Richard Páez

Richard Páez
Personal information
Full name Richard Alfred Mayela Páez Monzón
Date of birth (1953-12-31) 31 December 1953
Place of birth Mérida, Venezuela
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Cúcuta Deportivo (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1978 Estudiantes de Mérida
1978–1979 Portuguesa
1979 Unión Táchira
1980–1981 ULA
Managerial career
1991 ULA
1991 Deportivo Táchira
1995 ULA
1997–1999 Estudiantes de Mérida
2001–2007 Venezuela
2001–2003 Venezuela U20
2002 Venezuela U23
2008 Alianza Lima
2010–2012 Millonarios
2013–2014 Mineros
2018–2019 Deportivo Cuenca
2020 Mineros
2026– Cúcuta Deportivo
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Alfred Mayela Páez Monzón known as Richard Páez (born 31 December 1953) is a Venezuelan football manager. He is the current manager of Colombian club Cúcuta Deportivo and formerly coached Ecuadorian Serie A club Deportivo Cuenca as well as the Venezuela national football team.[1]

Playing career

Club

Born in Mérida, Páez played club football for Estudiantes de Mérida, Portuguesa, Deportivo Táchira and Universidad de Los Andes. [2]

International

He also played for the Venezuela national football team in the 1970s.

Managerial career

During his tenure, which lasted from January 2001 to November 2007, Venezuela achieved its best period in international football, improving from its status of being the worst team in South America. The squad reached the semi-final of the 2011 Copa America, and also had several victories in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

In early 2008, he was signed as Alianza Lima's coach but was fired from his post a few months later.

In November 2011, Páez became the first Venezuelan football manager to win a competition outside of Venezuela when his team Millonarios won the Copa Postobón. In May 2012, he left Millonarios after one and one-half seasons in charge.[3]

After coaching Mineros de Guayana in 2020, he remained inactive for six years until signing with Colombian club Cúcuta Deportivo on 5 February 2026.[1]

Personal life

His son, Ricardo Páez, was a member of the national team.

References

  1. ^ a b Prieto Pérez, Miguel Ángel (5 February 2026). "Richard Páez regresa al FPC: Nuevo DT de Cúcuta Deportivo" [Richard Páez returns to the FPC: Cúcuta Deportivo's new head coach] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  2. ^ Ruiz M., Juan Guillermo (31 December 2011). "Un día como hoy en el fútbol: Diciembre 31" [On this day in football: December 31]. GolGolGol Futbol. Retrieved 17 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ "Millonarios confirmó la salida del técnico venezolano Richard Páez" [Millonarios confirm the departure of Venezuelan manager Richard Páez] (in Spanish). El País. 30 May 2012.