The Portugal Olympic football team under his management participated in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and after a win over Tunisia (2–0) and 1–1 draws against Argentina and the United States, they ended in second place in Group A with the same points and goal difference as the first-placed Argentinians (but with lesser goals scored). Then in the quarter-finals, a win over France (2–1) after extra-time assured them a place in the semi-finals. Once again they played against Argentina, but this time the South Americans won 2–0. For the bronze medal match, they faced Brazil. Portugal was heavily defeated by 5–0.[citation needed]
In the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons, Vingada worked as an assistant manager for Portuguese club Benfica, along with Graeme Souness as principal manager.[citation needed] Between 1999 and 2003, Vingada was the manager of Marítimo, a Portuguese team from Madeira, and helped the team stay in the Portuguese Liga and qualify once to the Portuguese cup final. In 2003, new Portuguese Real Madrid manager Carlos Queiroz proposed Vingada as assistant manager on 27 June but Carlos Queiroz's proposition was not accepted.[4]
In 2005, he became the head manager of the Egyptian national U-23 football team. The team failed to reach the Olympic Games which were being held in Beijing in 2008. Although the Egyptian Football Association wanted Vingada to continue managing the team, he resigned.[citation needed]
In summer 2007, Vingada signed for Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca. Only six weeks after he had assumed the new position, he resigned.[citation needed]
On 9 February 2009, Vingada was officially appointed as head manager of Iranian football side Persepolis.[6] On 17 June 2009, just after five days of signing with Al Ahly he resigned due to family problems.[7]
Vitória S.C.
On 24 June 2009 he was named as head manager Vitoria S.C. in his homeland Portugal and on 7 October 2009 was sacked after four months due to poor results.[8]
FC Seoul
He officially became a manager of FC Seoul of South Korea in January 2010. On 5 December 2010, after winning a game for 2–1, he became the Champion of South Korea, it was the first time in ten years for FC Seoul. Vingada won the K-League Cup, K-League with FC Seoul.[9][10][11] His K-League record was 20 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses in the 2010 season. His winning percentage 71% is a record high in the K-League. On 13 December 2010 FC Seoul offered a one-year contract extension but FC Seoul and Vingada did not agree on the salary conditions. So Vingada went back to Portugal.[12][13]
In January 2016, he signed with Marítimo, this being the second term at the Madeiran club for him as he was their manager from 1999 till 2003. He ended his second tenure with Marítimo on 23 May 2016 to pursue his career elsewhere.[18]
North East United FC
In July 2016, it was announced that he will be the new head coach of the North East United FC, part of the Indian Super League.[19] He was their head coach until 15 May 2017 as he was offered a new job as Malaysia national football team head coach.
Malaysia
On 15 May 2017, Vingada was officially announced as the new head coach of Malaysia national football team with a difficult task to revive Malaysian football.[20] He also took his trusted partner Francisco Jose Bruto da Costa as his deputy.[21] His first match was in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers against Lebanon, which ended in a 1–2 defeat. His second match was in the friendly match against Syria national football team, which ended in a 1–2 defeat at Hang Jebat Stadium Melaka.
Vingada stepped down as head coach of Malaysia on 6 December 2017 by mutual consent with Football Association of Malaysia, after not winning any of his seven games in charge, and failure to qualify to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[22][23]
Return to Iran
On 11 January 2019, Vingada rejoined the coaching staff of Iran national football team, who are participating in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, and reunite with Queiroz.[24]
In 2020, Vingada became the technical director of the Egyptian national team, a position he held until April 2022, following the dismissal of head coach Carlos Queiroz.[26]
^Egyptian FA chairman Samir Zaher announced on 24 August 2011 that they have reached an agreement with Nelo Vingada, on coaching the Egyptian national team, and that only a few tiny details remain to be sorted out.
