PAQUETA

Nationality : Brazilian
Date of Birth : 27 August 1958

Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Cesar Dias Castro, better known as Marcos Paqueta, prides himself on one particularly unique string to his bow. The 47-year-old Brazilian is the only manager to have ever been crowned as a world champion twice in the same year, achieving that historic feat as coach of the Brazil U-17 and U-20 squads in 2003.

Paqueta began his playing career with the Rio de Janeiro club America, where he enjoyed a five-year spell between 1973 and 1978. A move to local giants Vasco da Gama followed, where he remained until 1980. Born and bred on the island of Paqueta in the heart of Rio's Guanabara Bay, it did not take long for the young Marcos to be christened 'Marcos Paqueta' by his Vasco team-mates - a nickname that has stuck to this day.

Paqueta's career went full circle when he took up his first managerial post back at America in 1987. From there he joined the Shabab Club in the United Arab Emirates in 1988, staying for two seasons before returning to Brazil and Flamengo, where he coached both the youth and senior teams.

Paqueta formed an on-off relationship with Flamengo for over a decade. His first flirtation with Brazil's most popular club began in 1988 and lasted only a year. He returned to the club in 1990, this time remaining until 1998. He then made a controversial to traditional rivals Fluminense, only to return to Flamengo in 2001 and leave yet again in 2004.

However turbulent his time at Flamengo, Paqueta will be remembered for the titles he won with the club's juniors. Under his guidance, Flamengo became Brazilian U-17 champions in 1991 and 1998, and Rio state champions at U-20 level in 1994. The U-20 team also won the Rio de Janeiro, Venezuela and Costa Rica Cups in 1997 and the following year Paqueta oversaw further successes in the state championship and the Growning Cup in the Netherlands.

While at Flamengo, Paqueta was invited to work with both the Brazilian U-17 and U-20 teams. It was a wise move as his success rate virtually doubled. In 2001 both teams returned victorious from the Barcelona tournament. The next year his U-17s were winners of the International Championship while his U-21s beat all-comers at the Toulon tournament in France. And in 2003, Paqueta's hard work was duly rewarded as he recorded his unique double victory at the U-17 and U-20 world championships.

On his return to the Brazilian domestic scene in 2004, Paqueta briefly took over at Avai. Yet his time in charge at the club was cut short when Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal came calling. He had a successful spell there, leading Al Hilal to victory in the HRH Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Cup in his first season in charge. This feat was repeated in 2005 alongside victories in the Peace Tournament, the Viceroy Cup and the King's Cup.

With such an impressive CV, Paqueta was offered the chance to take over from Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon as manager of Saudi Arabia in December 2005. Following his triumphs at youth level, he will be hoping to give a good account of himself at another FIFA tournament, this time the FIFA World Cup™, when it begins in Germany in June.

International Side:

• 2003 Brazil U-17 and U-20
• Since 2005 Saudi Arabia

Clubs:

• 1987 America-RJ (BRA)
• 1988-1989 Al Shabab (UAE)
• 1990-1998 Flamengo (BRA)
• 1999-2000 Fluminense (BRA)
• 2001-2003 Flamengo (BRA)
• 2004 Avai (BRA)
• 2004-2005 Al Hilal (KSA)