Jesualdo Ferreira

Coaching career

Early career

Born in Mirandela, Ferreira moved to Angola at early age but later returned to Portugal due to the Angolan War of Independence. He then played as a midfielder for Ovarense's youth setup, but retired at the age of 20 to obtain his coaching qualifications. After studying in Lisbon at the Superior Institute of Physical Education (he later would work there as a teacher), he joined the Portuguese Football Federation in late 1974 to work with the youth categories.

In 1979, Ferreira joined Benfica as a youth football coordinator. In 1981 he started his career as a manager, taking over Rio Maior of the Segunda Divisão, and later worked at fellow league team Torreense for two seasons before being appointed manager of Primeira Liga side Académica de Coimbra in 1984.

Ferreira was dismissed from Académica after matchday seven with the balance of one victory and six defeats, being replaced by Vítor Manuel who led the team to a final seventh-place position. He also coached Atlético CP and Silves before returning to Torreense in 1986; the following year, he rejoined Benfica as new manager Toni's assistant.

In 1989, after a short stint in charge of the Angola national team (where his first name was spelled as Gesualdo), Ferreira returned to Torreense for a third spell. He later worked at Estrela da Amadora while also being one of Artur Jorge's assistants at the Portugal national team; the club, however, was relegated to Liga de Honra in the 1990–91 season. In 1992, after Toni was again appointed manager of Benfica, Ferreira joined his staff as his assistant.

In 1994, Ferreira followed Toni to France, as the latter was appointed manager of Bordeaux. Both went to separate ways in 1995, as Ferreira took over Moroccan side FAR Rabat He led team to the Moroccan Throne Cup final, and subsequently worked as Portugal under-21 national team manager.

Alverca and Benfica

Ferreira arrived at Alverca in 2000–01, where he took the team to 12th place in the Primeira Liga. With good results, Ferreira then left for Benfica for the 2001–02 season; initially an assistant to Toni, he took over the club on 29 December 2001 after Toni was sacked.

In November 2002, after a poor string of results, Ferreira was fired by Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira after being knocked out of the Taça de Portugal at home to third division side Gondomar. He was replaced by the Spanish manager José Antonio Camacho.

Braga

On 19 April 2003, Braga hired Ferreira to manage the team, then on the brink of relegation. He led Braga to a 14th-place finish, only two points above relegation zone. In the 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, Braga made fantastic league runs, and with players like João Tomás and Wender, they fought for the title in 2004–05. Braga reached fifth place (2003–04) and twice in fourth place (2004–05 and 2005–06).

Porto

In May 2006, Boavista signed Ferreira after his tenure with Braga ended, but suddenly Porto and its team president, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, offered him a contract following the unexpected departure of manager Co Adriaanse. Ferreira terminated his contract with Boavista and joined Porto at the Estádio do Dragão on 18 August 2006, after the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final, only one week before the start of the 2006–07 league. There, Ferreira worked with such stars as Ricardo Quaresma, Anderson, Pepe, Lucho González, Raul Meireles, Paulo Assunção, José Bosingwa and Lisandro López.

Despite having little time to adjust to his new club or changing the team's tactical approach who, under Adriaanse, played in a very offensive 3–3–4 system, Ferreira still managed to win the league title in his first year at the club, finishing only one point ahead of Sporting Clube de Portugal and two of Benfica. In the UEFA Champions League, Porto reached the first knockout round but were eliminated by Chelsea, 2–3 on aggregate.

The 2007–08 season saw a great run by a Porto team that won the league championship with a 20-point margin over second-placed Sporting, despite later being deducted six points due to the bribery of referees in the 2003–04 season. In Europe, Ferreira once again took Porto to the first knockout round of the Champions League after finishing first in a group that included Liverpool, being eliminated by German side Schalke 04 on penalties following a 1–1 aggregate draw.

