Paulo Lopes (footballer)
Portuguese footballer and coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paulo Jorge Pedro Lopes (born 29 June 1978) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
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Lopes with Benfica in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paulo Jorge Pedro Lopes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1978[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Mirandela, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1993 | Mirandela | ||
| 1993–1997 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2002 | Benfica | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | → Gil Vicente (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | → Barreirense (loan) | 25 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Benfica B | 26 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | Salgueiros | 62 | (0) |
| 2004–2007 | Estrela Amadora | 33 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Trofense | 47 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Feirense | 84 | (0) |
| 2012–2018 | Benfica | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 282 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995 | Portugal U17 | 2 | (0) |
| 1997 | Portugal U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 1997–2000 | Portugal U21 | 10 | (0) |
| 2003 | Portugal B | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2023–2024 | Benfica U23 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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 senior 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]
