José Romão


José Pratas Romão is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a winger, and is a coach.

Playing career

Born in Beja, Alentejo, Romão started playing for local C.D. Beja. He also represented Vitória de Guimarães, AD Fafe, F.C. Penafiel, G.D. Riopele, G.C. Alcobaça and F.C. Vizela during his 15-year professional career.
Romão spent five seasons in the Primeira Liga with Guimarães, never managing to be more than a reserve player. His last campaign in that level was 1982–83, being relegated with Alcobaça, and he retired in June 1984 at only 30 years of age.

Coaching career

Romão started working as a manager immediately after retiring, being in charge as Vizela had its first and only experience in the top flight in 1984–85 – the team finished in the 16th and last position in the league, being immediately relegated. From the start of the 1987–88 season until the end of the 1999–2000 campaign he always worked in the Portuguese top tier, starting with Penafiel and being mainly in charge of G.D. Chaves, which he led to the fifth place in 1989–90 in a total of three stints.
In the summer of 2000, Romão joined António Oliveira's staff at the Portuguese national team, holding his position until the end of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Subsequently, he was in charge of the under-21 side, and was also the nation's manager at the ill-fated campaign in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Romão started managing abroad in 2005 with Wydad AC, then had spells with Al-Arabi SC, Raja Casablanca, Kuwait SC and Al-Arabi SC. During his stint in the Moroccan Botola, he led both WAC and Raja to the national championship.