. 26 June 2012. 24 October 2017.
  11. News: FC Porto bate Benfica sob avaliação de Lopetegui. FC Porto beat Benfica as Lopetegui looks on. Diário de Notícias. Ruela. João. pt. 10 May 2014. 19 February 2016.
  12. Web site: Benfica campeão nacional pela terceira vez consecutiva. Benfica crowned national champions for the third consecutive time. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Geraldo. Inês. pt. 15 May 2016. 24 October 2017.
  13. Web site: Boavista-Benfica, 2–2 (crónica). Boavista-Benfica, 2–2 (match report). Maisfutebol. Cunha. Pedro Jorge. pt. 20 May 2017. 24 October 2017.
  14. News: Paulo Lopes 'oficializado' como treinador de guarda-redes dos sub-23. Paulo Lopes "officialised" as under-23 goalkeeping coach. Record. Ponte. Pedro. pt. 9 July 2018. 1 August 2018.
  15. News: A mensagem de "despedida" de Paulo Lopes. Paulo Lopes' "farewell" message. A Bola. pt. 31 July 2018. 1 August 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801004730/https://www.abola.pt/Clubes/Noticias/Ver/742940/40. 1 August 2018.
  16. News: Paulo Lopes na equipa B do Benfica. Paulo Lopes in Benfica's B team. Record. pt. 17 January 2019. 17 January 2019.
  17. Web site: Experience and Benfiquista DNA with an eye to the future!. S.L. Benfica. 6 July 2023. 24 July 2023.
  18. News: Filho de ex-jogador do Benfica entre os nove do Belenenses SAD que entraram em campo. Son of former Benfica player among nine of Belenenses SAD that took the field. Record. Marques. Valter. pt. 28 November 2021. 28 November 2021.
  19. News: Sulejmani manteve o Benfica vitorioso. Sulejmani kept Benfica victorious. O Jogo. pt. 25 January 2014. 24 October 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822101048/http://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/taca-liga/noticias/interior/sulejmani-manteve-o-benfica-vitorioso-3651733.html. 22 August 2017.
  20. Web site: Paulo Lopes parte troféu da Supertaça. Paulo Lopes breaks Supercup trophy. SIC Notícias. pt. 11 August 2014. 24 October 2017.
  21. Web site: Benfica conquista Supertaça. Benfica conquer Supercup. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 7 August 2016. 29 October 2024.
  22. Web site: Benfica 3–1 Vitória de Guimarães. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 5 August 2017. 29 October 2024.
  23. Web site: Prémios oficiais: a lista dos premiados. Official awards: the list of winners. Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. pt. 1 July 2011. 8 July 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110701055242/http://lpfp.pt/Pages/Pr%C3%A9miosOficiaisalistadospremiados.aspx. 1 July 2011.

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