Paulo Bento

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Paulo Jorge Gomes Bento (born Lisbon, 20 June 1969), or simply Paulo Bento (pron. IPA: ['paulu 'bẽtu]), is a former football (soccer) player whose position was defensive midfielder. He played for Estrela da Amadora,Vitória de Guimarães, Sport Lisboa e Benfica,Real Oviedo, before moving to Sporting Clube de Portugal where he finished his career as a player.

He had 35 caps for the Portugal's team, since his first game, at 15 January 1992, in a 0-0 draw with Spain, to his last one, the 0-1 lost to South Korea, at 14 June 2002, in the 2002 Football World Cup finals. He played both at Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002. He was suspended for 5 months due to his bad behaviour during the semi-final with France, in the Euro 2000. He finished his career, aged 33, in 2002. After an emotional retirement, he got the job of Sporting's youth team coach. In an impressive way he got the youth's championship, and develop a base to the future. After the sacking of José Peseiro he was called to be main coach of Sporting, leading the Lions to a second place, after a superb second half of season. He is still in Sporting, after signing a contract-extension for more 2 years. Using the former experience in the youth's team, Paulo Bento is building a strong squad using youth players from Sporting Academy, pointing to a Championship and Champion's League in 2006. Bento is now considered by many as one the most promissing managers in Portugal, due to his strong leadership and tactical knowledge. Always defending a discipline culture within his club, Bento may in future become a top manager, reason why some point out some similarities with José Mourinho's management style.

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