1. Early Life and Background
Alexandre Guimarães was born on 7 November 1959, in Maceió, Alagoas, a city in the northeast of Brazil. Football was an integral part of his childhood, and he was greatly influenced by legendary Brazilian footballers such as Pelé, Garrincha, and Zagallo. He began his football journey in the youth system of the prominent Brazilian club Fluminense.
q=Maceió, Brazil|position=right
At the age of 13, in 1971, Guimarães and his family were compelled to leave Brazil and relocate to Costa Rica. His parents, Luis de Souza Borges and María Alice Guimarães, were working with the World Health Organization at the time, which necessitated their move. Alexandre is the youngest of their four children, with siblings named Carlos, Guillermo, and Ana.
Upon his arrival in Costa Rica, Guimarães faced initial challenges with communication due to the language barrier. However, he quickly began learning Spanish and made new friends, which opened up new opportunities for him. He attended Saint Francis College in Moravia, where he actively participated in both football and basketball for the school team. For two to three years, he also played for a local club in Barrio Escalante. In 1977, Alexandre traveled to Mexico to study Physical Education, a field he later continued at the University of Costa Rica. Encouraged by friends to join a soccer team and showcase his abilities, he was scouted by Walter Taylor during an internal university championship and subsequently signed by Durpanel San Blas, a team preparing to compete in the second division of Costa Rican football.
2. Playing Career
Alexandre Guimarães embarked on a professional playing career as a midfielder, primarily in Costa Rica, where he became a beloved figure in the country's football history. His journey saw him represent several clubs and make significant contributions to the national team after his naturalization.
2.1. Club Career
Guimarães's club career spanned several prominent teams in Costa Rica, where he made a name for himself as an efficient midfielder and prolific goal scorer.
2.1.1. Durpanel San Blas
Guimarães made his professional debut with Durpanel San Blas on 25 March 1979, in a 5-1 away defeat against Pérez Zeledón. He quickly demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting his first two goals for the club on 22 April in a 5-4 victory over Puriscal. He concluded his debut season as the league's top scorer, having scored 16 goals in 23 appearances. Despite his individual success, Durpanel was relegated after finishing in last place. During this period, Alexandre also combined football with basketball, playing for Asturias de Puntarenas.
2.1.2. Puntarenas
On 22 January 1980, Guimarães signed a two-year contract with Municipal Puntarenas. His debut for the club came on 13 April, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win against San Carlos. He scored his first goal for Puntarenas on 11 May, contributing to a dominant 6-0 victory over Alajuelense. Although his club qualified for the second round, they did not advance to the final. In his first season with Puntarenas, Guimarães scored 12 goals in 38 matches, finishing third in the scoring charts. The following season, he made 15 appearances and scored 7 goals, solidifying his reputation as an effective midfielder and striker.
2.1.3. Saprissa
Guimarães's most significant and successful period as a player was with Saprissa, one of Costa Rica's top clubs. He signed with Saprissa on 17 November 1981. His clásico debut against Alajuelense occurred on 28 February 1982, in the opening match of the league season, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. On 22 December of the same year, in the second leg of the final match against Puntarenas, he scored the decisive goal that secured Saprissa's first league title in four years. He finished the 1982 season with 9 goals in 42 matches.
He spent a total of nine years with Saprissa, during which he won two more league titles in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons. Across all competitions, including the league, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Central American tournaments (which served as qualifiers for the Champions Cup), Guimarães scored 76 goals in 323 appearances for Saprissa. His tenure at the club ended on 15 November 1991, when Rolando Villalobos informed him that his services were no longer required due to concerns over his physical condition.
2.1.4. Turrialba
Following his departure from Saprissa, Alexandre Guimarães signed with AD Turrialba on 4 February 1992, for the remainder of the season. During his time with Turrialba, he scored only one goal in 21 appearances. After this period, he decided not to renew his contract, marking his retirement from professional football.
