Paulo Autuori

Paulo Autuori de Mello (born 25 August 1956) is a Brazilian football manager in charge of Atlético Paranaense.

A football fan since early childhood and a futsal player, Paulo Autuori had to give up his dream of becoming a professional footballer after contracting poliomyelitis in his teens. The disease left him with an atrophied leg and a permanent limp on his walk, which prevented him from playing. However, he did not give up his dream of being part of the footballing world, and decided to learn other aspects of the game. Autuori worked as a physical coach for clubs such as Portuguesa (RJ), and Nacional in Portugal. At Nacional, Paulo Autuori was promoted to manager of the main team, and has enjoyed a successful coaching career ever since.

Autuori graduated in Physical Education at Universidade Castelo Branco; and attended a Sport Admninstration course at PUC-RJ and a Soccer Coach Course at UERJ.

Managing career

He coached some teams from Portugal: Nacional, Vitória de Guimarães, Marítimo and Benfica; from Brazil: Portuguesa (RJ), Botafogo, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Internacional, Santos and São Paulo; and from Peru: Alianza Lima, Sporting Cristal and the Peru national team.

On the end of April 2005, just before quiting Peru, he was hired by São Paulo FC to replace Émerson Leão, who had just gone to Japan. In that year, he won the Copa Libertadores 2005 and the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship.

On December 29, 2005, he resigned São Paulo to sign with Kashima Antlers, from Japan. At the end of 2006 he announced his new club as Cruzeiro E.C., this was his third time at the club.

On November 12, 2009, Paulo Autuori has decided to leave Gremio, after have reached an agreement with the club. Gremio decided to let free the manager, because they can't win the championship title.

On November 21, 2009, Qatar League side Al Rayyan have replaced Brazilian coach Marcus Paqueta with his compatriot Paulo Autuori. The latter only left the club six months ago to join Gremio in his homeland, but has made a swift return after signing a three-year contract.

Paulo Autuori became the coach of the Qatar Olympic team on August 27, 2011. He replaced Frenchman Bernard Simondi. His first assignment was to lead the team during the 2012 London Olympics Qualification stage.

On February 20, 2012 The 55-year-old Brazilian became the fourth manager of the Qatar national team in the previous year, but is full of confidence they can progress towards the 2014 World Cup. [1] He was fired on 15 January 2013 after his team failed to progress in 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations.

After being dismissed from Vasco da Gama, on July 10, 2013, Autuori signed with São Paulo. In 2005, as coach for Tricolor, he won two important titles: Copa Libertadores 2005 and 2005 FIFA Club World Championship. This time, however, Autuori is arriving in São Paulo to solve a crisis, the club losing its five last games.

On the following day, Autuori was introduced as the new coach despite the preference of many fans, who wanted Muricy Ramalho's return. The new coach of São Paulo said that, if the choice were his he would have signed Ramalho who Autuori considered a "winner". Autuori affirmed that he felt "a lot of satisfaction to return to this glorious institution, with big aims." The former vascaíno coach said that "I have not come to be loved; I have come to be champion."

Even in a middle of a crisis, Autuori has improved the ambient in São Paulo FC, a bad one in comparison to period that Ney Franco was the coach. The Lúcio's removal from staff, according some people of club, was essential for this.

On September 9, 2013, Autuori was dismissed by directors of São Paulo FC after the losing against by 2-0 for Coritiba FC, result that keeps the club in relegation zone of Brazilian League. In a report from official site of club, there is a praising about his work. His substitute is Muricy Ramalho, that, ironically, also replaced him in 2006 in club from Morumbi Stadium.

Botafogo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1995

Cruzeiro

• Campeonato Mineiro: 1997
• Copa Libertadores: 1997

Alianza Lima

• Primera División Peruana: 2001

Sporting Cristal

• Primera División Peruana: 2002

São Paulo

• Copa Libertadores: 2005
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2005

Al Rayyan

• Emir of Qatar Cup: 2010, 2011

Atlético Paranaense

• Campeonato Paranaense: 2016