The familiar roar of the crowd, the smell of the pitch, the direct chatter with his squad – for Paulo Fonseca, these simple joys returned to the sidelines this week. The Lyon coach felt a wave of relief as he reconnected with his team during games in France. He had completed seven of the nine months of a suspension handed down by the French football league’s disciplinary committee.
Fonseca spoke to journalists while attending the Portugal Football Summit in Oeiras. He mentioned how important it was to be back in the locker room. “The direct contact with the players right before the game and at halftime is key,” he explained. He also noted that watching from the stands had its perks, giving him “a special view of the game.”
The ban started on March 5. Six months later, on September 19, Fonseca received a partial lift on his punishment. This meant he could finally enter the locker room before, during, and after Lyon’s 1-0 victory over Angers on the fifth matchday of France’s top league. The incident that led to his suspension involved intimidating a referee during a Ligue 1 match between Lyon and Brest.
His assistant, Jorge Maciel, stepped up to lead the team from the dugout during this time. Interestingly, these rules didn’t apply to European games. Lyon currently sits fourth in the French league with 15 points. They trail four-time French champions and European title holders Paris Saint-Germain by just one point. Fonseca said his players and the club were crucial for his continuity, supporting him through everything. He described the situation as new and different in his career but added that the coaching staff adapted well. He believes the toughest part is now behind them.
A New Voice for Portuguese Football
Fonseca also participated in a panel discussion titled “Leadership and team management” at the summit. He took a moment to share his thoughts on the current state of Portuguese football. He clearly sees Benfica, FC Porto, and two-time national champions Sporting as the “big contenders” for the league title.
He broke down each team’s situation. FC Porto, he noted, has a project built from scratch, bringing in many new players and a new coach. Benfica, on the other hand, is still trying to find its rhythm under José Mourinho. Mourinho joined the club at a difficult time with no room for error. Fonseca believes time is essential for Mourinho to fully implement his ideas. Sporting, he observed, has a stable foundation and plays with an interesting, flexible positional style. Fonseca admitted he really enjoys watching them play.
Fonseca made it clear he wasn’t comparing the current FC Porto team, which leads the first division, to his own team from the 2013/14 season. However, he had nothing but praise for Porto’s Italian coach, Francesco Farioli. Fonseca had faced Farioli twice in the 2023/24 season while managing Lille against Nice in Ligue 1. He called Farioli a “high-quality coach” who brings fresh ideas and tactical approaches to Portuguese football. He believes Farioli is doing an excellent job, starting the season very well, and predicts he will have a fantastic season.
The Mourinho Effect
The return of José Mourinho to Benfica, 25 years after he first started his head coach career at the Lisbon club, has certainly made waves. Fonseca called Mourinho’s presence in the Portuguese top flight “highly positive.” He noted that the Portuguese league hasn’t been talked about as much as it has in these last two weeks. The impact of Mourinho’s return, he believes, is excellent.
Fonseca himself has spent nine years away from his homeland and admits he feels “very good” working outside Portugal. His journey has taken him through Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk from 2016 to 2019, Italy with Roma from 2019 to 2021 and AC Milan in 2024, and France with Lille from 2022 to 2024. He joined Lyon this past January, taking over from Pierre Sage.
He intends to keep working in Europe’s best leagues. When asked about returning to the Portuguese first division, he didn’t rule it out. He said it would depend on the moment and the opportunities that arise. For now, his career plan is to remain abroad. Fonseca previously coached several Portuguese clubs, including FC Porto, Sporting de Braga, and Paços de Ferreira. The coach hails from Barreiro.