_(cropped).png) Conceição asPorto manager in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1974-11-15)15 November 1974 (age 51)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Coimbra, Portugal | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Al-Ittihad (manager) | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1991 | Académica | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Porto | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1993–1998 | Porto | 56 | (9) | ||||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | →Penafiel (loan) | 30 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | →Leça (loan) | 24 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | →Felgueiras (loan) | 30 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Lazio | 63 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Parma | 25 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Inter Milan | 42 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Lazio | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Porto | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | Standard Liège | 74 | (21) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Qadsia | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | PAOK | 41 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 410 | (61) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Portugal U21 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–2003 | Portugal | 56 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Standard Liège (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Olhanense | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Académica | ||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Braga | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Vitória Guimarães | ||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Nantes | ||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2024 | Porto | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | AC Milan | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Al-Ittihad | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição (European Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈsɛɾʒiukõsɐjˈsɐ̃w]; born 15 November 1974) is a Portuguese professionalfootballmanager and former player who played as aright winger. He is the current head coach ofSaudi Pro League clubAl-Ittihad.
Throughout his career, he played for ten teams in five countries. After gaining international recognition withPorto he switched to Italy, where he appeared for three clubs, winning domestic and European honours atLazio. He amassedPrimeira Liga totals of 97 games and 13 goals over four seasons, adding 136 matches and 13 goals inSerie A. Having won 56caps forPortugal, he represented the nation atEuro 2000 and the2002 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the former.
In 2012, Conceição started working as a manager, leading five teams in his nation's top flight andNantes inLigue 1. He set the record for most games as manager of Porto, winning 11 honours including three league titles andthe double in2019–20 and2021–22. After leaving in June 2024, he joinedAC Milan in December that year, being dismissed six months later.
Born inCoimbra, and raised inRibeira de Frades, Conceição began his career with the youth teams of hometown'sAcadémica.[2] Son of abricklayer father and ahomemaker mother and one of eight siblings, as a child he wasa fan ofSporting CP.[3][4]
Conceição's father died in a motorbike accident when he was 16, the day after he joinedPorto's academy. His mother, who was already wheelchair-bound due to health problems, died two years after the former's death, and his younger brother also died when Conceição was still a teenager, an event he later described as "the most difficult moment" of his life. "I thought about quitting football (...) I felt lost at the time."[5][6][7][4]
Conceição started playing professionally in theLiga de Honra on loan atPenafiel andLeça. He had his firstPrimeira Liga experience withFelgueiras, scoring four goals while they were relegated in1995–96.[8]
Returned to Porto, Conceição's runs down the right flank, combined with a good scoring record, helped them to back-to-back national championships and aTaça de Portugal triumph.[8]
Conceição joinedLazio in 1998 and won theSupercoppa Italiana on his debut, scoring the winner in a2–1 away win againstJuventus on 28 August;[9] he said that he was so unknown in Italy at the time that he was mistaken for the BrazilianFlávio Conceição.[10] He played a significant part in their1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup success,[11] while also netting five times in 33 games in hisfirst season inSerie A, his account in the domestic campaign being opened on 18 October with a brace in the 5–3 victory atInter Milan.[12] He also helped the team to aScudetto, aCoppa Italia (in a1999–2000 conquest ofthe double)[13] and the1999 UEFA Super Cup.[14]
In July 2000, Conceição andMatías Almeyda transferred toParma along with £16 million as part of a £40 million package deal that sawHernán Crespo join Lazio.[15] In his only season with theDucati, he scored the opening goal on his debut, a 2–0 away defeat of Macedonia'sPobeda on 14 September in thefirst round of theUEFA Cup.[16] His side reached thecup final, which they lost toFiorentina 2–1 on aggregate with his campaign ending through injury in the first leg; he was subsequently linked toManchester United, Juventus andMilan.[17]
Before2001–02, Conceição was used in exchange for the transfer ofSébastien Frey, which saw him go to Inter with 10 billionlire (£3.1 million) while the Frenchgoalkeeper went in the other direction.[18] After two seasons and a good number of starts, he left by mutual agreement and re-joined Lazio, leaving for former club Porto towards the end of2003–04, again by mutual consent,[19][20] and adding his third Portuguese national championship.[21] He was ineligible for theirUEFA Champions League triumph having already represented Lazio inthat year's competition,[20] but scored his only goal of his second spell from thepenalty spot on his debut on 21 January in a 4–0 win at theEstádio das Antas in the last 16 of thenational cup,[22] eventually losing the final toBenfica.[23]
In summer 2004, Conceição signed for Belgium'sStandard Liège on a one-year deal.[24] He won theBelgian Golden Shoe for best player of the year in hisfirst season.[25] However, in March 2006, he was banned for three years – the first 4.5 months of the ban taking effect immediately and the rest suspended[26]– depending on good behaviour, for spitting on an opposing player and assaulting a referee.[27]
After the 2006–07 campaign, Conceição failed to win any silverware with Standard, finishing runner-up in2005–06'sleague and losing the2007 final of theBelgian Cup. He decided to move toKuwait andQadsia on an annual salary of €1.1 million[28] but, quickly unsettled, left.
