Ricardo Formosinho


Ricardo Manuel Nunes Formosinho is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and a manager.

Playing career

Born in Setúbal, Formosinho spent most of his career with local Vitória Futebol Clube, making his Primeira Liga debut during 1974–75 and finishing the season with only two league appearances. In the following years he became a regular for the Sado River club, scoring a career-best six goals in 26 matches in 1976–77 as it finished in sixth position.
After three years in the top level, two with Varzim S.C. and one with Amora FC, Formosinho returned to Vitória for a further five campaigns, the last being spent in the second level. In the 1987 off-season, the 31-year-old returned to the latter tier and joined S.C. Farense, appearing in 27 games in his first year and being relegated in his second.
Formosinho retired from football in June 1991 after one season with another Algarve side, S.C. Olhanense, in division three. He appeared in 286 top level matches over 14 seasons, netting 20 times.

Coaching career

Formosinho started working as a manager with his last team, acting as player-coach in the 1990–91 season and leading them to promotion to the second tier. For the remainder of the decade he coached in the second and third divisions, attaining another promotion to the former competition in 1999 with Imortal DC.
In the 2000s, Formosinho continued working in the same divisions, his biggest achievement being leading F.C. Penafiel to the fifth position in level two 2000–01. In 2003–04 he was also part of José Mourinho's coaching staff at FC Porto, with the campaign ending in national championship and UEFA Champions League conquest.
In the 2004–05 season, Formosinho was in charge of C.D. Santa Clara in the second division, being appointed for the last seven rounds and helping the financially troubled Azores club finally avoid relegation, winning three games, drawing one and losing three. In the following campaign, he returned to his main side Vitória and worked as both technical director and reserve team coach.
Late into the decade, Formosinho also plied his trade in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. He also worked with Mourinho at Real Madrid in the scouting department. In July 2013, he was sacked as Angola's C.R. Caála manager.
Formosinho was appointed as head coach of Malaysian club Kuala Lumpur FA for the 2015 season, being relieved of his duties after less than three months in charge due to poor results. In the summer of 2016 he again paired with Mourinho, acting as his assistant at Manchester United; in November 2019, they re-joined at fellow English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.