José Sousa

{{short description|Portuguese football manager and former player}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = José Sousa

| image =

| fullname = José Carlos Leite de Sousa{{WorldFootball.net|sousa_2}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|10|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = São João da Madeira, Portugal

| height = 1.80 m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1989–1993

| youthyears2 = 1993–1996

| youthclubs1 = Sanjoanense

| youthclubs2 = Benfica

| years1 = 1996–1999

| years2 = 1996–1997

| years3 = 1999–2000

| years4 = 2000–2003

| years5 = 2000–2001

| years6 = 2002

| years7 = 2002–2003

| years8 = 2003–2007

| years9 = 2008

| years10 = 2008–2009

| years11 = 2009–2010

| clubs1 = Benfica

| clubs2 = → Alverca (loan)

| clubs3 = Alverca

| clubs4 = Porto

| clubs5 = → Braga (loan)

| clubs6 = → Farense (loan)

| clubs7 = → Belenenses (loan)

| clubs8 = Belenenses

| clubs9 = Olympiakos Nicosia

| clubs10 = Beira-Mar

| clubs11 = Arouca

| caps1 = 35

| caps2 = 34

| caps3 = 24

| caps4 = 0

| caps5 = 18

| caps6 = 8

| caps7 = 15

| caps8 = 59

| caps9 = 3

| caps10 = 20

| caps11 = 18

| totalcaps = 234

| goals1 = 1

| goals2 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 3

| goals9 = 0

| goals10 = 1

| goals11 = 0

| totalgoals = 6

| nationalyears1 = 1993

| nationalyears2 = 1996–1998

| nationalyears3 = 1998–1999

| nationalyears4 = 2000

| nationalteam1 = Portugal U15

| nationalteam2 = Portugal U20

| nationalteam3 = Portugal U21

| nationalteam4 = Portugal B

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalcaps2 = 6

| nationalcaps3 = 8

| nationalcaps4 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2013–2016

| manageryears2 = 2016

| manageryears3 = 2017–2020

| manageryears4 = 2023–2024

| manageryears5 = 2024–2025

| managerclubs1 = Belenenses (youth)

| managerclubs2 = Vilafranquense

| managerclubs3 = Alenquer e Benfica (youth)

| managerclubs4 = Belenenses (youth)

| managerclubs5 = Belenenses

}}

José Carlos Leite de Sousa (born 9 October 1977) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a right-back, currently a manager.

He totalled 159 matches and four goals in the Primeira Liga over ten seasons, representing mainly in the competition Belenenses (five years).

Club career

Born in São João da Madeira, Sousa started playing with his local club A.D. Sanjoanense. In 1993, he joined the youth ranks of S.L. Benfica, from where he was loaned to F.C. Alverca who acted as the farm team.{{cite web|url=http://www.belenensesjovem.com/juniores/204-juniores-jose-sousa-em-entrevista.html|title=José Sousa em entrevista|trans-title=José Sousa in interview|publisher=Belenenses Jovem|language=pt|date=15 November 2013|access-date=31 August 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://tribuna.expresso.pt/a-casa-as-costas/2021-02-13-O-Preudhomme-punha-tabaco-entre-os-dentes-e-o-labio.-Experimentei-ardeu-me-cuspi-fiquei-branco.-E-ganhei-um-lugar-a-mesa-do-Joao-Pinto|title=“O Preud'homme punha tabaco entre os dentes e o lábio. Experimentei: ardeu-me, cuspi, fiquei branco. E ganhei um lugar à mesa do João Pinto”|trans-title="Preud'homme would put tobacco between his teeth and his lip. I tried it: that burned, I spat it, I turned white. And that got me a place at João Pinto's table"|newspaper=Expresso|last=Simões de Abreu|first=Alexandra|language=pt|date=13 February 2021|access-date=11 November 2024}}

After a successful debut season with the Ribatejo Province side, the 20-year-old Sousa was recalled by Benfica manager Manuel José in August 1997, due to a good performance in a Segunda Liga match against F.C. Paços de Ferreira. Dubbed the new António Veloso by the press, he made his Primeira Liga debut for the latter on 13 September 1997 in a home draw against Académica de Coimbra, becoming a regular starter and scoring his only goal for them in a 4–1 win over Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade;{{cite book|last=Tovar|first=Rui Miguel|title=Almanaque do Benfica|publisher=Lua de Papel|location=Portugal|year=2012|page=557|isbn=978-989-23-2087-8}}{{cite book|last=Tovar|first=Rui Miguel|title=Almanaque do Benfica|publisher=Lua de Papel|location=Portugal|year=2012|page=559|isbn=978-989-23-2087-8}} Graeme Souness brought in Gary Charles midway through the 1998–99 campaign, and his playing time was subsequently vastly reduced.{{cite book|last=Tovar|first=Rui Miguel|title=Almanaque do Benfica|publisher=Lua de Papel|location=Portugal|year=2012|page=570|isbn=978-989-23-2087-8}}

