Luis Norton de Matos is a former Portuguese footballer who played as a forward and is currently the coach of the Indian national U17 side. The 63-year-old has spent most of his life being involved with the game of football and is aiming to take the young Indian colts to a new high as they participate in their first ever FIFA U-17 World Cup. Here are some interesting facts about the Portuguese :
1) Born in Lisbon, Luis Norton de Matos began playing with local side S.L. Benfica. He was part of the Benfica junior team back in the 1971/72 season when they became National Champions.
2) Throughout his career which includes his youth team years Matos has played for a total of 8 football clubs, namely SL Benfica, Academica, Estoril Praia, Atletico CP, Belenenses, Standard Liege, Portimonense and Estrela Amadora.
3) The Portuguese played in the Belgian top flight with club Standard Liege, helping the side attain the second spot on the table in his second season. He would also win the Belgian Cup during his stint with them.
4) He scored his only goal for the Portuguese national side back in 1982 in a friendly against West Germany. The German side would go on to win the game 3-1.
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5) The 1986-87 season with Estrela da Amadora was the season when de Matos decided to finally hang up his playing boots. It was the first and only time he played in the Second League. Failing the objective of ascending to the First League with the team, the Portuguese decided to call it a day.
6) Luis Norton de Matos admitted that he has a deep-rooted Indian connection. He said so as his great grandfather Arnaldo de Matos was born in Goa.
7) The Portuguese belongs to an affluent family with many locations in Portugal being named after his ancestors - such as Avenue Norton de Matos and Bairro Norton de Matos, the name of the neighbourhood where Académica, one of his former side was located.
8) Luis started his coaching career with second division Club Atletico in 1989. It was in 2005 that he got a chance to coach a team in the top-flight of Portuguese football, when he was signed as a coach by Vitoria de Setubal.
9) In the late 90's, Luis also worked as football director at Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.
AIFF Media10) In the year 2010 Luis Norton de Matos was appointed as the national team coach of the West African nation Guinea-Bissau. He would later also go on to manage SL Benfica B in the second division of Portuguese football. Under his tutelage players like Goncalo Guedes, Renato Sanches, Bernardo Silva and Victor Lindelof came to prominence.
