Rui Bento

Rui Fernando da Silva Calapez Pereira Bento (born 14 January 1972) is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a central defender, and a current coach.
Over the course of 13 seasons he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 321 games and five goals, representing mainly Boavista (nine years).

Born in Silves, Algarve, Bento first represented S.L. Benfica, but would gain national recognition with Boavista FC: already relocated as a defensive midfielder he helped it to its only Primeira Liga championship in the 2000–01 season, adding the 1997 domestic cup.

After three years at Sporting Clube de Portugal, battling with namesake Paulo Bento for first-choice status, Bento retired from playing at the age of 32, and started coaching at lowly Académico de Viseu FC. In the 2008 summer he returned to Boavista with the club now in the second division, and the side eventually suffered a second consecutive relegation.

Bento was appointed at S.C. Beira-Mar midway through 2010–11 after taking the place of Leonardo Jardim, only winning twice in nine top division games until the end of the campaign (two draws and five losses) but still leading the Aveiro team away from the relegation zone. He was relieved of his duties on 26 February 2012.

Bento was capped six times for Portugal. His first game took place at 20 November 1991 in a 1–0 win over Greece for the UEFA Euro 1992 qualifiers, and his last was a 0–4 defeat to France on 25 April 2001, in a friendly match.

Bento also played Olympic football, helping the national side finish fourth at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Previously, he was a starter for the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship winners, in a competition played on home soil.

In July 2009, Bento was named the Portugal under-17 manager.

Club

Benfica

• Portuguese Supercup: Runner-up 1991

Boavista

• Portuguese Cup: 1996–97
• Portuguese League: 2000–01

Sporting

• Portuguese League: 2001–02
• Portuguese Cup: 2001–02
• Portuguese Supercup: 2002

Country

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1991