Saúl Maldonado

Saúl Blas Maldonado (born 2 July 1961) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Club career Born in Montevideo, Maldonado played amateur football in his home country before moving to Venezuela in 1983 with Deportivo Portugués. In 1985, after the club's dissolution, he moved to Marítimo de Venezuela.

Maldonado subsequently represented Caracas and had short spells at Estudiantes de Mérida and Deportivo Italia before returning to the club. He retired in 1997. Deportivo Petare and Tucanes de Amazonas before joining his brother's staff at Deportivo Táchira in January 2016. He was also his assistant at Zulia, before returning to managerial duties on 11 September 2018, after being named at the helm of Tauro in Panama.

On 15 August 2020, Maldonado was appointed manager of the Panama national under-20 team, while also being an assistant of Thomas Christiansen in the full side. On 11 April 2021, he took over Sporting San Miguelito, but left the club in November.

On 2 December 2022, after more than a year without a club, Maldonado returned to Panama after being named Plaza Amador manager. He resigned the following 17 April.

After spending a period working in the Venezuelan Football Federation, Maldonado was appointed in charge of Angostura on 26 September 2024.

Personal life Maldonado's younger brother Carlos and nephew Giancarlo were also footballers. The former played as a midfielder, while the latter was a forward, and both later became managers. His son Javier is also a defender.

Honours Tauro Liga Panameña de Fútbol: 2018 Apertura, 2019 Apertura