Paulo Sousa

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for another Portuguese footballer., see José Paulo Sousa da Silva.

Paulo Manuel Carvalho Sousa, CavIH (born August 30, 1970 in Viseu; pron. IPA: ['paulu 'so(ou)zɐ]) is a former Portuguese football (soccer) defensive midfielder.

Sousa is without doubt one of the most celebrated and highly regarded Portuguese footballers in the modern game. A member of the “Golden Generation”, Sousa was a classic defensive midfielder, hunting down every ball and possessing the ability to provide precision passes to his team-mates anywhere on the field.

Injuries prematurely ended his illustrious career, but not before he claimed a hatful of titles and left behind a legacy most players can only dream of.

[edit] Club career

On the club level, Paulo Sousa played for Benfica (1989-93), winning a national title in the Portuguese Liga in 1991 and Portuguese Cup in 1993 playing alongside players Rui Costa, João Vieira Pinto and Paulo Futre. Sousa played an influential role in the Benfica's midfield, recovering the ball, setting the pace and launching spectacular long range passes, as he would do throughout the rest of his career. During the 1992-93 season, in an away match against Boavista F.C. and after Benfica's goalkeeper was sent off and all substitutions had been used, Paulo Sousa assumed the goalkeeper's place. Although he suffered one goal in a penalty kick which had originated the sent off, he went on making a couple of heroic saves which enable Benfica to win 3-2. Later that summer of 1993 he went on to sign for Sporting along with Benfica's left winger Pacheco in a controversial move were the two players claimed late salaries from Benfica. He played for Sporting in 1993-94 season alongside Figo where his performances lead him to move to Juventus the following season. He played for the Torino side for two seasons leading the team to the UEFA Champions League title in 1996. He then moved to Germany to play in Borussia Dortmund where he repeated the Champions League title the next year. He played for the German side for two years where he started to be haunted with injuries which eventually lead to the decay of his career. The following years he played for Inter Milan (1998-99), Parma (2000), Panathinaikos (2000-01) and Espanyol (2002).

[edit] International career

He was also a member of the highly-touted squad that won the 1989 World Youth Championship, Paulo Sousa went on to earn 51 caps for the Portuguese national team, since his debut, in a 16 January 1991 friendly match with Spain (1-1) to his last appearance game, in a friendly match with China (2-0), in 2002. He played for his country at Euro 96 and Euro 2000, and was a squad member at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but did not play a game.

Having suffered several serious injuries in his career, he retired soon after, aged only 31. He is now one of the assistant coaches for the Portuguese national team and has coached the U-15 national team.

[edit] References

v • d • e Portugal squad - UEFA Euro 1996 1 V. Baia • 2 Secretário • 3 Paulinho Santos • 4 Oceano • 5 F. Couto • 6 Tavares • 7 Paneira • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Sá Pinto • 10 Rui Costa • 11 Cadete • 12 Alfredo • 13 Dimas • 14 P. Barbosa • 15 Domingos • 16 Hélder • 17 Porfírio • 18 Folha • 19 P. Sousa • 20 Figo • 21 P. Madeira • 22 R. Correia • Coach: A. Oliveira

v • d • e Portugal squad - UEFA Euro 2000 Third Place 1 V. Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 Rui Jorge • 4 Vidigal • 5 F. Couto • 6 P. Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Sá Pinto • 10 Rui Costa • 11 S. Conceição • 12 P. Espinha • 13 Dimas • 14 Abel Xavier • 15 Costinha • 16 Beto • 17 P. Bento • 18 Pauleta • 19 Capucho • 20 Secretário • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Quim • Coach: H. Coelho

v • d • e Portugal squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 V. Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 A. Xavier • 4 Caneira • 5 F. Couto • 6 P. Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Pauleta • 10 Rui Costa • 11 S. Conceição • 12 H. Viana • 13 J. Andrade • 14 P. Barbosa • 15 Nélson • 16 Ricardo • 17 P. Bento • 18 Frechaut • 19 Capucho • 20 Petit • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Beto • 23 Rui Jorge • Coach: A. Oliveira