# Luís Pinto (footballer, born 1989)
**Luís Pinto** is the professional name of Luís Miguel Correia Pinto (born 1989), a Portuguese football manager and former player who played as a defender, currently the manager of Gil Vicente FC in Liga Portugal.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375) Born in Porto, he moved into coaching in his early twenties and rose through the lower Portuguese divisions before leading Tondela to the 2024/25 Segunda Liga title and winning the [Taça da Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/taca-da-liga) with Vitória de [Guimarães](https://www.edgepedia.org/guimaraes) in January 2026.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375) • [2](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-portugal-2-confirmado-luis-pinto-deixa-o-fafe-e-vai-assumir-comando-tecnico-do-tondela/6NwanxYO/) • [3](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Luís Miguel Correia Pinto, 1989, Porto, Portugal[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375) |
| Playing career | Brief, lower-level career as a defender in the old second division B[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/) |
| First head-coach job | União de Leiria, 2018, aged 29, after two seasons as the club's assistant[5](https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/3008614/oficial-luis-pinto-e-o-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente) |
| Highest achievement | Segunda Liga champion with Tondela, 2024/25, with promotion to the top flight[2](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-portugal-2-confirmado-luis-pinto-deixa-o-fafe-e-vai-assumir-comando-tecnico-do-tondela/6NwanxYO/) |
| Taça da Liga | Won with Vitória de Guimarães on 10 January 2026, beating Braga 2-1 in the final[3](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes) |
| Current club | Gil Vicente FC, appointed 20 June 2026 on a three-season contract to 2029[6](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/luis-pinto-e-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-com-contratato-ate-2029_d1748447) |
| Coaching profile | UEFA A Licence; preferred formation 4-2-3-1[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375) |
## Early career and move into coaching
Pinto combined study with football, playing in the old second division B while coaching youth teams at Boavista.[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/) At 24 he accepted an offer to work as an assistant at Trofense in a professional setting, and left playing behind to become a full-time coach.[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/) He then spent two seasons as an assistant at União de Leiria before taking charge of the first team for the first time in 2018, aged 29.[5](https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/3008614/oficial-luis-pinto-e-o-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente)That first head-coach spell lasted two games and ended in dismissal. Pinto later said he had refused a request to field a particular player, choosing to defend a coach's autonomy over team selection, and that he would make the same decision again.[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/)
## The lower-division years
After Leiria, Pinto coached Mirandela, Felgueiras, Real SC, Leça, and Lusitânia de Lourosa.[7](https://rr.pt/bola-branca/noticia/amp/futebol-nacional/2026/03/10/luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-gil-lameiras-e-o-novo-treinador/462332) He has described the Leça spell, in precarious conditions, as an "extraordinary" season, and Lourosa as probably his worst job to date.[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/)
**Fafe.** He joined AD Fafe on 23 January 2023, mid-season, with the club on six defeats and a draw and widely expected to be relegated from Liga 3.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375) • [4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/) Fafe avoided relegation, and in 2023/24 the team fought for a place in the top four of the regular phase; Pinto ended calendar 2023 with a 42.86 percent win rate, the highest of any Fafe coach (five predecessors included) in a calendar year since the club began competing in Liga 3.[4](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/) Across his Fafe tenure Transfermarkt records 42 matches at 1.64 points per match.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375)
## Tondela and the Segunda Liga title
In mid-2024 Pinto left Fafe to take over CD Tondela in [Liga Portugal 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/liga-portugal-2), his first job in professional divisions, on a one-season contract.[2](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-portugal-2-confirmado-luis-pinto-deixa-o-fafe-e-vai-assumir-comando-tecnico-do-tondela/6NwanxYO/) Tondela won the 2024/25 Segunda Liga championship and earned promotion to the top flight.[2](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-portugal-2-confirmado-luis-pinto-deixa-o-fafe-e-vai-assumir-comando-tecnico-do-tondela/6NwanxYO/) • [8](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-gil-vicente-luis-pinto-fechou-acordo-e-sucede-a-cesar-peixoto-2026061619015564350)
