Manuel Cajuda

Born in Olhão, Cajuda played exclusively in his native Algarve region during his career, starting out at S.C. Olhanense. In 1975 he joined what would be his main club, S.C. Farense also in the second division. In the summer of 1983, even though the Faro side had just promoted to the Primeira Liga, 32-year-old Cajuda decided to retire from playing.

Immediately after retiring, Cajuda started working as a manager with Farense, leading the team through 12 games in their first-ever season in the top flight and managing to help them retain their league status after finishing 12th. He continued to work in his native region in the following years, with Portimonense SC, Olhanense and Louletano DC. In 1994, after years of working almost exclusively in the second level – the exception being S.C.U. Torreense in the 1991–92 campaign – Cajuda signed for S.C. Braga, remaining in Minho for the following eight years (ranking in fourth place in 1997 and 2001), with two incomplete seasons with C.F. Os Belenenses in between. He managed to finish in the top six with his following two clubs, U.D. Leiria – he had already been in charge of them nine years before, in division two – and C.S. Marítimo. Cajuda left the Madeira side only one game into the 2004–05 season, and joined S.C. Beira-Mar also of the top tier, but only lasted an additional ten matches in Aveiro. After a brief spell with Associação Naval 1º de Maio he left for Egypt with Zamalek SC, becoming its second Portuguese coach after Nelo Vingada. Cajuda returned to Portugal midway through 2006–07 campaign joining Vitória de Guimarães – being announced on Christmas Day – which he led to promotion and a third position in the following year, just narrowly surpassing S.L. Benfica for the last UEFA Champions League berth and only to lose controversially in the last qualifying round…

Cajuda's sons, Hugo (born 1979) and João (1984), were both involved in sports: the former played twice for Braga in the top division – under the management of his father – mainly representing their reserves during a short spell. The latter was engaged in gymnastics in his youth, but later took up an acting career.