Introduction
Antônio Lopes dos Santos, usually known as Antônio Lopes (born June 12, 1941 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state) is a Brazilian football head coach and former footballer.
Before being a football head coach, he worked as a chief police officer in Rio de Janeiro city.
Antônio Lopes was the assistant manager of the Brazil national football team, managed by Émerson Leão, in 2000. He was also the assistant manager of the Brazilian national team, managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, during the successful 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign.
In 2005, he was the manager of Corinthians, replacing Márcio Bittencourt, during most of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season. The club, with Antônio Lopes as its head coach, won the competition.
Playing career
He played for Olaria from 1958 to 1961, and played for Bonsucesso in 1962.
Coaching career
During his career, he managed several clubs, including foreign clubs like Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates, Belenenses of Portugal, Cerro Porteño of Paraguay, and Brazilian clubs like Fluminense, Flamengo, Sport Recife, Portuguesa, Internacional, Santos, Atlético Paranaense, Grêmio, Vasco da Gama, Coritiba, Paraná, Corinthians and Goiás. On March 9, 2010, Atlético Paranaense executive board had decided to suddenly dismiss the coach for undisclosed reasons and despite the fact that the team's results were satisfactory, so far (six wins, four draws and only one loss). Leandro Niehues has been named interim coach until a full-time replacement is found. On July 12, 2011, Antônio Lopes was hired as América-MG's head coach.
Personal life
His son, Júnior Lopes, is also a football manager.
Honours
- Club
- FIFA World Cup: 2002
- Copa Libertadores de América: 1998
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1997, 2005
- Campeonato Carioca: 1982, 1998, 2003
- Campeonato Paranaense: 1996, 2004
- Campeonato Pernambucano: 1988
- Campeonato Gaúcho: 1992, 1994
- Copa do Brasil: 1992
- Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1999
- Individual
- Placar magazine's manager of year: 2005