João Resende Alves

João António Ferreira Resende Alves (born 5 December 1952) is a Portuguese football manager and former player.

A skilled attacking midfielder, he was considered one of the best Portuguese players of his generation, and earned the nickname Luvas Pretas from the black gloves he used to wear while playing following in the style of his grandfather Carlos Alves.

During his career he represented mainly, with equal individual and team success, Benfica and Boavista, also coaching the latter club on three occasions.

Playing career Club Born in Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro District, Alves started playing at youth level for Sanjoanense, before being recruited in 1969 by Benfica. His first professional team was Varzim in the 1972–73 season, followed by Montijo, the latter being his first Primeira Liga experience.

Alves moved to his first major club, Boavista, for the 1974–75 campaign, where he first showed more of his talent, earning him a transfer to Spain's Salamanca, where he remained two more years. He then returned to Portugal and Benfica, only to move after one year to Paris Saint-Germain.

Failing to impress in France, Alves immediately moved back to the Estádio da Luz, where he would play for the next three seasons. He then re-joined Boavista, ending his career during 1984–85 at the age of 32 to become the latter team's coach.

Coaching career Alves became a coach after finishing his player career, managing Boavista on three separate occasions, Estrela Amadora (leading the Amadora team to an historical 1990 Cup of Portugal triumph), Vitória de Guimarães, Belenenses, Salamanca, Campomaiorense, Farense, Académica de Coimbra and Leixões. In 1996–97, he was one of three managers as former side Salamanca returned to La Liga after a second-place finish. However, following poor results achieved by his successor and the club's takeover by Hugh Quennec, he was reinstated as manager in April 2012: in the final five games of the campaign results improved, with the team achieving four wins and one draw – this included a 2–1 win over eventual champions Basel, which ended Servette's streak of 17 consecutive defeats against that opponent as well as ending their 26-match unbeaten run – and the side eventually qualified for the UEFA Europa League. He left at the end of the season, and came back to management on 9 January 2020 with Cova da Piedade, last-placed in the same league. They were relegated in May when the campaign was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he openly attacked the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional for the decision.

Managerial statistics

Boavista August 1990 November 1990 Estrela Amadora July 1988 June 1990 Boavista August 1990 November 1990 Vitória Guimarães January 1991 May 1992 Estrela Amadora July 1993 May 1994 Belenenses October 1994 May 1996 Salamanca July 1996 September 1996 Boavista November 1996 12 January 1997 Campomaiorense October 1997 29 November 1998 Farense February 1999 January 2000 Académica December 2000 3 December 2002 Estrela Amadora 6 March 2003 11 November 2003 Leixões 5 November 2003 12 January 2004 Servette 7 October 2009 28 November 2011 Servette 25 April 2012 4 September 2012

Honours Player Boavista Taça de Portugal: 1974–75, 1975–76

Benfica Primeira Liga: 1980–81, 1982–83 Taça de Portugal: Segunda Liga: 1992–93

Individual Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 1975