2.2. International Career
After becoming a naturalized Costa Rican citizen, Alexandre Guimarães had the opportunity to represent Costa Rica on the international stage, including participation in the nation's historic first FIFA World Cup.
2.2.1. Costa Rica National Team
Alexandre Guimarães was granted Costa Rican nationality on 17 January 1985, making him eligible to play for the Costa Rica national football team. He received his first call-up on 21 August 1985, from coach Álvaro Grant, and made his senior debut on 1 September in a 0-0 draw against Canada. His first international goal came on 8 September in a 3-1 defeat to Honduras. In total, Guimarães made 16 appearances for the Costa Rican national team, scoring 2 goals. He also participated in five World Cup qualification matches.
2.2.2. 1990 FIFA World Cup
Guimarães was a key member of the Costa Rican squad that participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, marking the nation's debut in the tournament. He had played in the first stage of the 1989 CONCACAF Championship, which served as a qualifier for the World Cup.
Although he was an unused substitute in Costa Rica's opening match, a 1-0 victory against Scotland, Guimarães made his World Cup debut in the subsequent group stage match against Brazil. He entered the game in the final 12 minutes, replacing Juan Cayasso, in a match that Brazil won 1-0. This appearance was historically significant as it marked the first time a Brazilian-born footballer played against his country of origin in a World Cup. He continued his role as a substitute in the final group stage game against Sweden, which Costa Rica won 2-1, and in the Round of 16 match against Czechoslovakia, where Costa Rica suffered a 4-1 defeat, leading to their elimination.
3. Managerial Career
Following his retirement as a player at the age of 32, Alexandre Guimarães successfully transitioned into a highly distinguished managerial career. He became one of the most successful coaches in Costa Rican football history and also gained significant experience leading clubs and national teams across various continents.
3.1. Transition to Coaching
After ending his playing career, Guimarães initially ventured into sports as a color commentator for Canal 7. This role served as a preparatory step for his coaching ambitions. He pursued extensive coaching education, undertaking intensive courses in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Throughout his journey, he developed fluency in five languages: Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, and Italian. Upon his return to Costa Rica, he first took charge of the Saprissa youth system league before becoming an assistant to Uruguayan coach Carlos Linaris with the senior Saprissa team.
3.2. Club Coaching
Guimarães has managed a diverse range of football clubs, both within Costa Rica and internationally, achieving notable successes and navigating various challenges.
3.2.1. Costa Rican Clubs
On 19 December 1994, Guimarães was appointed head coach of Belén, with the immediate objective of helping the team avoid relegation. He sought advice from Carlos Linaris, who encouraged him by saying, "Guima, come on, you're ready." His competitive debut with Belén was on 24 December, a 2-0 loss to San Carlos. However, he quickly exceeded expectations, identifying key players like José Pablo Fonseca, Walter Centeno, Óscar Ramírez, Geraldo Da Silva, Luis Fernández, Gilbert Solano, and Alfredo Contreras, who helped him implement his tactical vision. On 2 June 1996, he secured his first title as a coach, winning the Costa Rican Cup undefeated after defeating Cartaginés in the final.
On 17 July 1996, Guimarães was officially named the new head coach of Herediano, replacing Juan Luis Hernández. Although his tenure lasted only one season, he was recognized as the best national coach. His departure from Herediano was announced on 28 May 1997, due to offers from other clubs.
He was officially presented as the coach of Deportivo Saprissa on 22 July 1997. During this period, he led Saprissa to two league titles in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, as well as the Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica in 1998. On 3 May 1999, Guimarães announced his decision to leave Saprissa at the end of the season to join Guatemalan club Comunicaciones. However, he returned to Saprissa for a second managerial stint on 13 September 1999, replacing Carlos Santana. His third spell as Saprissa manager began on 27 May 2011, after an eleven-year absence. He coached the team during the Invierno 2011 and Verano 2012 championships, reaching the semifinals in both competitions. On 10 May 2012, Saprissa announced that Guimarães would not continue with the club for the following season.
