Fabiano Soares Pessoa
Quick Facts
Biography
Fabiano Soares Pessoa (born 10 June 1966), known simply as Fabiano, is a former Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and a current coach.
His professional career was mostly associated with Compostela, as both a player and manager. During 11 seasons, he played competitive games for the 361 club and scored 46 goals.
Playing career
Celta
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano represented Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and São José Esporte Clube. In 1989, immediately after having finished runner-up in the Campeonato Paulista with the latter club and suffered the loss of his father, he moved to Spain where he would remain for the following 15 years, starting off with Celta de Vigo.
Fabiano made his La Liga debut on 17 September 1989, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 away loss against Athletic Bilbao. He scored his first goal in the Spanish top flight on 14 January 1990, contributing to a 5–1 home win over Cádiz CF as the season ended in relegation.
Compostela
In the 1992, after two additional campaigns in Segunda División, Fabiano signed with neighbouring SD Compostela also in that level. He helped to a first-ever promotion for the Galicians in 1994 and, over the course of the following four seasons, was a midfield mainstay, notably netting in consecutive home draws against Real Madrid (1–1 on 2 April 1995, and 3–3 on 25 February 1996) and contributing with one goal in a 6–2 away routing of Deportivo de La Coruña for the local derby in May 1998.
At the end of 2002–03, Compos was relegated to Segunda División B for financial irregularities. Fabiano subsequently left and joined another team in that region, Racing de Ferrol, retiring at the end of the season at the age of 38.
Managerial career
Fabiano started working as a coach in 2006, with former club Compostela in the regional leagues. From 2008 to 2011 he was in charge of amateurs Bergantiños FC, Compostela again – taking the reins of the team at the end of the ninth round, he eventually failed to prevent relegation from division three, as dead last– and CD Estradense.
In the 2011 summer, Fabiano was appointed assistant coach at G.D. Estoril Praia from Portugal, going on to work under several managers including compatriot Vinícius Eutrópio and Marco Silva. In March 2015, following José Couceiro's departure, both he and former club player Hugo Leal took the reins until the end of the season, eventually leading the team to the 12th position in the Primeira Liga; in July, he was appointed the sole head coach.