Francisco 'Paco' Fortes Calvo is a Spanish retired football forward and manager. Even though he also played for Barcelona, his career was mainly associated with Farense in Portugal, either as a player or manager.
Playing career
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Fortes emerged through local FC Barcelona's youth ranks, going on to spend four years with the first team and also being loaned one season to CD Málaga. He only featured regularly for the former in 1975–76 – 23 matches, three goals – adding 11 UEFA Cup appearances with three goals in two separate campaigns; he made his La Liga debut on 5 October 1975 at the age of 20, in a 3–0 home win against Granada CF. Released by the Blaugrana in 1979, Fortes signed for neighbours RCD Español, staying with the club for three seasons. Subsequently, he joined Real Valladolid still in the top level, going on to amass overall league totals of 175 games and 14 goals; on 16 November 1975 he earned his only cap for Spain, playing 15 minutes in 2–2 draw in Romania for the UEFA Euro 1976qualifiers. In the summer of 1984, 29-year-old Fortes signed with S.C. Farense in Portugal, being relegated from the Primeira Liga in his first year but winning immediate promotion back. He appeared in more than 100 official matches for the Algarve club during his five-year stint.
Coaching career
In late 1988, aged 33, Fortes retired from football and immediately started coaching Farense. He was in charge of eight games in that season, winning four and drawing two, but the team eventually could not escape relegation after ranking 18th; promotion befell in the following campaign, as champions. Fortes remained at the helm of the club for one full decade, managing four consecutive top-eight finishes from 1991 to 1995, including a best-ever fourth in 1994–95 as Farense qualified to the UEFA Cupfor the first time in its history. He was sacked after the 21st round in 1998–99, moving to neighbouring Imortal D.C. of the second level. Early into 2001–02, after only six games with C.F. União de Lamas, Fortes returned to his beloved Farense, with the club in the midst of a severe financial crisis. He was one of four coaches during the season – this included his former player Hajry Redouane – as the team were eventually relegated. After leaving midway through the following campaign, he spent two full seasons and part of a third with C.D. Pinhalnovense in the third tier. After reuniting with Redouane at Raja Casablanca, Fortes returned to Pinhalnovense for one final year, then lost all connection with the football world. Undergoing serious financial problems, he contacted former club Barcelona's Agrupació Barça Veterans, who arranged for him to work as a controller in the Port of Barcelona.