## Vitória de Guimarães: a trophy and a dismissal
Pinto was appointed Vitória de Guimarães head coach for the 2025/26 season, succeeding Luís Freire.[7](https://rr.pt/bola-branca/noticia/amp/futebol-nacional/2026/03/10/luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-gil-lameiras-e-o-novo-treinador/462332) On 10 January 2026 the club won the Taça da Liga, beating Sporting de Braga 2-1 in the final in Leiria, in the first all-Minho national final; it was the third national trophy in the club's history, after the 1988 Supertaça and the 2012/13 [Taça de Portugal](https://www.edgepedia.org/taca-de-portugal).[3](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes) • [9](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/v-guimaraes-oficializa-saida-de-luis-pinto-2026031021121348403) En route, Vitória beat [FC Porto](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-porto) in the quarter-finals and Sporting in the semi-finals.[3](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes)
League form did not match the cup run. After the final the team won only two of eight league games, and a 2-0 defeat at Santa Clara on 8 March 2026 left Vitória ninth with 32 points from 25 matches, nine points behind fifth-placed [Gil Vicente](https://www.edgepedia.org/gil-vicente), the position the club had set as its European-qualification target.[7](https://rr.pt/bola-branca/noticia/amp/futebol-nacional/2026/03/10/luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-gil-lameiras-e-o-novo-treinador/462332) • [10](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/treinador-luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-dois-meses-apos-vencer-taca-da-liga_d1725125) On 10 March 2026 the club and Pinto agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect; his overall record was 14 wins and 5 draws in 31 official matches, and his assistants João Costa, Rui Vieira, Bruno Monteiro, Vítor Maia, and Diogo Valente left with him.[3](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes) • [11](https://www.zerozero.pt/noticias/vitoria-sc-anuncia-saida-de-luis-pinto-do-comando-tecnico/1072379) Gil Lameiras was promoted from the B team as his successor.[7](https://rr.pt/bola-branca/noticia/amp/futebol-nacional/2026/03/10/luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-gil-lameiras-e-o-novo-treinador/462332)
## Gil Vicente
On 20 June 2026 Gil Vicente, of Barcelos, announced Pinto as head coach on a three-season contract running to 2029, succeeding César Peixoto, who had moved to [Wolverhampton](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolverhampton).[6](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/luis-pinto-e-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-com-contratato-ate-2029_d1748447) • [12](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-luis-pinto-e-o-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-2026062016122753504) Gil Vicente had finished sixth in the 2025/26 Liga Portugal, one of the best classifications in its history.[6](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/luis-pinto-e-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-com-contratato-ate-2029_d1748447)
## References
1. [Luís Pinto – Manager profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/luis-pinto/profil/trainer/51375)
2. [Confirmado: Luís Pinto deixa o Fafe e vai assumir comando técnico do Tondela, Flashscore.pt](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-portugal-2-confirmado-luis-pinto-deixa-o-fafe-e-vai-assumir-comando-tecnico-do-tondela/6NwanxYO/)
3. [Oficial: Luís Pinto deixa o comando do V. Guimarães, Jornal Record](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/v--guimaraes/detalhe/oficial-luis-pinto-deixa-o-comando-do-v-guimaraes)
4. [Entrevista Flashscore a Luís Pinto: "Ninguém anda nesta profissão se não existir paixão", Flashscore.pt](https://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/futebol-liga-3-entrevista-flashscore-a-luis-pinto-ninguem-anda-nesta-profissao-se-nao-existir-paixao/GQdVBDyH/)
5. [Oficial: Luís Pinto está de regresso ao ativo para treinar na I Liga, Notícias ao Minuto](https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/desporto/3008614/oficial-luis-pinto-e-o-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente)
6. [Luís Pinto é novo treinador do Gil Vicente com contratato até 2029, RTP](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/luis-pinto-e-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-com-contratato-ate-2029_d1748447)
7. [Luís Pinto deixa Vitória de Guimarães. Gil Lameiras é o novo treinador, Renascença](https://rr.pt/bola-branca/noticia/amp/futebol-nacional/2026/03/10/luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-gil-lameiras-e-o-novo-treinador/462332)
8. [Mercado Gil Vicente: Luís Pinto fechou acordo e sucede a César Peixoto, A Bola](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-gil-vicente-luis-pinto-fechou-acordo-e-sucede-a-cesar-peixoto-2026061619015564350)
9. [V. Guimarães oficializa saída de Luís Pinto, A Bola](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/v-guimaraes-oficializa-saida-de-luis-pinto-2026031021121348403)
10. [Treinador Luís Pinto deixa Vitória de Guimarães dois meses após vencer Taça da Liga, RTP](https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/futebol-nacional/treinador-luis-pinto-deixa-vitoria-de-guimaraes-dois-meses-apos-vencer-taca-da-liga_d1725125)
11. [Vitória SC anuncia saída de Luís Pinto, zerozero.pt](https://www.zerozero.pt/noticias/vitoria-sc-anuncia-saida-de-luis-pinto-do-comando-tecnico/1072379)
12. [Mercado oficial: Luís Pinto é o novo treinador do Gil Vicente, A Bola](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/mercado-oficial-luis-pinto-e-o-novo-treinador-do-gil-vicente-2026062016122753504)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Managers and coaches › Iberian and Latin American managers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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