The 2008–09 season was another successful year for the club under Ferreira, with Porto reaching the fourth consecutive league title in a row, Jesualdo's third, making him the first Portuguese manager ever to win three consecutive Portuguese league championships. In addition, Porto also achieved a domestic double, beating Paços de Ferreira 1–0 in the final of the Taça de Portugal thanks to a goal by Lisandro López. In the Champions League, Porto reached the quarter-finals, topping a group that included Arsenal, and beating Atlético Madrid on away goals in the Round of 16, before being knocked out by then-title holders Manchester United 2–3 on aggregate. That season's performance rewarded Ferreira with a two-year contract extension.

Despite previous success, 2009–10 was not a solid season for os Dragões, with the team losing their first league title since 2005 to rivals Benfica, but also finishing third in the league, which meant they failed to secure a Champions League spot for the following season. Despite this, Porto won both the Taça de Portugal and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, in addition to recording a 3–1 home victory over fierce rivals Benfica at the end of the season. Nonetheless, Ferreira resigned on 26 May 2010.

Málaga

On 17 June 2010, Málaga of the Spanish La Liga signed Ferreira on a three-year contract after he rescinded his deal at Porto. After nine domestic league matches, with the team winless in six games and 18th in the table, he was sacked on 2 November.

Panathinaikos

Ferreira was then hired by Greek club Panathinaikos, signing a -year contract on 20 November 2010. Ferreira came in to replace Nikos Nioplias, who was sacked after disappointing results in the Super League Greece and the group stage of Champions League.

After his love with the team, Ferreira stayed as the head coach of Panathinaikos despite the financial problems and the break inside the team's operation. After failing to qualify for the 2011–12 Champions League in the third qualifying round, he kept the spirit and beliefs and had Panathinaikos first in the first round of Super League and second final to the play-offs. Ferreira was later offered a new 1+1-year contract, but he later resigned from his role on 14 November 2012.

Sporting CP

A month after Ferreira resigned from Panathinaikos, Sporting CP hired him for an administrative position where he would run all of Sporting's football teams. On 7 January 2013, however, after Sporting had sacked its manager Franky Vercauteren after a long string of mediocre results, Ferreira was named his replacement. Just months later, on 20 May, Leonardo Jardim was announced as the new manager of the Lisbon club; consequently, Ferreira was immediately sacked.

Return to Braga

In May 2013, Ferreira was the choice of Braga club president António Salvador to manage the club and leading the reshuffling of the professional team after a disappointing season that ended with a non-qualification for the 2013–14 Champions League. Ferreira, having previously served as Salvador's first manager in his presidential term in 2003, became the first to coach the team on two different occasions under Salvador. On February, after a draw against Arouca at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, Ferreira left the club due to the string of bad results.

Zamalek

In February 2015, Ferreira was appointed as head coach of Zamalek SC. He led the club to their 12th Egyptian Premier League title, their first league title since 2004, and led the club to win a domestic double by beating Al Ahly 2–0, in the Egypt Cup final. He could not, however, repeat this feat against Al Ahly again in the Egyptian Super Cup, as they lost 3–2 to their arch rival. Ferreira resigned from Zamalek on 21 November 2015.

Al Sadd

On 28 November 2015, Ferreira was named the head coach of Al Sadd SC, on a six-month deal with the option of a further year. Having won the 2018–19 Qatar Stars League with a game to play, he left the team in May and was replaced by Xavi.

Santos

On 23 December 2019, Ferreira was named manager of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Santos FC, after signing a one-year contract. The following 5 August, after being knocked out of the 2020 Campeonato Paulista, he was sacked.

Return to Boavista

On 14 December 2020, Ferreira signed up for his first job in Portugal for over six years, replacing Vasco Seabra at Boavista until June 2022. He helped the club avoid any relegation threat on the final day of the season and became the oldest manager in Primeira Liga, with the championship concluding just before he turned 75. He agreed to end his contract a year early in June 2021, to allow the club to bring in João Pedro Sousa.

