Rui Barros

Rui Gil Soares de Barros (born 24 November 1965) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and is a current manager.

He played with success in Portugal (at Porto), Italy – at Juventus – and France (two clubs), later becoming a manager. Over eight seasons, he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 191 matches and 43 goals, all with Porto.

Barros represented Portugal on 36 occasions during nine years, scoring four goals.

Club Career

Early years and Porto

Born in Paredes, Porto District, Barros began his senior career with S.C. Covilha in the second division. He helped Varzim S.C. promote to the Primeira Liga in his second season as a professional.

Barros signed with FC Porto for 1987–88, immediately having an impact: 12 goals in the league, which ended with the championship conquest, also being essential as the northerners began the campaign with two major achievements, the European Super Cup against AFC Ajax and the Intercontinental Cup against Penarol (he also scored in the first leg of the Super Cup final). As a result, he was considered the Portuguese Footballer of the Year.

Abroad

Barros joined Italian side Juventus F.C. in the summer of 1988, where he chose to wear the number 8 shirt, turning down the opportunity to wear the prestigious number 10 shirt which had previously belonged to the recently retired Michel Platini, whose role he had inherited at the Turin club. During his two-year tenure, he scored 19 goals in 95 appearances across all competitions and helped to a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double in 1990.

Subsequently, Barros moved to AS Monaco FC, originally for one year (eventually three). During his spell, he notably lost the final of the 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup to SV Werder Bremen.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Руй Барруш (russian)