| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonel Pontes da Encarnação | ||
| Date of birth | (1972-07-09)9 July 1972 (age 53) | ||
| Place of birth | Porto da Cruz, Portugal | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | SH Shenhua (technical director) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2002–2004 | Sporting B (assistant) | ||
| 2004–2005 | Sporting CP U19 (assistant) | ||
| 2005–2009 | Sporting CP (assistant) | ||
| 2009 | Sporting CP (interim) | ||
| 2010–2014 | Portugal (assistant) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Marítimo | ||
| 2015 | Panetolikos | ||
| 2015–2016 | Al-Ittihad | ||
| 2016–2017 | Debrecen | ||
| 2018–2019 | Jumilla | ||
| 2019 | Sporting CP (under-23) | ||
| 2019 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2021–2022 | Sp. Covilhã | ||
| 2023– | SH Shenhua (technical director) | ||
Leonel Pontes da Encarnação (born 9 July 1972) is a Portuguesefootballmanager. He is currently the technical director of Chinese clubSH Shenhua.
Born inPorto da Cruz,Madeira, Pontes coached in the youth ranks ofSporting CP from 1996 to 2005, also managingthe reserves for two matches in thethird tier in February 2003. He became assistant manager of the first team toPaulo Bento in 2005, and assumed interim charge when the latter resigned on 6 November 2009.[1] His sole game in charge was two days later, a 2–2 draw atRio Ave F.C. in thePrimeira Liga.[2] In September 2010, he was made Bento's assistant at thePortugal national football team.[3]
On 8 May 2014, Pontes left for top-flight clubC.S. Marítimo of his native island.[4] He resigned the following 2 March, with the team in 11th.[5]
On 9 June 2005, Pontes was hired bySuper League Greece clubPanetolikos FC, with several compatriots amongst his staff.[6] He was dismissed on 28 September with the team in fifth, with two wins and as many losses from five games.[7]
On 20 November 2015, Pontes was named manager ofAl Ittihad Alexandria Club in Egypt.[8] He was sacked the following 9 March, when the team were two places above the relegation zone.[9]
On 8 August 2016, Pontes was appointed as the coach of theNemzeti Bajnokság I clubDebreceni VSC after the resignation ofElemér Kondás.[10] He signed a three-year contract and he brought his compatriot colleague José Maria Calado Pratas with him.[11] On 14 September, the club were eliminated from the2016–17 Magyar Kupa after a 1–0 defeat at theETO Park against theNemzeti Bajnokság III clubGyőri ETO FC, making them the onlyNemzeti Bajnokság I club which could not qualify for the best 64 teams.[12]
On 22 February 2017 Pontes' Debrecen went six games without a win in the2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I, the first time since2001–02.[13] On 19 March, director Géza Róka said that they do not issue an ultimatum to sack him.[14] On 22 May, he left the club with mutual agreement and he was replaced byAndrás Herczeg for the last round againstDiósgyőri VTK to escape from the relegation.[15]
On 14 July 2018, Pontes was named the new manager of SpanishSegunda División B sideFC Jumilla for the upcoming season.[16] The campaign ended the following 2 June with relegation to theTercera División after a 4–2 aggregate loss toReal Unión.[17]
On 21 June 2019, Pontes returned to Sporting, to manage the under-23 team on a two-year contract.[18] He returned to interim charge of the club on 3 September after the dismissal ofMarcel Keizer,[19] and eleven days later he was given a two-year contract for the post, ahead of his first game.[20] On 26 September, having drawn once and lost three times in four games across all competitions, he was replaced bySilas.[21]
From December 2022 to October 2023, Pontes was in charge ofSporting da Covilhã.
On 1 August 2023, Pontes was hired as technical director of Chinese clubSH Shenhua.[22]