Rui Duarte

Coaching career After retiring in 2015 at the age of 37, Duarte worked as an assistant to Lázaro Oliveira at Farense, and took the helm on the latter's dismissal on 2 April 2017. In his first full season in charge of the side from Faro he won promotion from the third division with a penalty shootout victory against U.D. Vilafranquense in the semi-finals, but lost the championship game 2–1 to C.D. Mafra on 10 June 2018.

On 4 February 2019, Duarte resigned from Farense, who were tenth in second tier after a five-game winless run that left them that many points outside the relegation zone. He returned to the same league on 4 October at second-from-bottom Casa Pia A.C. after the sacking of Luís Loureiro but, on 17 December, he quit having won once in nine fixtures and the team's ranking unaltered.

Duarte signed for C.D. Trofense on 27 December 2020, after the resignation of António Barbosa. On 6 June the following year, his team were crowned champions of division three via an extra-time goal by Keffel against Estrela. His resignation was accepted on 19 November, with the team 14th in the second tier.

Duarte was appointed manager of S.C. Braga's under-23 side in June 2022. On 3 April 2024, he was promoted to the first team following Artur Jorge's departure to Botafogo FR and until the arrival of Daniel Sousa at the start of the following campaign. His debut three days later was a 3–0 loss at home to F.C. Arouca, the team led precisely by Sousa.

On 20 October 2024, Duarte became C.S. Marítimo's third coach of the second-division season after Fábio Pereira and Silas. He was dismissed the following 6 January, having overseen six losses in nine matches.

Duarte moved abroad for the first time in his career on 4 June 2025, taking over Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Athletic Club (MG). On 17 February 2026, after suffering relegation in the Campeonato Mineiro, he left by mutual consent.

Managerial statistics

Honours Trofense Campeonato de Portugal: 2020–21