Luis Norton , India U-17 Coach – Analysis.

by Shaon Roy March 1, 2017

Finally after all the drama related to the Indian U17 World Cup bound team, which has been going on for over a month now is over, as AIFF decided to appoint 63 years old Luis Norton de Matos of Portugal.
Luís Norton de Matos, born on 14th December 1953, started his proffesional football career with Benfica in 1972, a team where he spent two years as a youth player. Being a striker by nature, Luis Norton,played more 200 games in the top division of Portugal for different club teams before finally hanging up his boot in the year 1987.
Two years later, in 1989 he decided to become a football manager and it was Atletico Clube de Portugal, where he had his first manegerial stint.
The Last club Norton managed before joining the Indian U17 team was C.F. União, which played in the top most division of the Portugal football league for the season 2015-16. Under Norton, C.F. União finished 17th and hence was relegated.
In the 2014-15 season , this team finished 2nd in the LigaPro (2nd Div of Portugal) and acquired promotion to the 1st Division. Though Luis Norton was not their manger for the season. He was in charge of the team only for the season 2015-16.
In the 2012-13 season, Luis Norton was managing the Benfica B team which was playing in the LigaPro (2nd Div ). Benfica B team, in that season, under the managerial guidance of Luis Norton finished in the 7th position and the team won 15 games, drew 17 and lost 10. Their season ended with a success rate of 35.71%.
Luis Norton also has International football managerial experience as he was the top boss for the Guinea-Bissau national football team for two years. This African team is currently ranked 136th in the world.
Manchester United fans in India would be really happy to know that he is somewhat connected with Jose Mourinho. Luis Norton managed “Etoile Lusitana” a youth football academy based in Senegal. This youth academy was founded by Jose Mourinho in 2008 and currently owns 80% of its stake. In the 2009 season, the team finished in sixth position in the Senegalese second division and it grabbed international headlines in 2010 when they won the premier section of the Northern Ireland Milk Cup. Luis Norton, managed this youth academy from 2008 to 2010.
In the 2005-06 season, he manged Vitoria de Setubal and had a great season with them in the top division. Under him, the team won 9 games and only encountered 4 losses out of a total of 15 games. The defence of the team was so strong that it conceded 4 goals in the whole season which was a record in European football for that season.
In the late 90s, he also worked as a director of football for Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Luis Norton has even got 5 international caps for Portugal and an international goal against West Germany.
You all will be suprised to know that he has an Indian connection as well. His great grandfather was born in Goa and that’s exactly where he will be headed to, to take helm of the India U17 team.
All in all, with more than 200 days left for the start of the U17 World Cup, we wish Luis Norton all the best. Let the force be with him.