Paulo Duarte, the Portuguese-born coach, has had a diverse career in both playing and coaching football. Here’s a summary of his career:
Playing Career:
- Duarte had a playing career, featuring as a midfielder.
- Achievements during his playing career include reaching the final of the Portuguese Cup with Maritimo in 1995 and winning the second division championship with Uniao de Leira in 1998.
Coaching Career:
- Started his coaching career and achieved success by winning the Intertoto Cup with Uniao Leira in 2002.
- Coached Burkina Faso from 2007 to 2009.
- Took on the role of coach at Le Mans in France in June 2009.
- In April 2012, he became the coach of the Gabon national football team.
Gabon National Team Achievements:
- Recruited to lead Gabon to success in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Gabon, but the team reached the quarter-finals.
- The campaign for the 2013 AFCON qualification faced a setback with a defeat to Togo.
- The team’s path in the World Cup qualifiers was affected by the Charly Moussono affair, resulting in FIFA sanctions.
Africa Top Sports Awards 2012:
- Paulo Duarte was nominated for the Africa Top Sports Awards 2012 in the category of bad coaches.
Overall Assessment:
- While there were achievements in his coaching career, the expectations for success with the Gabon national team in major competitions were not fully met.
- The Charly Moussono affair and FIFA sanctions added challenges to the team’s qualification prospects.
Please note that the information is based on the provided details and reflects the highlights of Paulo Duarte’s career up to the specified time.
