Hélio Sousa

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Dias and the second or paternal family name is Sousa.
Hélio Sousa
Personal information
Full name Hélio Filipe Dias de Sousa
Date of birth (1969-08-12) 12 August 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1980–1981 Brejos Azeitão
1981–1987 Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–2005 Vitória Setúbal 423 (21)
International career
1989 Portugal U20 6 (0)
1990–1992 Portugal U21 19 (0)
1994 Portugal 1 (0)
Managerial career
2005–2007 Vitória Setúbal
2008–2009 Covilhã
2010–2019 Portugal (youth)
2019–2023 Bahrain
2023–2024 Qatar SC
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner 1989 Saudi Arabia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hélio Filipe Dias de Sousa CvIH (born 12 August 1969) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder, currently a manager.

He spent his entire career at Vitória de Setúbal, and was part of the Portugal squad that won the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship. He started working as a manager in 2005.

Playing career

Known by his first name in his playing days, Hélio was born in Setúbal and played his entire career with hometown club Vitória Futebol Clube. Being team captain from an early age, he first appeared with the main squad during the 1987–88 season, and went on to experience promotions and relegations alike throughout 18 professional campaigns, being an undisputed starter in ten of those (three in the second division).[1][2]

Hélio retired at almost 36, after helping Vitória to the 2005 Taça de Portugal in a 2–1 final win against S.L. Benfica,[3] having played 423 league games – club best – and scoring 21 goals.[4] Internationally, he was part of Portugal's squad at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was won in Saudi Arabia;[5] in 1994, he earned one cap for the full side.[6]

Coaching career

After retiring, Sousa moved into management. Beginning with his only professional club,[7] he moved in 2008–09 to S.C. Covilhã,[8] helping it retain its second-tier status.[9]

Sousa took the reins of the national team's under-18s in August 2010. He was in charge of several youth categories at the Portuguese Football Federation in the following years.[10][11][12][13]

On 29 July 2018, Sousa led the under-19 team to their first-ever UEFA European Championship after a 4–3 extra time defeat of Italy in Seinäjoki.[14][15] The following March, he replaced Miroslav Soukup at the helm of Bahrain,[16] but was still in charge of the Portuguese under-20s at the 2019 World Cup, which ended in group stage elimination.[17]

On 14 August 2019, Sousa led Bahrain to their first ever regional title after defeating Iraq 1–0 in the WAFF Championship.[18][19] On 8 December, he was also on the bench as the team won their first Arabian Gulf Cup, 1–0 against Saudi Arabia.[20] He left his position in July 2023, at the end of his contract.[21]

Sousa was appointed at Qatar Stars League club Qatar SC on a two-year deal in October 2023.[22]

Honours

Player

Vitória Setúbal

Portugal

Manager

Vitória Setúbal

Portugal U17

Portugal U19

Bahrain

See also

References

  1. ^ Ferreira Lima, Fábio (31 July 2018). "O Fininho que só conheceu um clube enquanto jogador e que conduziu a Seleção a uma conquista única" [The Skinny Man who only knew one club as a player and that led the national team to a one-of-a-kind conquest]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Câmara Municipal de Setúbal homenageia Hélio Sousa" [Setúbal City Hall honours Hélio Sousa] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b Matos Pereira, Rui (29 May 2005). "Meyong magic seals Setúbal joy". UEFA. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. ^ Saha Roy, Shilarze (19 May 2023). "Helio Sousa: The master tactician shaping Bahrain football's destiny". FIFA. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (3 March 2014). "Riade, 25 anos: como foi e onde estão os campeões" [Riyadh, 25 anos: how did it go and where are the champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Hélio Sousa: "Tentámos tudo"" [Hélio Sousa: "We tried everything"]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 May 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Hélio Sousa: "Ganhar para lutar pela subida de divisão"" [Hélio Sousa: "Win to fight for promotion"]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Hélio Sousa fica mais um ano" [Hélio Sousa stays another year]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 May 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Sub-19: Hélio Sousa divulga convocatória" [Under-19: Hélio Sousa releases callup]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 September 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Sub-17: Hélio Sousa quer máxima concentração" [Under-17: Hélio Sousa wants maximum concentration]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Sub-19: Hélio Sousa confiante no apuramento para o Europeu" [Under-19: Hélio Sousa confident in qualification for European Championship]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 November 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Hélio Sousa: "O nosso grupo é dos mais fortes da prova"" [Hélio Sousa: "Our group is one of the strongest in the tournament"]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Portugal conquista Europeu de Sub-19" [Portugal conquer Under-19 European Championship]. Record (in Portuguese). 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Italy 3–4 Portugal". UEFA. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Sousa takes charge of Bahrain". Asian Football Confederation. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  17. ^ "Hélio Sousa e a eliminação do Mundial sub-20. "Não fomos competentes"" [Hélio Sousa and under-20 World Cup elimination. "We were not competent"] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Bahrain West Asian champions after edging hosts Iraq 1–0 in WAFF Championship 2019 final". Fox Sports Asia. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. ^ "المنتخب البحريني يحقق إنجازاً تاريخياً ويحرز لقب النسخة التاسعة من بطولة غرب اسيا لكرة القدم" [Bahraini national team made historic achievement and won the ninth edition of the West Asian Football Championship] (in Arabic). Bahrain News Agency. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Heartache for Saudi Arabia as they lose Gulf Cup final to Bahrain". Arab News. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  21. ^ Lopes, João (13 July 2023). "O que levou à saída de Hélio Sousa do Bahrain: do reduzido campo de recrutamento à impossibilidade de criar valor" [What led to Hélio Sousa's departure from Bahrain: from limited player pool to the impossibility of raising value]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Hélio Sousa assina por dois anos com o Qatar SC" [Hélio Sousa signs for two years with Qatar SC]. Record (in Portuguese). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  23. ^ "FC Porto conquista a Taça de Portugal" [FC Porto conquer Portuguese Cup]. Público (in Portuguese). 14 May 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Portugal win second U17 EURO title on penalties". UEFA. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.