On 17 June 2003, Guimarães signed a one-year deal with Cartaginés, putting an end to rumors linking him to the Honduras national team. He was accompanied by his assistant César Eduardo Méndez and physical trainer Rodolfo Fernández. Their combined salary was reportedly 30.00 K USD, with half paid by Teletica. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was dismissed on 18 November 2003, due to poor results in the Apertura Tournament, which included eight defeats, three draws, and three victories. The club also faced financial difficulties due to high player salaries.
On 12 March 2024, Guimarães was appointed head coach of Alajuelense. He made his competitive debut on 14 March in a 1-1 draw against New England Revolution in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In the Primera División, his team reached the final matches but ultimately lost the league title to Saprissa with a 3-1 aggregate score. However, on 17 July 2024, Alexandre secured his first trophy of the season with Alajuelense, defeating Saprissa 3-1 in the Recopa.
3.2.2. International Clubs
Guimarães's coaching career also extended to several clubs outside Costa Rica. On 21 May 1999, he began his tenure as coach of Guatemalan club Comunicaciones. However, he resigned on 2 September due to the team's poor results in the UNCAF Interclub Cup, despite a good record in the national league.
On 15 December 2003, he signed a contract with Mexican Primera División club Irapuato. He did not reach an agreement to continue with the club after 16 June 2004. On 24 June of the same year, he signed a one-year contract with Dorados de Sinaloa, a team newly promoted to the top category. He resigned on 24 October after a 1-0 defeat to Toluca, citing a poor record of three wins, two draws, and seven losses.
On 1 May 2009, Alexandre was signed to manage the Emirati team Al-Wasl. On 27 April 2010, they became champions of the 2009-10 Gulf Club Champions Cup, marking the club's first victory in the competition. On 18 May, he announced his departure from the team. On 24 November 2010, he became coach of Al-Dhafra club with the goal of avoiding the relegation zone. His competitive debut was on 26 November in a 2-1 win over Baniyas in the group stage of the Emirates Cup. His first league match for Al-Dhafra ended in a 1-1 draw against Al-Nasr on 13 December. However, Guimarães was sacked by Al-Dhafra on 26 March 2011, after only four months in charge, following a 1-0 loss to Al Shabab. He was replaced by Syrian coach Mohammed Qweid.
On 31 May 2012, he was appointed coach of Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League, signing for the remainder of that season and the upcoming one. On 30 October 2013, he successfully led the team away from the relegation zone. His contract expired at the end of that season, and he did not renew it.
On 19 April 2016, Guimarães was appointed head coach of Indian side Mumbai City, replacing former coach Nicolas Anelka. He left the club on 14 August 2018, by mutual agreement.
On 13 June 2019, Alexandre was appointed as the manager of América de Cali in Colombia, accompanied by Juliano Silveira as assistant and Rodrigo Poletto as physical trainer. In the Torneo Finalización, he led the team to the second round, finishing second in the general table. They then topped Group B, reaching the final series against Junior. On 7 December, América de Cali was crowned champions of the league after winning the second leg 2-0, breaking an eleven-year drought without a league title. However, on 1 June 2020, Guimarães could not reach an agreement for a contract renewal that included a thirty percent salary reduction, leading to his departure. He returned to América de Cali on 6 April 2022, replacing Juan Carlos Osorio, but left again on 22 June 2023, due to his contract expiring.
On 30 November 2020, Colombian club Atlético Nacional announced that Alexandre had signed a one-year contract as its new coach, replacing Juan Carlos Osorio. On 5 June 2021, he left the team by mutual consent after a poor performance in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores.
3.3. National Team Coaching
Guimarães also took on leadership roles with national football teams, most notably with Costa Rica and Panama.
