Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club have agreed a 2-year deal with Paulo Sousa (42) to coach the senior side
Sousa enjoyed an illustrious football career as a holding midfielder for Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Parma, Panathinaikos and Espanyol, and was part of the 'Golden generation' of the Portuguese national side for which he made 51 international appearances.
Maccabi's owner, Mitch Goldhar, who met with Sousa two weeks ago together with Jack Angelides, told the club's official website: "I am delighted that the next coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv will be Paulo Sousa. As a coach I believe Paulo embodies the qualities we strive for at Maccabi Tel Aviv – namely discipline, work ethic and respect. I was immediately impressed with Paulo upon our meeting together. I know our fans and the club at large will give him a warm welcome".
Maccabi's Sports Director Jordi Cruyff told the official website: "I am happy Paulo is joining Maccabi and we are certain he can help Maccabi Tel Aviv progress in the path that began 4 years ago and take this club to a different level".
Paulo Sousa told the official website: “I want to begin by thanking the club owner, Mitch Goldhar, his representative Jack Angelides and sports director, Jordi Cruyff, for showing trust in me and for giving me this opportunity to become the head coach of this magnificent football club. Their belief in me, and in my vision for the team, gives me great heart and motivation for the many challenges we will face. Maccabi is a club with a strong tradition, passionate support, and I hope that with everyone working together, we can achieve success".
Sousa began his coaching career for the Portuguese Federation when he was appointed in 2008 as the assistant to National team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, in addition to coaching the Portuguese young national sides. In November 2008 Sousa was appointed as manager of Queens Park Rangers, and after stabilising the side, he left in April 2009 before being appointed the following summer as manager of the Welsh side Swansea City. Sousa guided the "Swans" to their highest position in 27 years, when they finished 7th in the English second tier Championship. Four days after leaving Swansea, he was signed as Leicester City's manager.
After three years in the British Isles, Sousa was appointed in May 2011 as coach of Hungarian side Videoton FC whom he guided to the Hungarian Supercup and Hungarian League Cup, along with the second spot in the league table in his first season at the club. Notably, he achieved a club record points total in that first year.
In his second season in charge, he again lifted the Hungarian SuperCup, and arguably the club’s best achievement in the last 25 years – Sousa led Videoton to the group stages of the Europa League after beating Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava, Belgian outfit Gent and Trabzonspor of Turkey. Victories over Sporting Lisbon and FC Basel awarded Videoton the third position in Group G. Sousa left the Hungarian club in January of this year.
Sousa began his playing career as a winger and playmaker in the youth academy of Benfica Lisbon, before moving to the position of holding midfielder when he became a professional. After winning three championships with Benfica's youth team, as well as lifting the FIFA Under-20 World Cup with his nation, he made his senior debut in the 1990/91 season before winning the Portuguese Championship and the Portuguese Cup two years later. Sousa then moved to arch city-rivals Sporting Lisbon for one season, at the end of which he joined Italian side Juventus in the summer of 1994. During Sousa's two seasons in Juventus he won the League and Cup double and the Italian Super-Cup, but recorded his greatest achievement in May 1996 when he lifted the Champions League Cup after his side beat Ajax in the final in a penalty shoot-out.
As a European champion, Sousa joined German side Borussia Dortmund and lifted the Champions League Cup for the second time in succession after his team beat no less than his previous club Juventus in the final. To his already packed trophy cabinet the Portuguese midfielder added the German Super-Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup trophy the following season. Two years later Sousa returned to Italy and played for three years with Inter Milan. After one more season in Parma and two years with Panathinaikos, Sousa then joined Espanyol in the summer of 2001 for one season, at the end of which he finally hung up his boots foor good. In all, Sousa made 51 appearances for Portugal on the international stage.
