Alexandre Guimarães
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Borges Guimarães (born November 7, 1959) is a Brazil
ian-born (Maceió
, Alagoas
in the northeast of Brazil), Costa Rica
n-raised ex-footballer
. He arrived at Costa Rica at the age of twelve As a player, Guimarães played for Durpanel San Blas, Municipal Puntarenas, Deportivo Saprissa (the most popular soccer team of the country) and Turrialba FC. He was national champion three times with Saprissa in 1982, 1988 and 1989 and totted up 95 goals in 377 official matches.
In addition to making 16 appearances with the Costa Rican team including three matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
. He became a Costa Rican citizen in 1985.
After retiring as a player, he became one of the most successful coaches in Costa Rica's history. He started coaching A.D. Belemita, the C.S. Herediano, achieving good results with both teams, this lead him to be hired by Saprissa, where he worked for several years, winning three national tournaments with them. His last Costarrican team was C. S. Cartagines, a stint that was cathastrophic, ending with his dismisal, with the team almost relegated to the second tier and in financial troubles do to high salaries on players that did not show their quality. He has also coached several teams internationally, such as CSD Comunicaciones of Guatemala
, Real Irapuato and Dorados de Sinaloa
in Mexico
.
He is best known for his great achievements as Costa Rica's national squad
head coach, leading them to an almost perfect qualifiers to the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. Not having advanced to the second round, "Guima" was replaced as the head coach of the national team. Later he would regain his position, but was handed out a the squad in a bad state. Still, he led Costa Rica's team the 2006 World Cup, after which he quit from the squad given the team's poor performance in the tournament.
On November 7, 2006, on his 47th birthday, Guimaraes was chosen to the head coach position for the Panama national football team
. And in April 2009, he has moved to the Middle East
to start a new challenge coaching the famous United Arab Emirates
Club, Al Wasl FC
starting from the 2009/2010 Season.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian-born (Maceió
Maceió
Maceió is the capital and the largest city of the coastal state Alagoas, Brazil. The name "maceió" is of Indian origin, and designates the natural spontaneously courses of water which flow out of the soil...
, Alagoas
Alagoas
Alagoas is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco ; Sergipe ; Bahia ; and the Atlantic Ocean . It occupies an area of 27,767 km², being slightly larger than Haiti...
in the northeast of Brazil), Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n-raised ex-footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He arrived at Costa Rica at the age of twelve As a player, Guimarães played for Durpanel San Blas, Municipal Puntarenas, Deportivo Saprissa (the most popular soccer team of the country) and Turrialba FC. He was national champion three times with Saprissa in 1982, 1988 and 1989 and totted up 95 goals in 377 official matches.
In addition to making 16 appearances with the Costa Rican team including three matches in the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. He became a Costa Rican citizen in 1985.
After retiring as a player, he became one of the most successful coaches in Costa Rica's history. He started coaching A.D. Belemita, the C.S. Herediano, achieving good results with both teams, this lead him to be hired by Saprissa, where he worked for several years, winning three national tournaments with them. His last Costarrican team was C. S. Cartagines, a stint that was cathastrophic, ending with his dismisal, with the team almost relegated to the second tier and in financial troubles do to high salaries on players that did not show their quality. He has also coached several teams internationally, such as CSD Comunicaciones of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Real Irapuato and Dorados de Sinaloa
Dorados de Sinaloa
Club Social y Deportivo Sinaloa, or simply Dorados, is a Mexican professional football club. The club plays its home games in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in the northwest of Mexico. Dorados was the youngest franchise to play in the Primera División de México, having joined the division for the first time...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
He is best known for his great achievements as Costa Rica's national squad
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
head coach, leading them to an almost perfect qualifiers to the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. Not having advanced to the second round, "Guima" was replaced as the head coach of the national team. Later he would regain his position, but was handed out a the squad in a bad state. Still, he led Costa Rica's team the 2006 World Cup, after which he quit from the squad given the team's poor performance in the tournament.
On November 7, 2006, on his 47th birthday, Guimaraes was chosen to the head coach position for the Panama national football team
Panama national football team
The Panama national football team is the national team of Panama and is controlled by the Panamanian Football Federation. Panama reached the 2006 World Cup CONCACAF Final Round in the qualifiers and finished as runners-up at the final game of the 2005 Gold Cup...
. And in April 2009, he has moved to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
to start a new challenge coaching the famous United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
Club, Al Wasl FC
Al Wasl FC
Al Wasl Sports Club is a multi-sports club in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It is best known for its football team.-The Cheetahs:Being one of the most popular clubs in the UAE, AlWasl have had several nicknames. The most famous one being...
starting from the 2009/2010 Season.