Sérgio Soares da Silva (born 11 January 1967) is a Brazilian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. Playing career Born in São Paulo, Soares began his career with hometown side Juventus, making his first team debut in 1985 and being sold to Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia in 1993. In 1996, after a short period at Guarani, he joined Palmeiras. A backup option at Verdão, Soares was loaned to Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga for the remainder of the 1996 season. After featuring more sparingly in 1997, he still left the club and moved to Goiás, where he featured very rarely before returning to his first club Juventus. Soares subsequently played for Inter de Limeira, Juventus (two stints), Etti Jundiai, São José-SP, Gama, Santo André (three stints) and Náutico. He retired in 2004 with Santo André, aged 37. Managerial career Shortly after retiring, Soares was named assistant manager and supervisor at his last club Santo André. On 25 July 2004, he was named manager of the first team after Péricles Chamusca left. Soares returned to his assistant role after the appointment of Luiz Carlos Ferreira for the 2005 season, but was again named manager on 14 March 2005, after Ferreira resigned. He left in December to return to his first club Juventus, now as manager. On 26 January 2007, Soares replaced Marcelo Vilar at the helm of Grêmio Barueri, but was sacked on 8 April. He returned to Santo André on 17 May, but was dismissed on 1 November with the club struggling with relegation in the Série B. On 21 January 2008, Soares returned to Juventus. He resigned on 29 February, and subsequently rejoined Santo André for a fourth period as manager on 16 May. He led the latter side to a top tier promotion before opting to join Ponte Preta on 4 December. Soares left Ponte on 9 March 2009, and took over São Caetano three days later. He was sacked on 1 June, and was named in charge of Paraná five days later; he resigned on 7 September, and returned to Santo André the following day. Soares led Santo André to the second position of the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, but resigned on 22 September after the club was in the relegation zone. On 4 October, he was named Atlético Paranaense manager, but was sacked on 3 February 2011. Soares returned to Barueri on 11