Sousa signed a permanent deal with Alverca in summer 1999,{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sporting/detalhe/couceiro-gere-todo-o-futebol-do-alverca.html|title=Couceiro gere todo o futebol do Alverca|trans-title=Couceiro manages all of Alverca football|newspaper=Record|last=Martins|first=Filomena|language=pt|date=13 July 1999|access-date=31 August 2015}} staying only one year before agreeing to a five-year contract at FC Porto on 5 August 2000.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/sp--braga/detalhe/sousa-concorrencia-boa.html|title=Sousa: «Concorrência boa»|trans-title=Sousa: "Good competition"|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=5 August 2000|access-date=31 August 2015}} He was consecutively loaned during his tenure at the Estádio das Antas, however.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/fc-porto/detalhe/portista-sousa-reforca-algarvios.html|title=Portista Sousa reforça algarvios|trans-title=Porto's Sousa strengthens Algarveans|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=6 December 2001|access-date=31 August 2015}}

On 21 August 2002, Sousa joined C.F. Os Belenenses on a one-year loan, moving on a permanent basis ahead of the following season{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/belenenses/detalhe/sousa-fecha-plantel.html|title=Sousa fecha plantel|trans-title=Sousa closes squad|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=21 August 2002|access-date=31 August 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/belenenses/detalhe/sousa-no-treino.html|title=Sousa no treino|trans-title=Sousa in training|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=8 July 2003|access-date=31 August 2015}} and always representing the Lisbon-based side in the top flight. Afterwards, he joined Olympiakos Nicosia from Cyprus, ending his career in 2010 aged 32 after one season with F.C. Arouca in the third division.{{cite news|url=https://omirante.pt/semanario/2016-06-23/desporto/2016-06-22-Antigo-jogador-de-Benfica-e-Porto--e-o-novo-treinador-do-Vilafranquense|title=Antigo jogador de Benfica e Porto é o novo treinador do Vilafranquense|trans-title=Former Benfica and Porto player is the new manager of Vilafranquense|newspaper=O Mirante|language=pt|date=22 June 2016|access-date=9 November 2018}}

In June 2016, following a spell at Belenenses as youth coach, Sousa was appointed manager of third tier team U.D. Vilafranquense. He later worked with Sport Alenquer e Benfica and Belenenses again at the same level.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/7261977828/jose-sousa-e-o-novo-treinador-do-belenenses/|title=José Sousa é o novo treinador do Belenenses|trans-title=José Sousa is the new manager of Belenenses|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=30 May 2024|access-date=11 November 2024}}

Sousa returned to Belenenses on 30 May 2024, now as manager of the first team and following the club's relegation to the Liga 3.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/belenenses/detalhe/jose-sousa-e-o-novo-treinador-do-belenenses|title=José Sousa é o novo treinador do Belenenses|trans-title=José Sousa is the new manager of Belenenses|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=30 May 2024|access-date=11 November 2024}} He led them to the promotion phase, but also managed to collect only one win in 12 games, being dismissed in January 2025.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/7848453483/jose-sousa-deixa-de-ser-treinador-do-belenenses/|title=José Sousa deixa de ser treinador do Belenenses|trans-title=José Sousa is no longer manager of Belenenses|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=27 January 2025|access-date=28 January 2025}}

International career

Sousa earned 18 caps for Portugal all youth levels comprised. He made his debut for the under-21 team on 5 September 1998, playing the first half of a 3–0 away win against Hungary for the 2000 UEFA European Championship qualifiers.{{cite web|url=https://www.fpf.pt/Jogadores/Jogador/playerId/365275|title=Sousa|publisher=Portuguese Football Federation|language=pt|access-date=21 June 2018}}

Personal life

Sousa's son, Bruno Leite, was also a footballer. He spent most of his career in Norway.{{cite news|url=https://www.ta.no/eliteserien/bruno-leite/odd/blir-han-i-odd/s/5-50-46031|title=Blir han i Odd?|trans-title=Will he stay in Odd?|newspaper=Telemarksavisa|last=Øygarden|first=Hans Eivind|language=no|date=4 March 2015|access-date=11 November 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/sport/bruno-leite-har-tilbud-fra-flere-eliteserie-klubber/s/12-95-3423285797|title=Bruno Leite har tilbud fra flere Eliteserie-klubber|trans-title=Bruno Leite has offers from several Eliteserien clubs|newspaper=Nettavisen|last=Giæver|first=Jonas|language=no|date=23 November 2016|access-date=11 November 2024}}

Sousa's uncle António Sousa and his cousin Ricardo were also involved in the sport, as midfielders and managers; the former represented Sanjoanense and Porto as well, also being a longtime Portuguese international.{{cite web|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/fc-porto/antonio-sousa/a-cultura-do-fabrico-dos-sousa|title=«A cultura do fabrico dos Sousa»|trans-title="The manufacturing process of the Sousas"|publisher=Mais Futebol|last=Gouveia|first=Ricardo|language=pt|date=20 October 2016|access-date=21 June 2018}}