Date of birth: 20 June 1969
Nationality: Portuguese
Playing career: CF Estrela da Amadora, Vitória SC, SL Benfica, Real Oviedo CF, Sporting Clube de Portugal
Coaching career: Sporting Clube de Portugal, Portugal

• A former international midfielder who made an instant impact upon rising to the top job at Sporting in October 2005, Paulo Bento has enjoyed success throughout his footballing life. He began his playing career at Estrela da Amadora, helping them to the Portuguese Cup in 1989/90.

• Moved on to Vitória SC before a switch to Benfica brought another cup triumph in 1995/96, prior to four seasons in Spain with Real Oviedo.

• Returned to Sporting for 2000/01, helping them win the Portuguese double the following season. Retired from playing in summer 2004 and quickly accepted a role in the Sporting coaching set-up where he guided the youth team to the national title in 2004/05.

• In October 2005, promoted to first-team coach after the sacking of José Peseiro and quickly improved the side's fortunes, leading Sporting on a run of ten straight victories between January and April 2006.

• Started 2008/09 with a Super Cup win against FC Porto but failed to add to that and left the club midway through the following campaign after a run of poor results. In September 2010 was appointed Carlos Queiroz's successor as Portugal coach after the team had taken only one point from their first two UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying games and oversaw a revival that culminated in a play-off win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.