.png) Simão withBoavista in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | António Jorge Rocha Simão | ||
| Date of birth | (1976-08-12)12 August 1976 (age 49) | ||
| Place of birth | Pampilhosa da Serra, Portugal | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1991 | Estrela Amadora | ||
| 1991–1992 | Real Massamá | ||
| 1992–1995 | Estrela Amadora | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1996 | Real Massamá | ||
| 1996–2000 | Atlético Cacém | ||
| 2001 | Fanhões | ||
| 2001–2002 | Carregado | ||
| 2002–2003 | Pêro Pinheiro | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Atlético Cacém (assistant) | ||
| 2004–2005 | Sacavenense (assistant) | ||
| 2005–2007 | Odivelas (assistant) | ||
| 2007–2009 | Olivais Moscavide (assistant) | ||
| 2009 | Estrela Amadora (assistant) | ||
| 2012–2014 | Belenenses (assistant) | ||
| 2014 | Atlético | ||
| 2014–2015 | Mafra | ||
| 2015 | Belenenses | ||
| 2015–2016 | Paços Ferreira | ||
| 2016 | Chaves | ||
| 2016–2017 | Braga | ||
| 2017–2019 | Boavista | ||
| 2019–2020 | Al-Fayha | ||
| 2020–2021 | Mouscron | ||
| 2021 | Paços Ferreira | ||
| 2023 | Santa Clara | ||
| 2023–2024 | Académico Viseu | ||
| 2024 | Boavista | ||
| 2025 | Olimpija Ljubljana | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
António Jorge Rocha Simão (born 12 August 1976) is a Portuguese formerfootballer who played as amidfielder, currently amanager.
Having played only as an amateur, he began work as an assistant manager at 26, before his first outright position atAtlético in 2014. He led sixPrimeira Liga clubs, starting withBelenenses.
Born inPampilhosa da Serra,Coimbra District, Simão played solely amateur football, emerging throughC.F. Estrela da Amadora's youth system and retiring at the age of 26. He started working as a coach in 2003, going on to act as assistant at several clubs.[1]
In February 2014, Simão left his assistant position atPrimeira Liga sideC.F. Os Belenenses and embarked on his first managerial role by accepting an invitation atSegunda Liga'sAtlético Clube de Portugal until the end ofthe season.[2] Despite claiming 16 points from a possible 36, he was unable to prevent his team from finishing bottom,[3] but they were later reinstated as the competition was expanded.[4]
Subsequently, Simão joinedC.D. Mafra from thethird division. On 17 March 2015, however, he moved straight to the top tier at Belenenses, replacingLito Vidigal at the sixth-placed team.[5] His debut five days later was a 1–0 loss atBoavista F.C. and his nine-game spell divided equally between results, leaving their position unchanged andqualification for theUEFA Europa League confirmed.[6][7]
In the 2015 off-season, Simão succeededPaulo Fonseca at the helm ofF.C. Paços de Ferreira.[8] He left at the end ofthe campaign, after achieving a seventh-place finish.[9]
Simão started2016–17 also in the top flight, withG.D. Chaves.[10] On 17 December 2016, he was appointed atS.C. Braga from the same league as a replacement for dismissedJosé Peseiro.[11] He resigned at the latter in late April 2017, due to poor results.[12][13]
Simão returned to both active and the Portuguese main division on 14 September 2017, taking over from the firedMiguel Leal at the helm of Boavista.[14] His first game in charge was two days later, and his team managed to defeat current championsS.L. Benfica 2–1 at home.[15] On 26 January 2019, one point above the relegation places, he left by mutual consent to be replaced by Vidigal.[16]
In June that year, Simão's name was discussed by the board ofEFL Championship clubMiddlesbrough for their vacant managerial position, but instead he took his first foreign job atAl-Fayha FC in theSaudi Professional League.[17] In late August 2020, he was dismissed with three games remaining and one point aboverelegation.[18]
On 14 May 2021,having been relegated withRoyal Excel Mouscron of theBelgian Pro League, Simão returned to Paços de Ferreira.[19] On 11 December, after eight matches without a win in all competitions and with the side placed 13th inthe league, he left by mutual agreement.[20]
Simão took over from the sackedMário Silva atC.D. Santa Clara on 11 January 2023, signing a five-month contract.[21] With two points from seven games, he was dismissed on 26 February.[22]
On 27 October 2023, Simão was appointed as manager of second-divisionAcadémico de Viseu F.C. on a deal until the end ofthe season.[23] Before it had ended, however, he returned to the top tier and Boavista on a short-term contract.[24]
Simão took charge ofSlovenian PrvaLiga clubNK Olimpija Ljubljana on 13 June 2025, replacingVíctor Sánchez who had left in spite ofwinning the league.[25][26] On his competitive debut, he oversaw a 3–1 aggregate elimination in thefirst qualifying round of theUEFA Champions League at the hands of Kazakhstan'sFC Kairat.[27] On 5 August, following a 5–0 loss againstNK Celje in the domestic league, he was relieved of his duties.[28]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||||
| Atlético |  | 17 February 2014 | 30 June 2014 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 033.33 | |||
| Mafra | | 1 July 2014 | 17 March 2015 | 25 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 060.00 | |||
| Belenenses | | 17 March 2015 | 30 June 2015 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 033.33 | |||
| Paços Ferreira | | 14 June 2015 | 21 May 2016 | 40 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 037.50 | |||
| Chaves | | 23 May 2016 | 17 December 2016 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 035.29 | |||
| Braga | | 17 December 2016 | 25 April 2017 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 038.10 | |||
| Boavista | | 14 September 2017 | 26 January 2019 | 52 | 18 | 10 | 24 | 034.62 | |||
| Al-Fayha |  | 9 June 2019 | 27 August 2020 | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 030.00 | |||
| Mouscron |  | 20 October 2020 | 14 May 2021 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 026.92 | |||
| Paços Ferreira | | 13 May 2021 | 11 December 2021 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 021.74 | |||
| Santa Clara | | 11 January 2023 | 26 February 2023 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 000.00 | |||
| Académico Viseu | | 27 October 2023 | 16 April 2024 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 031.82 | |||
| Boavista | | 16 April 2024 | 7 June 2024 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 000.00 | |||
| Olimpija Ljubljana |  | 13 June 2025 | 5 August 2025 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 042.86 | |||
| Total | 296 | 100 | 87 | 109 | 033.78 | ||||||