In January 2008, after failed deals in Portugal, Conceição agreed to joinPAOK in Greece, signing an 18-month contract.[29] His unlikely signing was largely attributed to clubdirector of footballZisis Vryzas, and the presence of Portuguese managerFernando Santos on the bench; though he initially struggled even to return to proper fitness levels, he was instantly given the number No. 7 shirt, once worn by legendary former player (and also chairman)Theodoros Zagorakis.
Conceição was promoted toteam captain in2008–09.[30] Along with compatriotVieirinha, he was a regular on the team's wings and gradually became a fan favourite for his leadership and his devotion to the club; at the beginning ofthe following campaign, however, he was regularly troubled by knee injuries for the most part of October, managing only a few appearances.
Conceição played 56 times with thePortugal national team and scored 12 goals,[31] his debut being on 9 November 1996 in a 1–0 home win overUkraine for the1998 FIFA World Cupqualifiers. In his last international game he was on the losing end of a 0–3friendly defeat at the hands ofSpain, on 6 September 2003.[32]
Early in his international career, Conceição was not known for his scoring prowess but, atUEFA Euro 2000, Portugal reached the semi-finals with a major contribution from him: in the third and final match of the group stage, against defending championsGermany inRotterdam, he netted ahat-trick for all of the game's goals;[33] the national side had guaranteed first place in the first two rounds, so it played mostly with substitutes, but he cemented his place in the starting XI for the rest of the tournament and subsequent call-ups.
Inqualifying for the 2002 World Cup, Conceição scored four goals as Portugal finished top in a group that also featured theRepublic of Ireland and theNetherlands (netting against both).[34][35]
On 13 October 2009, Conceição announced his decision to retire as a professional footballer, and to continue working at PAOK as technical director,[36][37] accepting Vryzas' proposal for the seat left vacant when he assumed presidency early on. On 30 May 2010, a few weeks after Santos' resignation asmanager, he left theThessaloniki club[38] and rejoined another former team, as part ofStandard Liège's coaching staff led byDominique D'Onofrio.[39]
Conceição began his managerial career on 1 January 2012, replacingDaúto Faquirá at the helm ofOlhanense in thePrimeira Liga.[40] His debut for the 10th-placed team was a 2–1 loss atMarítimo a week later,[41] and they finishedthe season two positions higher.[42]
Conceição was reported to have left theAlgarve on 9 August 2012, following disputes with the board,[43] but days later he appeared with president Isidoro Sousa to say that it was not the case.[44] He resigned early in the new year and took legal action against the club for delayed wages by requesting their bankruptcy.[45][46]
On 8 April 2013, Conceição was hired as manager of his hometown team Académica, less than 24 hours after the club dismissedPedro Emanuel from the job.[47] They stood at 13th place when he joined, and his main goal was to avoidrelegation.[47]
Conceição left at the end of the2013–14 campaign,[48] after leading the side to eighth place.[49]
Conceição signed a two-year contract withBraga on 26 May 2014;[50] the team had just finished the campaign one place below Académica with the same number of points, resulting in the first time in ten years that the club was out of European competitions.[49] He led them to afourth-place finish and thefinal of the domestic cup.[51] After the semi-final victory atRio Ave's ground, he made the 24-mile journey home fromVila do Conde on foot as part of a bet made with his players.[52] The decisive match was lost to Sporting in apenalty shootout, despite leading 2–0 at half time.[53]
Following this defeat, president António Salvador released an official statement that angered Conceição, resulting in a "violent discussion" between the two and leading to the latter's sacking.[54][55]
