Tulipa (Portuguese footballer)

Manuel Jorge da Silva Cruz (born 16 October 1972), known as Tulipa, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, currently manager of Liga Portugal 2 club Torreense.

He totalled 183 games and 25 goals in the Primeira Liga, for Paços de Ferreira, Salgueiros (three spells), Belenenses, Boavista, Marítimo and Farense. Abroad, he played in La Liga for Salamanca.

Tulipa began working as a manager in 2005, leading Trofense and Vizela in the top flight.

Playing career
Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto metropolitan area, Tulipa spent much of his youth at FC Porto but never made a first-team appearance. He was one of several Portuguese imports at Spanish club UD Salamanca as they competed in La Liga in the late 1990s, with Pauleta among his compatriot colleagues.

In July 2000, after a season at S.C. Farense, Tulipa returned across the border, signing a two-year deal at CD Badajoz in the Segunda División. In 41 total appearances for the Extremadura side, he scored twice, both against Levante UD in his latter season; the first goal set off a late comeback for a 2–2 home draw, the second was a 94th-minute winner.

Tulipa earned 31 caps for Portugal up to under-21 level and scored four goals, being part of the under-20 squad that won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil. He played three times for the senior side, all in friendlies, starting on 29 January 1995 when he came on as a 70th-minute substitute for Rui Bento in a 1–0 victory over Denmark for the SkyDome Cup.

Coaching career
Tulipa began working as a manager at Segunda Liga side A.D. Ovarense in the second half of the 2005–06 season, suffering relegation. After a year in the third division with G.D. Ribeirão, he signed a one-year deal with G.D. Estoril Praia in May 2007.

After finishing in seventh in the second tier, Tulipa was given another year in charge in July 2008. However, on 25 September he left abruptly for C.D. Trofense, replacing Toni Conceição at a team in last place in their debut campaign in the top flight but not being able to move them into a higher position.

Tulipa was then out of work until March 2010, when he was appointed at second-division G.D. Chaves following the resignation of Nuno Pinto. In April, his side won 3–1 on aggregate after extra time in the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal against Associação Naval 1º de Maio to reach the final for the first time, losing the decisive match 2–1 to FC Porto on 16 May; the domestic campaign ended with descent, however.

In February 2011, Tulipa returned to the second tier in charge of S.C. Covilhã initially until 30 June, only resigning the following year in April with the team in last place. In 2015, he spent a few weeks back at Ribeirão, who were eventually relegated from the third league.

Tulipa became manager of Porto's under-19s, the reigning champions of the UEFA Youth League, on 5 July 2019. Two years later, he was appointed at Marítimo's under-23 side.

On 3 October 2022, Tulipa signed with F.C. Vizela in the same capacity. In December, he replaced the dismissed Álvaro Pacheco at the first team on an interim basis. After leading the team to a record 40 points and 11th place, he left in May 2023.

Tulipa returned to Marítimo on 16 June 2023, this time taking charge of the main squad who had just been relegated to division two. On 5 December, with his side sitting sixth in the table after 12 matches, he was sacked.

On 12 December 2023, Tulipa was appointed at fellow second-tier S.C.U. Torreense.