António Folha


António José dos Santos Folha is a Portuguese retired footballer who played mostly as a winger, and a current manager.
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 227 matches and 22 goals over 12 seasons, mainly in representation of Porto. He also appeared in the competition with Gil Vicente and Braga, and was part of the Portuguese squad at Euro 1996.
Folha worked as a manager after retiring, starting out at Porto B before joining Portimonense in 2018.

Club career

Folha was born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District. In his career he played mostly for FC Porto, with loan stints in Portugal, Belgium and Greece, being often used as a substitute by his main club where he won a total of 18 major titles ; from 1994 to 1996, he had his best years with the team, contributing with ten goals in 58 games as they won back-to-back national championships.
At the end of the 2002–03 season, aged 32, Folha was finally released by Porto and joined F.C. Penafiel of the second division, helping to a return to the top flight in his first year. He retired from football in 2005, and joined his last team's coaching staff immediately afterwards, also serving a two-season stint as assistant manager, one in each of the major levels.
Folha returned to Porto once again in 2008, being named assistant with the junior side and remaining in the position for several seasons. Later, he coached the reserves.
In June 2018, Folha replaced the departed Vítor Oliveira at the helm of top division club Portimonense SC. He finished 12th in his first season on the Algarve, and resigned on 18 January 2020 when second from bottom having lost to last-placed C.D. Aves.

International career

Folha earned 26 caps for Portugal between during a three-year period, and was part of the roster for UEFA Euro 1996, appearing in three matches in an eventual quarter-final exit and assisting Ricardo Sá Pinto in the 1–1 group stage draw against Denmark.
Previously, he helped the under-20 team win the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

Honours

Club

Porto
AEK
Portugal U-20