Ludogorets was able to attract a new head manager. His name is Paulo Autuori and he is a legend in Brazilian and world football. Autuori was introduced in the presence of the managing director of the club Angel Petrichev, the sports director Metodi Tomanov, Svetoslav Dyakov and Marcelinho. Autuori was officially introduced on Wednesday during a press conference which also featured representatives of the new official sponsor Efbet.
‘Ludogorets follows the path to grow. We are setting higher goals all the time. It might have seemed as too much of a bold statement when we said that our goal was to pass through the Champions League groups, but we achieved that. We aim to be better than the average European level and that can be achieved by a Bulgarian team’, said Petrichev.
The managing director made it clear that the management wanted Dimitar Dimitrov to stay, but he decided to resign, because the main decisions about the team will be taken by the Brazilian manager.
‘I would like to thank Dimitar Dimitrov for the good moments. I have no doubt that he will have a new team soon, because he is a desired coach and will remain unassigned for long’, Petrichev added.
‘It is an honor for me to be here and to become a part of this ambitious project to continue developing Ludogorets’, said Autuori. ‘In my 43-year-old career I learned that everything can happen. I know that I want to be in this position. I spent the last few years as a head manager in Brasil and I have always worked on good projects. I want the team to grow and be successful. I have already a selected team to work with, and me and Metodi Tomanov will cooperate. I am happy to be in this country and to become a part of this team’, Autuori added.
This is Paulo Autuori
He was born on 25th of August 1956 in Rio de Janeiro.
Professional career: 1975-79 – Portuguesa, 1979-81 – America, 1982-84 – Sao Bento, 1985 – Marilia, 1985 – Bonsucesso, 1986 – Botafogo, 1986-87 – Vitoria Guimaraes, 1987-89 – National Madeira, 1989-91 – Vitoria Guimaraes, 1991-95 – Maritimo, 1995 – Botafogo, 1996-97 – Benfica, 1998 – Botafogo, 1999 – International, 1999 – Santos, 1999-00 - Cruseiro, 2000 – Vitoria Guimaraes, 2001 – Aliansa Lima, 2001 – Botafogo, 2002 – Sporting Cristal, 2003-05 – Peru, 2005 – Sao Paulo, 2006 – Kashima Antlers, 2007 – Cruseiro, 2007-09 – Al Raiyan, 2011-12 – Qatar (Olympic team), 2012-13 – Vasco da Gama, 2013 – Sao Paulo, 2014 – Atletico Mineiro, 2015 – Sereso Osaca, 2016-17 – Atletico Paranense.
Successes: Champion of Brazil (1995); Champion of Peru (2001 and 2002), Copa Libertadores (1997 and 2005), World club title (2005).