CARLOS CARVALHAL FACTFILE

Born: Braga, 1965 (Age 49) Playing Career: A centre-back, Carvalhal began his career with hometown club SC Braga, making his debut at 17 and playing in the 1984-85 UEFA Cup against reigning champions Tottenham (a tie they lost 9-0 on aggregate). After a season at Chaves, he returned to become a mainstay in the side, playing 60 top-flight games and earning a move to Portuguese giants Porto in 1988. Unable to break into the Porto side, Carvalhal played 23 times for Beira-Mar before returning for a third spell at Braga in 1990. He then dropped down the divisions, spending one season at Tirsense, two at Chaves and three at Espinho before retiring in 1998, aged 32. Carvalhal also made nine appearances for Portugal Under-21s. Managerial Career: Appointed manager of Espinho on his retirement, Carvalhal combined his studies with stints at Aves and Freamunde before joining third division Leixoes in 2001. An immediate success, he led the club to the final of the Portuguese Cup, promotion to the second division and the first round of the UEFA Cup before leaving to join Vitoria Setubal in 2003. Promoted to the top-flight in his one and only season at Vitoria, Carvalhal then spent single-seasons with Belenenses, Braga and Beira-Mar before returning to Setubal in 2007, yet again working his managerial magic by clinching the inaugural League Cup. Spells at Greek side Tripolis and Maritimo were then followed by a big move to Sporting Lisbon as interim manager in 2009, but a fourth-place finish scuppered any chance of a permanent post. A year-long stay at Besiktas ended in 2012 and, after stints in the UAE and coaching Portugal’s Under-21s, Carvalhal was named Owls boss on June 30.