One of the most respected soccer schools in the world, Portuguese coaches have conquered the world. Some examples are Mourinho, Jorge Jesus and Arthur Jorge. All, at one time or another, have been considered some of the best coaches in Portugal.
The league is still going strong, unveiling new coaches and even repatriating some names from the past, but the truth is that Portugal’s best coaches continue the tradition of good work and are coveted by other clubs in Europe.
Below, we’ve rounded up 10 coaches currently managing Portuguese teams who have stood out for their work – check them out!
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Portugal’s top 10 coaches this season: track record, titles and records.
Here is a list of the best coaches in Portugal today:
- Rúben Amorim (Sporting)
- Vítor Bruno (Porto)
- Bruno Lage (Benfica)
- Vasco Matos (Santa Clara)
- Carlos Carvalhal (Braga)
- Rui Borges (Vitória de Guimarães)
- César Peixoto (Moreirense)
- Armando Evangelista (Famalicão)
- Alexandre Santana (Casa Pia)
- Bruno Pinheiro (Gil Vicente)
Read on to learn about the careers and titles of each of today’s top Portuguese coaches.
1. Rúben Amorim (Sporting)
Rúben Amorim began his playing career at Sporting, where he excelled as a midfielder. After a brief spell at Braga, he began his coaching career in 2020.
He took charge of Sporting and quickly won the League Cup and the Portuguese Championship twice each.
Amorim is known for his attacking style of play and his ability to develop young talent, becoming a reference in player development.
His work at the Lisbon club has attracted attention and he is currently being postulated as the new coach of Manchester United, undoubtedly a name that should not be missing in this list of the best coaches in Portugal.
Titles won as Braga coach
- League Cup: 2019-20
Titles as Sporting coach.
- League Cup: 2020-21 and 2021-22
- Primeira Liga: 2020-21 and 2023-24
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2021
2. Vítor Bruno (Porto)
Vítor Bruno, a former Porto player, began his coaching career in the lower divisions of Portuguese soccer. In 2021, he became assistant coach to Sérgio Conceição at Porto, standing out for his tactical work and his ability to motivate the team.
In July 2024, he took over as first team coach and, under his guidance, Porto had a good start to the season, winning 8 of their first 9 games in the Portuguese league.
Bruno is admired for the way he integrates young players into the first team, contributing to the future of the club. Although he is young, he is already demonstrating his quality and stands out as one of the best coaches in Portugal.
Titles won as Porto coach
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2024
Read also: The 100 best young players of EA Sports FC 25 [Up to 21 years old].
3. Bruno Lage (Benfica).
Bruno Lage began his coaching career with Benfica’s youth team, and in 2019 he took charge of the first team, leading the club to the Portuguese league title in 2018/19. That same season he won the Primeira Liga’s best coach award.
After a stint in the Premier League and another at Botafogo, he returned to Benfica in 2024, with the aim of restoring the team’s competitiveness.
Known for his attacking soccer and for promoting young talent, Lage is considered one of the best coaches in Portugal.
Titles won as Benfica coach.
- First League: 2018-19
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2019
4. Vasco Matos (Santa Clara)
Vasco Matos, a former player, began his career as an assistant coach at Casa Pia. In 2023, he was invited to coach the first team of Santa Clara, then in the second division.
There, he quickly proved his worth and, under his guidance, the club became champions and gained access to the first division.
Matos is praised for the team’s good defensive organization, for his ability to motivate players and for implementing a style of play that prioritizes ball possession, which bodes well for the 44-year-old coach’s future.
Titles for Santa Clara:
- Second League: 2023-2024
5. Carlos Carvalhal (Braga)
Carlos Carvalhal has a long coaching career, with stints at clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday and Rio Ave.
In 2020, he took charge of Braga, standing out for his innovative tactical approachand his ability tomaximize the team’s performance.
Under his guidance, Braga won the Portuguese Cup and League Cup in 2021 and 2020, respectively, as well as establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the Portuguese league.
Carvalhal also had brief spells at Al-Wahda, Celta Vigo and Olympiacos before returning to Braga in 2024.
Titles with Leixões
Portuguese Championship – Third Division: 2002-03
Titles with Vitória de Setúbal
- Iberian Cup: 2005
- Portuguese Cup: 2004-05
- League Cup: 2007-08
Leixões SC Beira-Mar Titles
Portuguese Championship – Second Division: 2005-06
Titles with Leixões Marítimo
Madeira Cup: 2008-09
Titles with Leixões Beşiktaş.
Turkish Cup: 2010-11
Titles for Leixões SC Braga
- Portuguese Cup: 2020-21
- League Cup: 2019-20
> Read also: Portuguese soccer: the biggest teams in Portugal.
6. Rui Borges (Vitória de Guimarães)
Rui Borges began his coaching career taking charge shortly after his retirement, at Mirandela, his last club as a player. In 2020, he took charge of Académica de Coimbra and, in 2023, of Moreirense.
In 2024, he took charge of Vitória de Guimarães, bringing a unique tactical vision and a great ability to manage the group.
Under his guidance, the club has shown consistent performance in the league and the Portuguese Cup.
Borges is known for his attacking style of play and his ability to get the best out of his players, establishing himself as one of the best coaches in Portugal.
7. César Peixoto (Moreirense)
César Peixoto is a former Porto player who, after retiring in 2014, left to take courses to become a coach, taking his UEFA A license in 2017.
In 2024, Peixoto took charge of Moreirense and has stood out for his work in building a competitive team in the Primeira Liga.
Known for his ability to work with young talents and for promoting an offensive and dynamic soccer, he is a coach with a positive idea of the game, of constant dominance over the opponent, inspired by Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, one of the best coaches in history.
8. Armando Evangelista (Famalicão)
Armando Evangelista is a former Portuguese player who began his coaching career shortly after retiring in 2007. He spent time at clubs such as Vitória de Guimarães and Panafiel, before venturing to Brazil to coach Goiás in 2023.
His finest moment was promotion with Panfiel in the 2017-18 season, when he was voted best coach in the league.
At the start of 2024, he was hired by Famalicão and even at the helm of a team with less investment, he has had a good start to the championship.
9. Alexandre Santana (Casa Pia)
Alexandre Santana, former player and promising coach, began his career at Casa Pia, where he was in charge of the youth teams.
In 2024, he took charge of the first team, standing out for his tactical work and the implementation of an offensive style of play.
Under his guidance, Casa Pia remains competitive in the Primeira Liga. Santana is known for his ability to develop local talent, proving to be one of the best coaches in Portugal at the age of 45.
10. Bruno Pinheiro (Gil Vicente)
Bruno Pinheiro began his coaching career in the lower divisions, where he quickly made a name for himself. In 2018, he moved to Qatar, where he took charge of the youth teams.
In 2020, he returned to Portugal to take charge of Estoril, where he gained access to the first division and reached the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup in his first year.
In 2023, a new challenge: he took charge of the Qatar national team and was then hired to coach Al-Sadd.
It wasn’t until August 2024 when he finally took charge of Gil Vicente and in a short time managed to give a “face” to his team that kept them out of the relegation places, their main goal for the season.
Now yes, we close the list with the 10 best coaches in Portugal. And, if you’re a fan of Portuguese soccer, read on:
- TOP 5 The best goalkeepers in Portugal: the walls of the current Liga.
- 10 The best right-backs in Portugal today[List].
- 10 Portugal’s best midfieldersyou should know.
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