Richard Páez

Born in Mérida, Páez played club football for Estudiantes de Mérida, Portuguesa, Deportivo Táchira and Universidad de Los Andes.^{[dead link] [1]}

He also played for the Venezuela national football team in the 1970s.^{[citation needed]}

During his tenure, which lasted from January 2001 to November 2007, Venezuela achieved its best period in international football, improving from its status of being the worst team in South America.^{[citation needed]} The squad reached the semi-final of the 2011 Copa America, and also had several victories in FIFA World Cup qualifying.^{[citation needed]}

In early 2008, he was signed as Alianza Lima's coach but was fired from his post a few months later.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2011, Páez became the first Venezuelan football manager to win a competition outside of Venezuela when his team Millonarios won the Copa Postobón. In May 2012, he left Millonarios after one and one-half seasons in charge.^[2]

His son, Ricardo Páez, was a member of the national team.^{[citation needed]}