3.3.1. Costa Rica National Team
On 8 May 2000, Alexandre accepted an offer to become the assistant to Gílson Nunes for the Costa Rica national football team, and was also appointed coach of the U23 team. During the quadrangular phase of the World Cup qualifiers, his relaxed attitude was questioned, and communication problems arose between Nunes and Guimarães. Following Nunes' resignation on 16 November, Alexandre was recommended by Nunes himself to take charge of the senior team, which he did, leaving his U23 position. He debuted as head coach on 6 January 2001, with a 5-2 victory over Guatemala in a play-off that secured qualification for the final round. His team qualified for the 2002 World Cup as the leader of their phase with 23 points. Prior to the World Cup, he also managed the team in the UNCAF Nations Cup and Copa América tournaments in 2001, and finished as runner-up at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 2002 World Cup was his last coached competition during his first tenure with the national team. He debuted in the tournament on 4 June at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium against China, winning the match 2-0. On 9 June, at the Munhak Stadium, Costa Rica drew 1-1 with Turkey. On 13 June, his team lost 5-2 to Brazil, a result that led to Costa Rica's elimination due to goal difference with Turkey, who advanced as the second-placed team in the group.
On 1 April 2005, the Costa Rica national team re-appointed Guimarães as manager for a second time, replacing Jorge Luis Pinto during the World Cup qualifying final round. On 8 October, they secured qualification for the 2006 World Cup with a 3-0 victory over the United States, with one game remaining in the round. At the 2006 World Cup, Alexandre's second tournament as coach, Costa Rica debuted on 9 June in the opening match against host Germany, suffering a 4-2 defeat at the Munich Stadium. The remaining matches resulted in losses against Ecuador (3-0) and Poland (2-1). Costa Rica was eliminated from the tournament without earning any points, finishing in 31st position. After this undesirable performance, Guimarães submitted his resignation on 3 July 2006, voiding the four-year contract he had signed.
3.3.2. Panama National Team
On 15 November 2006, Guimarães was appointed as the manager of the Panama national football team, and simultaneously as coach of the U23 team. He led the Panamanian senior team to a runner-up finish in the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup and reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007. With the U23 representative, he managed the team to the group stage of the Olympic Qualifying tournament but was unable to advance to the knockout stage. On 24 June 2008, Guimarães was separated from the national team following their early elimination from the 2010 World Cup qualification.
4. Career Statistics
Alexandre Guimarães's career statistics provide a comprehensive overview of his performance as both a player and a manager.
4.1. Player Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Durpanel | 1979 | Segunda División | 23 | 16 | - | - | - | 23 | 16 | |||
| Total | 23 | 16 | - | - | - | 23 | 16 | |||||
| Puntarenas | 1980 | Primera División | 38 | 12 | - | - | - | 38 | 12 | |||
| 1981 | Primera División | 15 | 7 | - | - | - | 15 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 19 | - | - | - | 53 | 19 | |||||
| Saprissa | 1982 | Primera División | 42 | 9 | - | - | - | 42 | 9 | |||
| 1983 | Primera División | 27 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
| 1984 | Primera División | 41 | 16 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 44 | 16 | |||
| 1985 | Primera División | 37 | 5 | - | - | - | 37 | 5 | ||||
| 1986 | Primera División | 36 | 12 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 38 | 12 | |||
| 1987 | Primera División | 32 | 9 | - | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 9 | ||
| 1988 | Primera División | 22 | 4 | - | - | - | 22 | 4 | ||||
| 1989 | Primera División | 24 | 11 | - | - | - | 24 | 11 | ||||
| 1991 | Primera División | 38 | 7 | - | - | 7 | 1 | 45 | 8 | |||
| Total | 299 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 323 | 76 | ||
| Turrialba | 1992 | Primera División | 21 | 1 | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||
| Total | 21 | 1 | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||||