Return to Zamalek

In March 2022, Ferreira returned to Zamalek on an 18-month deal, replacing Patrice Carteron. On 21 July, his team won the delayed 2021 Egypt Cup Final 2–1 against rivals Al Ahly led by compatriot Ricardo Soares, and a month later the team won the league title ahead of Pyramids FC. On 24 January 2023, he was sacked from his position after a 2–1 defeat against Ghazl El Mahalla. Eight days later, he returned as Zamalek manager. On 22 March, he was sacked for the second time in the same season after a 2–0 defeat against CR Belouizdad, which resulted in a CAF Champions League group stage exit.

Relationship with Mourinho

Ferreira and former Porto manager José Mourinho first crossed paths in the 1980s, when Mourinho was a student at the Lisbon Superior Institute for Physical Education and Ferreira was a teacher there. In 2000, when Mourinho was briefly the manager of Benfica, he refused to accept the appointment of Ferreira as his assistant, and in February 2005, Mourinho had a swipe at Ferreira in his weekly column for the Portuguese sports magazine Record.

Comparing himself with Ferreira, Mourinho wrote,

Despite these claims by Mourinho, Ferreira went on to make history by becoming the first Portuguese coach to win three consecutive titles in Portugal, a feat that Mourinho never achieved (although Mourinho never managed the same club in Portugal for three full consecutive seasons). Mourinho also was Ferreira's assistant in 1990–91, for Estrela da Amadora.

Another Porto coach, José Couceiro, worked with Ferreira many times. Firstly, Ferreira was a coach in Atlético Clube de Portugal, and Couceiro was a player there. Couceiro moved to Torreense, with Ferreira as coach. And finally, in 1991–92, Couceiro joined Estrela da Amadora, again with Ferreira as coach.

Managerial statistics

Managerial honours

Club

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Taça de Portugal: 2008–09, 2009–10
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2009

Zamalek

• Egyptian Premier League: 2014–15, 2021–22
• Egypt Cup: 2014–15, 2020–21

Al Sadd

• Qatar Stars League: 2018–19
• Qatar Cup: 2017
• Qatar Emir Cup: 2017
• Qatar Super Cup: 2017

Individual

• CNID Best Portuguese League Coach: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Best coach in the Egyptian league: 2014–15
• Qatar Stars League Manager of the Year: 2017, 2019

