Paulo Torres

Paulo Manuel Banha Torres (born 25 November 1971) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He is currently manager of Girabola club C.D. Huíla.

Playing career Torres was born in Évora, Alentejo Region. During his career, which was spent entirely in his country and Spain, the free kick specialist played for Sporting CP (this included a very brief loan at Lisbon neighbours Atlético Clube de Portugal), S.C. Campomaiorense, UD Salamanca – spending one season each in the country's two major divisions – Rayo Vallecano, G.D. Chaves, CD Leganés, S.C.U. Torreense, F.C. Penafiel and Imortal DC, retiring at 31.

Torres was part of the Portugal national under-20 team, dubbed The Golden Generation, that won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil, scoring two goals through long-distance free kicks and three in total during the tournament. He also won two full caps, both the following year.

Coaching career Torres took up coaching immediately after retiring as a player, managing exclusively in the lower leagues in Portugal. On 29 November 2013, he was appointed as head coach of the Guinea-Bissau national team.

In September 2015, Torres received a four-match ban from the Confederation of African Football for abusing a referee during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game against Zambia three months earlier. He was sacked in March of the following year, after a 3–1 loss to Liberia.

Torres worked in the Angolan Girabola the following seasons, successively being in charge of G.D. Interclube, Kabuscorp SCP, G.D. Sagrada Esperança and C.R.D. Libolo.

Career statistics International

Honours Sporting CP Taça de Portugal: 1994–95

Portugal U20 FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1991