Paulo Silas

Paulo Silas do Prado Pereira (born 27 August 1965), also known as Paulo Silas, Silas Pereira or simply Silas, is a Brazilian football pundit, coach, and former professional player. In his playing career as a central midfielder, he broke through at São Paulo in the mid-1980s, before playing for Sporting CP in Portugal, Cesena and Sampdoria in Italy, and San Lorenzo in Argentina among others. After winning South American and world titles with the under-20 team in 1985, he earned 34 caps for Brazil between 1986 and 1992. He was chosen for the FIFA World Cup in 1986 and 1990 and the Copa América in 1987 and 1989, winning the latter. Silas began working as a manager in 2007, and led Avaí in three spells, including their best Campeonato Brasileiro Série A finish of 6th in 2009. He briefly managed Grêmio and Flamengo in the same league the following year, and Al-Arabi and Al-Gharafa of the Qatar Stars League.