References

References

1. (22 October 2016). "Jesualdo Ferreira: Um português no Qatar". Júlia.
2. (2 May 2001). "Os caminhos cruzados de Toni e Jesualdo Ferreira". [[Record (Portuguese newspaper).
3. (18 December 2012). "Jesualdo Ferreira já foi o treinador dos treinadores". Mais Futebol.
4. (17 April 2013). "O primeiro confronto entre Jesus e Jesualdo foi "refugo futebolístico"". [[Público (Portugal).
5. "1989 MATCHES".
6. (30 December 2001). "Benfica aposta em Jesualdo sem resposta de Mourinho". Record.
7. (25 November 2002). "Benfica anuncia saída de Jesualdo do cargo de treinador principal". Record.
8. (9 May 2006). "Jesualdo Ferreira é o novo treinador do Boavista". ZeroZero.
9. (15 August 2006). "Jesualdo rescinde com Boavista". JPN.
10. (18 August 2006). "Dragões confirmam Jesualdo". Record.
11. (9 May 2008). "Porto docked points, Boavista demoted". UEFA.
12. (3 June 2009). "Jesualdo renova esta tarde com o FC Porto". [[Jornal de Notícias]].
13. (26 May 2010). "Jesualdo recusou cargo para continuar no F. C. Porto". Jornal de Notícias.
14. (17 June 2010). "Jesualdo Ferreira será el nuevo entrenador malaguista". Málaga Hoy.
15. (2 November 2010). "Malaga fires coach Jesualdo Ferreira". [[Fox Sports]].
16. (17 November 2010). "Panathinaikos Set To Appoint Jesualdo Ferreira As Head Coach - Report". Goal.com.
17. "Ferreira resigned". pao.gr.
18. "Vercauteren aplaude contratação de Jesualdo Ferreira". [[A Bola]].
19. "Jesualdo Ferreira é o novo treinador". Record.
20. "Jesualdo Ferreira já não vai ao Brasil com o Sporting". [[SIC Notícias]].
21. "Jesualdo é o novo treinador do Braga". [[MSN]].
22. (23 February 2014). "Jesualdo Ferreira já não é treinador". Record.
23. (4 February 2015). "Ferreira signs six-month contract with Zamalek". kingfut.com.
24. "Portuguese coach Ferreira leaves Egypt's Zamalek in shock move". starrfmonline.com.
25. (28 November 2015). "Oficial: Jesualdo Ferreira já assinou pelo Al Sadd do Qatar". Mais Futebol.
26. (4 April 2019). "Jesualdo Ferreira festeja título de campeão no Qatar". Diário de Notícias.
27. (28 May 2019}}{{dead link). "Soccer: Xavi begins managerial career with Al Sadd". Reuters.
28. (23 December 2019). "Jesualdo Ferreira é o novo treinador do Santos FC". Santos FC.
29. (5 August 2020). "Jesualdo Ferreira não é mais técnico do Santos FC". Santos FC.
30. (14 December 2020). "Jesualdo Ferreira oficializado como novo técnico do Boavista". SAPO.
31. (20 May 2021). "Boavista sobreviveu com aperto perante expectativas frustradas". Bancada.
32. (20 May 2021). "Números e Curiosidades - 87.º Campeonato Nacional". Rádio e Televisão de Portugal.
33. (27 June 2021). "OFICIAL: Jesualdo Ferreira deixa o Boavista". Mais Futebol.
34. (28 June 2021). "OFICIAL: João Pedro Sousa é o novo treinador do Boavista". Mais Futebol.
35. (5 March 2022). "I return with pleasure and great ambition, Ferreira on re-joining Zamalek". KingFut.
36. (21 July 2022). "Duelo português: Zamalek, de Jesualdo Ferreira, conquista Taça do Egito ao Al Ahly, de Ricardo Soares". O Jogo.
37. (22 August 2022). "Jesualdo Ferreira conquista o título de campeão no Egito". O Jogo.
38. (24 January 2023). "OFFICIAL: Zamalek sack Jesualdo Ferreira after Ghazl El-Mahalla defeat and he returned again on 1 February 2023".
39. (2 February 2023). "OFFICIAL: Jesualdo Ferreira returns as Zamalek manager eight days after sacking".
40. (22 March 2023). "OFFICIAL: Zamalek sack Jesualdo Ferreira for second time this season".
41. (14 October 2010). "O duelo Jesualdo-Mourinho e a história do burro".
42. [http://www.fussball24.de/fussball/4/57/58/36160-fc%C2%A0porto-verpflichtet-trainer-jesualdo-ferreira FC Porto verpflichtet Trainer Jesualdo Ferreira] {{webarchive. link. (19 July 2011)
43. {{ForaDeJogo manager. 5
44. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1981/82". Zerozero.
45. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1982/83 à 1983/84". Zerozero.
46. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1984/85". Zerozero.
47. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1985/86". Zerozero.
48. "Silves". Futebol em Portugal.
49. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1986/87". Zerozero.
50. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1989/90". Zerozero.
51. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 1990/91 à 1991/92". Zerozero.
52. "Seleção Sub-21 – Jogos". [[Portuguese Football Federation]].
53. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2000/01". Zerozero.
54. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2001/02 à 2002/03". Zerozero.
55. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2002/03 à 2005/06". Zerozero.
56. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2006/07 à 2009/10". Zerozero.
57. "Matches Jesualdo Ferreira, Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira". BDFutbol.
58. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2010/11 à 2012/13". Zerozero.
59. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2012/13". Zerozero.
60. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2013/14". Zerozero.
61. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2014/15 à 2015/16". Zerozero.
62. (14 May 2019). "Jesualdo Ferreira 2015–19".
63. "Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira :: Jogos Realizados :: 2020". Zerozero.