| Career total | 396 | 111 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 420 | 112 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 1985 | 2 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 2 | |
:Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Guimarães goal
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 1985 | Estadio Tiburcio Carías Anidno, Tegucigalpa, Honduras | Honduras | 1-1 | 1-3 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 7 February 1989 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica | Poland | 1-1 | 2-4 | Friendly match |
4.2. Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches coached | Matches won | Matches drawn | Matches lost | Goals for | Goals against | Goal difference | Winning percentage | |||
| Belén | 19 December 1994 | 17 July 1996 | 73 | 25 | 27 | 21 | 81 | 68 | +13 | 34.25 |
| Herediano | 17 July 1996 | 30 June 1997 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 77 | 30 | +47 | 57.50 |
| Saprissa | 22 July 1997 | 19 May 1999 | 113 | 65 | 36 | 12 | 239 | 87 | +152 | 57.52 |
| Comunicaciones | 20 May 1999 | 2 September 1999 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 63.64 |
| Saprissa | 13 September 1999 | 8 May 2000 | 39 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 78 | 39 | +39 | 66.67 |
| Costa Rica | 16 November 2000 | 30 June 2002 | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 54 | 37 | +17 | 47.06 |
| Cartaginés | 17 June 2003 | 18 November 2003 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 21.43 |
| Irapuato | 15 December 2003 | 16 June 2004 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 23 | 30 | -7 | 31.58 |
| Dorados | 24 June 2004 | 24 October 2004 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 22 | -6 | 25.00 |
| Costa Rica | 1 April 2005 | 3 July 2006 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 28 | 40 | -12 | 31.82 |
| Panama | 15 November 2006 | 24 June 2008 | 24 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 | 29 | -5 | 29.17 |
| Panama U23 | 15 November 2006 | 24 June 2008 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 42.86 |
| Al-Wasl | 1 May 2009 | 18 May 2010 | 37 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 63 | 62 | +1 | 32.43 |
| Al-Dhafra | 24 November 2010 | 26 March 2011 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 40.00 |
| Saprissa | 27 May 2011 | 10 May 2012 | 44 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 75 | 48 | +27 | 45.45 |
| Tianjin Teda | 31 May 2012 | 31 December 2013 | 51 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 56 | 62 | -6 | 35.29 |
| Mumbai City | 19 April 2016 | 14 August 2018 | 36 | 14 | 8 | 14 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 38.89 |
| América de Cali | 13 June 2019 | 1 June 2020 | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 47.50 |
| Atlético Nacional | 30 November 2020 | 5 June 2021 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 54 | 31 | +23 | 45.16 |
| América de Cali | 6 April 2022 | 22 June 2023 | 60 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 71 | 61 | +10 | 35.00 |
| Alajuelense | 12 March 2024 | Present | 39 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 71 | 34 | +37 | 56.41 |
| Total | 761 | 337 | 217 | 207 | 1178 | 833 | +345 | 44.28 | ||
5. Honours
Alexandre Guimarães has accumulated numerous titles and individual accolades throughout his distinguished career as both a player and a manager.
5.1. Player Honours
Saprissa
- Primera División: 1982, 1988-89, 1989-90
Costa Rica
- CONCACAF Championship: 1989
Individual
- Segunda División top goalscorer: 1979
5.2. Managerial Honours
Belén
- Costa Rican Cup: 1996
Saprissa
- Primera División: 1997-98, 1998-99
- Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica: 1998
Al-Wasl
- Gulf Club Champions Cup: 2009-10
América de Cali
- Primera A: Finalización 2019
Alajuelense
- Recopa de Costa Rica: 2024
Individual
- Costa Rican Primera División Best National Manager: 1996-97
- Coach of the Year in Primera A: 2019
6. Personal Life
Alexandre Guimarães is the youngest of four children born to Luis de Souza Borges and María Alice Guimarães, both of whom were medical doctors. His siblings are Carlos, Guillermo, and Ana. He is married to Lina Mora, and together they have two sons, Mauro and Celso Borges. Celso Borges followed in his father's footsteps and also became a professional footballer, notably playing for the Costa Rica national team and for Alajuelense in 2022.