Rui Barros
Barros at the 2011 Legends Cup
Personal information
Full name Rui Gil Soares de Barros
Date of birth (1965-11-24) 24 November 1965 (age 58)
Place of birth Paredes, Portugal
Height 1.59 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1978–1979 Aliados Lordelo
1980–1982 Rebordosa
1982–1983 Paços Ferreira
1983–1984 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Covilhã 25 (5)
1985–1987 Varzim 58 (12)
1987–1988 Porto 34 (12)
1988–1990 Juventus 60 (14)
1990–1993 Monaco 81 (14)
1993–1994 Marseille 17 (4)
1994–2000 Porto 134 (25)
Total 409 (86)
International career
1987–1996 Portugal 36 (4)
Managerial career
2005–2010 Porto (assistant)
2006 Porto (caretaker)
2014–2017 Porto (assistant)
2016 Porto (caretaker)
2018–2021 Porto B
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rui Gil Soares de Barros (born 24 November 1965) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, currently a manager.

He played with success in Portugal (at Porto), Italy – at Juventus – and France (two clubs), later becoming a manager. Over eight seasons, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 191 matches and 43 goals, all with Porto.

Barros represented Portugal on 36 occasions, scoring four goals.

Club career

Early years and Porto

Born in Paredes, Porto District, Barros began his senior career with S.C. Covilhã in the Segunda Liga. He helped Varzim S.C. to promote to the Primeira Liga in his second season as a professional.[1][2]

Barros signed with FC Porto for 1987–88, immediately having an impact: 12 goals in the league, which ended with the championship conquest, also being essential as the northerners began the campaign with two major achievements, the European Super Cup against AFC Ajax and the Intercontinental Cup against Peñarol (he also scored in the first leg of the Super Cup final).[3] As a result, he was voted Portuguese Footballer of the Year.[4]

Abroad

Barros joined Italian side Juventus F.C. in the summer of 1988, where he chose to wear the number 8 shirt, turning down the opportunity to wear the prestigious number 10 shirt which had previously belonged to the recently retired Michel Platini, whose role he had inherited at the Turin club.[5] During his two-year tenure, he scored 19 goals in 95 appearances in all competitions and helped to a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double in 1990.[6]

Subsequently, Barros moved to AS Monaco FC, originally for one year (eventually three). During his spell, he notably lost the final of the 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup to SV Werder Bremen.[7]

In the 1993 off-season, Barros signed with another team in France, Olympique de Marseille, teaming up with compatriot Paulo Futre – who left Porto for Atlético Madrid precisely the year he arrived. The former contributed in helping them to a second-place finish in the league, although the club was relegated following its involvement in a match fixing scandal.[8]

Return to Porto

In the summer of 1994, Barros returned to Porto, where he became an important attacking element in four of five consecutive league wins. He retired from football in June 2000, at the age of 34.[1]

Barros stayed connected to his main club after his retirement, as a manager. After Co Adriaanse resigned in August 2006 during the preseason, he was appointed interim coach for two matches, against England's Portsmouth (2–1) and Manchester City (1–0).[9]

Barros was also on the bench for the 3–0 win over Vitória F.C. in the domestic supercup, on 19 August 2006.[10] Jesualdo Ferreira was appointed shortly afterwards, and he stayed as his assistant during the following campaigns as Porto won the league four times in a row.[11]

On 13 June 2018, Barros succeeded former Porto and Portugal teammate António Folha at the helm of Porto's reserves, who competed in the second tier.[12] On 3 February 2021, with the team dead last with 16 games remaining, Folha was put back in the position.[13]

International career

Whilst at Varzim, Barros was noticed by the Portugal national team, and made his senior debut on 29 March 1987 in a 2–2 draw against minnows Malta for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifiers, playing the second half of the match held in Funchal, Madeira. During his time with Juventus he was already a leading player, although he was unable to help his country qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup to be held in Italy.

Barros was overlooked for the squad picked by manager António Oliveira for Euro 1996 in England. His last cap came on 14 December 1996 in a 0–0 draw with Germany in the 1998 World Cup qualifying phase, in Lisbon.

Style of play

A dynamic and hard-working team player, Barros was a diminutive attacking midfielder who was known in particular for his speed, stamina and technical ability, which allowed him to excel in Juventus' counter-attacking style of play under manager Dino Zoff. Tactically versatile, he was capable of playing in several offensive midfield and attacking positions.[6]

Career statistics

Rui Barros: International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[14]
1 11 October 1989 Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, Germany  Luxembourg 0–3 0–3 1990 World Cup qualification
2 4 September 1991 Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal  Austria 1–0 1–1 Friendly
3 28 April 1993 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Scotland 1–0 5–0 1994 World Cup qualification
4 28 April 1993 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Scotland 4–0 5–0 1994 World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

As of match played 31 January 2021[15][16]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Porto (caretaker) Portugal 9 August 2006 18 August 2006 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 100.00
Porto (caretaker) Portugal 8 January 2016 21 January 2016 4 2 0 2 6 2 +4 050.00
Porto B Portugal 13 June 2018 3 February 2021 76 21 23 32 98 110 −12 027.63
Total 81 24 23 34 107 112 −5 029.63 —

Honours

Player

Porto

Juventus

Monaco

Individual

Manager

Porto

References

  1. ^ a b Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (16 February 2019). ""Equipava-me, ia pelo corredor e se visse o Artur Jorge a vir de frente para mim, entrava em qualquer porta, escondia-me, tinha vergonha"" ["I would suit up, I would go down the hall and if I saw Artur Jorge coming in my direction, I would go through any door, I would hide, I was bashful"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Rui Barros" (in Portuguese). SJPF. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. ^ Ross, James M. "European Competitions 1986–87". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b Conceição Silva, Rui Manuel. "Portugal – Footballer of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ Emanuel, Giancarlo (23 June 2012). "Il 10 dopo Alex, la maglia che scotta" [The 10 after Alex, the number that burns]. La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Bedeschi, Stefano (23 November 2013). "Gli eroi in bianconero: RUI BARROS" [The heroes in black and white: RUI BARROS] (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  7. ^ "1991/92: Bremen shine in Stadium of Light". UEFA. 1 June 1992. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Rui Barros: «Marselha ficou-me no coração»" [Rui Barros: "Marseille remained in my heart"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Co Adriaanse demite-se" [Co Adriaanse resigns] (in Portuguese). Jornalismo Porto Net. 9 August 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Supertaça: FC Porto-V. Setúbal, 3–0 (ficha)" [Supercup: FC Porto-V. Setúbal, 3–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Rui Barros, o pequeno treinador que já saboreou um outro tetra" [Rui Barros, the little coach who has already tasted another four-peat]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 10 May 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Rui Barros sucede a Folha nos "bês" do FC Porto" [Rui Barros succeeds Folha at FC Porto's "b's"] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. ^ "António Folha rende Rui Barros no comando da equipa B do F. C. Porto" [António Folha takes over from Rui Barros at the helm of F. C. Porto's B-team]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 3 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Rui Barros". European Football. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Rui Barros". Zerozero. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  16. ^ Rui Barros coach profile at Soccerway

External links

LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year
FC Porto – managers
Categories