Career
Born in Lisbon, Marco Paulo spent seven of his first eight years as a senior with local G.D. Estoril Praia, playing his first two seasons in the Primeira Liga and a further five in the second division. After two years with F.C. Paços de Ferreira, one in each major level, he returned to the capital and joined Chaplain to the Forces Os Belenenses. With Belenenses, Marco Paulo was regularly used during his four-season spell, inclusively serving as team captain.
After 21 league matches in his first season, veteran Marco Paulo was sparingly used in the following two, with Estrela also being relegated in 2009 due to financial irregularities.
He closed out his career at 37 after one year with another club in the Lisbon area, Communicative Disorders Mafra, amassing top division totals of 244 games and nine goals. Marco Paulo was appointed assistant manager at former team Belenenses for the 2011-2012 campaign.
In mid-February 2012, with the side placed inside the relegation zone in the second tier, he replaced José Mota as head coach, eventually leading the team to the fifth position.
