António Folha back in action again, two years after FC Porto | OneFootball

The appointment of the 55-year-old Portuguese coach marks the former international winger’s return to management, around two years after leaving his role in charge of FC Porto’s B team, a position he held for four and a half seasons.

According to Cluj, the contract may be extended for another season if the objectives agreed between the two parties are met.

In announcing the appointment, the club highlighted the Portuguese coach’s career, which began as part of the “Dragons” coaching staff.

As a head coach, António Folha managed Portimonense in the Primeira Liga and was also in charge of Porto’s B team, with this now being his first experience in Romanian football.

The new Cluj coach’s résumé also includes a long playing career, preceded by winning the Under-20 World Cup in 1989 in Saudi Arabia.

A Portugal international who took part in the final stage of Euro 1996, he stood out on FC Porto’s left wing, winning six national league titles, four Portuguese Cups and four Cândido de Oliveira Super Cups with the club. He also played for Belgium’s Standard Liège and Greece’s AEK Athens, as well as having spells at Sporting de Braga, Gil Vicente and Penafiel.

Folha thus becomes the latest Portuguese coach to take charge of Cluj, a club that has already had several Portuguese managers, among them Toni Conceição, who enjoyed successful spells with the Cluj-Napoca side and won the Romanian Cup in 2009.

Former Portugal international Paulo Sérgio and historic former FC Porto captain Jorge Costa also managed Cluj, with the latter being part of the campaign that ended with the national league title in the 2011/12 season.

Paulo Sérgio, who took over the following season (2012/13), did not win any official titles, but led the club in a historic Champions League campaign and qualification for the Europa League.

António Folha will find a league with a strong Portuguese presence, after compatriot Filipe Coelho was crowned national champion with Craiova last season.

In charge of the Craiova side, the 45-year-old coach won the domestic double — adding the league title to the Romanian Cup — ending the club’s 35-year wait for a league championship.

In his new challenge, one of António Folha’s first targets will be Cluj’s participation in the Conference League.

The Romanian side, which finished last season’s league campaign in third place, will begin its European campaign in the competition’s second qualifying round.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.