Romão dos Santos

Romão António dos Santos was a Bissau-Guinean football manager and footballer.

Life and career

Dos Santos was born on 24 August 1967 in Bula, Guinea-Bissau. He was a native of Bula, Guinea-Bissau. He started his career with Bissau-Guinean side Nuno Tristão FC. He debuted for the club at the age of fifteen. He captained them. In 1988, he signed for Bissau-Guinean side Sport Bissau e Benfica. In 1988, he signed for Portuguese side Amarante FC. He captained the club. In 1992, he signed for Portuguese side Lusitano GC. He captained the club. He started his managerial career in Portugal. In 2000, he was appointed manager of the football team. In 2004, he was appointed manager of Bissau-Guinean side Sport Bissau e Benfica. He helped the club win the league.
In 2005, he was appointed manager of Bissau-Guinean side Sporting de Bissau. In 2006, he was appointed manager of Bissau-Guinean side Nuno Tristão FC. In 2010, he was appointed manager of the Guinea-Bissau national football team. In 2012, he returned as manager of Bissau-Guinean side Sporting de Bissau. In 2014, he was appointed manager of Bissau-Guinean side Sport Bissau e Benfica. In 2016, he returned as an assistant manager to the Guinea-Bissau national football team. He helped the Guinea-Bissau national football team achieve qualification to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He was described as a "prominent coach who left his mark on the development of football both at Sport Bissau e Benfica and at Sporting Clube de Guiné-Bissau". He died on 14 March 2024 in Guinea-Bissau.