Richard Páez
Venezuelan footballer (born 1953)
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Richard Alfred Mayela Páez Monzón known as Richard Páez (born 31 December 1953) is a Venezuelan football manager. He is the current manager of Colombian club Cúcuta Deportivo and formerly coached Ecuadorian Serie A club Deportivo Cuenca as well as the Venezuela national football team.[1]
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Alfred Mayela Páez Monzón | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Mérida, Venezuela | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cúcuta Deportivo (manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1978 | Estudiantes de Mérida | ||
| 1978–1979 | Portuguesa | ||
| 1979 | Unión Táchira | ||
| 1980–1981 | ULA | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1991 | ULA | ||
| 1991 | Deportivo Táchira | ||
| 1995 | ULA | ||
| 1997–1999 | Estudiantes de Mérida | ||
| 2001–2007 | Venezuela | ||
| 2001–2003 | Venezuela U20 | ||
| 2002 | Venezuela U23 | ||
| 2008 | Alianza Lima | ||
| 2010–2012 | Millonarios | ||
| 2013–2014 | Mineros | ||
| 2018–2019 | Deportivo Cuenca | ||
| 2020 | Mineros | ||
| 2026– | Cúcuta Deportivo | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Club
Born in Mérida, Páez played club football for Estudiantes de Mérida, Portuguesa, Deportivo Táchira and Universidad de Los Andes.[dead link] [2]
International
He also played for the Venezuela national football team in the 1970s.[citation needed]
Managerial career
During his tenure, which lasted from January 2001 to November 2007, Venezuela achieved its best period in international football, improving from its status of being the worst team in South America.[citation needed] The squad reached the semi-final of the 2011 Copa America, and also had several victories in FIFA World Cup qualifying.[citation needed]
In early 2008, he was signed as Alianza Lima's coach but was fired from his post a few months later.[citation needed]
In November 2011, Páez became the first Venezuelan football manager to win a competition outside of Venezuela when his team Millonarios won the Copa Postobón. In May 2012, he left Millonarios after one and one-half seasons in charge.[3]
After coaching Mineros de Guayana in 2020, he remained inactive for six years until signing with Colombian club Cúcuta Deportivo on 5 February 2026.[1]
Personal life
His son, Ricardo Páez, was a member of the national team.[citation needed]
