Paco Fortes
Encyclopedia
Francisco 'Paco' Fortes Calvo (born 4 January 1955 in Barcelona
, Catalonia
) is a retired Spanish
football forward and manager
.
Even though he also played for FC Barcelona
, his career was mainly associated with Farense in Portugal
, either as a player or manager.
's youth ranks, going on to spend four years with the first team, also being loaned one season to CD Málaga
. He only featured regularly for the Catalans
in his first year, 1975–76 - 23 games, three goals - adding 11 UEFA Cup games in two separate seasons (three goals); he made his La Liga
debut on 5 October 1975 at the age of 20, in a 3–0 home win against Granada CF
.
Released by the Blaugrana in 1979, Fortes signed for neighbours RCD Español
, staying with the club for three seasons. Subsequently, he joined Real Valladolid
still in the top level, going on to amass overall league totals of 175 games and 14 goals; on 16 November 1975, he gained his only cap
for Spain
, playing 15 minutes in 2–2 draw in Romania
for the UEFA Euro 1976 qualifiers.
In the 1984 summer, 29-year old Fortes signed with S.C. Farense in Portugal
, being relegated from the top division in his first season, but gaining immediate promotion back. He appeared in more than 100 official games for the Algarve outfit during his five-year stint.
Fortes remained at the helm of the club for one full decade, managing four consecutive top-eight finishes from 1991–95, including a best-ever fourth in 1994–95, as Farense qualified to the UEFA Cup for the first time in its history. He was sacked after the 21st round in the 1998–99 campaign, moving to neighbouring Imortal Desportos Clube in the second level
.
In 2001–02, after only six games with União de Lamas (also division two), Fortes returned to his beloved Farense, with the club in the midst of a severe financial crisis. He was one of four coaches in the season - this included his former player Hajry Redouane - as the team was eventually relegated. After leaving midway through the following campaign, he spent two full seasons and part of a third with C.D. Pinhalnovense (third division
).
After reuniting with Redouane at Raja CA Casablanca
, Fortes returned to Pinhalnovense for one final year, then lost all connection with the football world. Undergoing serious financial problems, he contacted former club Barcelona's Agrupació Barça Veterans, who arranged for him to work as a controller in the Port of Barcelona.
Valladolid
Farense
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
football forward and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Even though he also played for FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, his career was mainly associated with Farense in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, either as a player or manager.
Playing career
Fortes emerged through local FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's youth ranks, going on to spend four years with the first team, also being loaned one season to CD Málaga
CD Málaga
Club Deportivo Málaga was a Spanish football club based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It played twenty seasons in La Liga, before being dissolved in 1992....
. He only featured regularly for the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
in his first year, 1975–76 - 23 games, three goals - adding 11 UEFA Cup games in two separate seasons (three goals); he made his La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut on 5 October 1975 at the age of 20, in a 3–0 home win against Granada CF
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
.
Released by the Blaugrana in 1979, Fortes signed for neighbours RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, staying with the club for three seasons. Subsequently, he joined Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
still in the top level, going on to amass overall league totals of 175 games and 14 goals; on 16 November 1975, he gained his only cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, playing 15 minutes in 2–2 draw in Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
for the UEFA Euro 1976 qualifiers.
In the 1984 summer, 29-year old Fortes signed with S.C. Farense in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, being relegated from the top division in his first season, but gaining immediate promotion back. He appeared in more than 100 official games for the Algarve outfit during his five-year stint.
Coaching career
In late 1988, aged 33, Fortes retired from football and immediately started coaching Farense. He was in charge of eight games in that season, winning four and drawing two, but the team eventually could not escape relegation after ranking 18th - promotion befell in the following campaign, as champions.Fortes remained at the helm of the club for one full decade, managing four consecutive top-eight finishes from 1991–95, including a best-ever fourth in 1994–95, as Farense qualified to the UEFA Cup for the first time in its history. He was sacked after the 21st round in the 1998–99 campaign, moving to neighbouring Imortal Desportos Clube in the second level
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
.
In 2001–02, after only six games with União de Lamas (also division two), Fortes returned to his beloved Farense, with the club in the midst of a severe financial crisis. He was one of four coaches in the season - this included his former player Hajry Redouane - as the team was eventually relegated. After leaving midway through the following campaign, he spent two full seasons and part of a third with C.D. Pinhalnovense (third division
Portuguese Second Division
The Portuguese Second Division is a football league in Portugal, situated at the third level of the Portuguese football league system...
).
After reuniting with Redouane at Raja CA Casablanca
Raja CA Casablanca
Raja Club Athletic or Raja is a sports club with sections in many different disciplines in Casablanca, Morocco. Raja was founded on March, 28th 1949 as part of the political struggle against French rule by nationalists who aimed to create a focus for working-class young Moroccans...
, Fortes returned to Pinhalnovense for one final year, then lost all connection with the football world. Undergoing serious financial problems, he contacted former club Barcelona's Agrupació Barça Veterans, who arranged for him to work as a controller in the Port of Barcelona.
Player
Barcelona- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1977–78 - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1978–79
Valladolid
- Copa de la LigaCopa de la LigaThe Copa de la Liga was a Spanish football tournament created in 1982.Due to time constraints, saturation and club pressure, the competition only lasted four years, being cancelled in 1986...
: 1983–84
Farense
- Liga de HonraLiga de HonraThe Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
: 1985–86