On 22 September 2015, Conceição resurfaced with his fourth management position in the Portuguese top-flight, atVitória de Guimarães.[56] On 17 January 2016, he led the side to their first home win against Porto (1–0) in 14 years.[57] He left at the end ofthe season by mutual consent, after a 10th place in the championship left them out of European competitions.[58][59]
Conceição was named manager ofLigue 1 clubNantes on 8 December 2016, replacing the dismissedRené Girard at a side second from bottom.[60] His debut five days later was a 3–1 home victory overMontpellier in thelast 16 of theCoupe de la Ligue,[61] followed with a 2–0 league win atAngers;[62] hisone season at theStade de la Beaujoire resulted in a 7th-place finish.[63]
In February 2017, Conceição was linked to the vacant managerial position at strugglingPremier League title holdersLeicester City, but Nantes chairmanWaldemar Kita insisted he would see out his two-year contract.[64] It was announced on 6 June that he had quit his position and accepted a proposal from Porto,[65] citing personal reasons, including the possibility to live close to his family in Portugal.[66]
In June 2017, after cutting ties with Nantes, Conceição replaced former teammateNuno Espírito Santo at the helm of former side Porto.[67] He was officially presented on the 8th, signing a two-year deal,[68] and won 4–0 at home toEstoril on his debut on 9 August.[69] In hisfirst season, he led the club to the national championship after a five-year wait,[70] and his contract was extended by another year.[71] Theyreached the quarter-finals in the subsequent Champions League, where they were ousted by eventual winnersLiverpool.[72]
On 1 March 2019, Conceição signed another deal until 2021.[73] They regained their title in2019–20 with two games to spare, after Benfica's form worsened at the end of the campaign.[74] Two weeks later, his team beat that opponent in thecup final to secure the double.[75] The team againreached the last-eight in the Champions League, being defeated 2–1 on aggregate byChelsea.[76]
Conceição renewed his contract for three more years on 4 June 2021, until June 2024.[77] The following 16 April, a 7–0 home rout ofPortimonense equalled Milan andOlympiacos' record of 58 league matches without losing.[78] Histhird league title was sealed on 7 May, with a last-minute winner byZaidu Sanusi at Benfica,[79] and 15 days later a 3–1 defeat ofTondela decided thedomestic cup final.[80]
On 28 January 2023, Conceição won the firstTaça da Liga in Porto's history with a 2–0 victory over Sporting inLeiria, his third such final.[81] He managed his 323rd game for the team on 8 May, a 1–0 win atArouca with which he surpassedJosé Maria Pedroto's club record.[82] On 4 June, his team won the2023 Taça de Portugal final 2–0 against Braga, making him the first manager to win that honour three times with Porto; his ten trophies made him the second most successful in Portuguese football, afterJorge Jesus' 12.[83]
On 25 April 2024, with weeks of his contract remaining, Conceição signed a new deal to last until 2028; the news came before presidential elections at the club.[84] A month later, hewon the Portuguese Cup with a 2–1 defeat of Sporting, becoming the third manager to lift the trophy four times; unlikeOtto Glória and Pedroto, he won all of his with the same side.[85] Shortly after, however, he announced his decision to leave on 30 June.[86]
On 30 December 2024, Conceição returned to the Italian top tier with AC Milan;[87] he replaced his compatriotPaulo Fonseca, who had been dismissed the day before.[88] On his debut four days later, he oversaw a 2–1 win over Juventus in thesemi-finals of the Italian Supercup.[89] In the final on 6 January, in which theRossoneri started no national players for the first time in the history of theDerby della Madonnina, having done likewise in the previous match,[90] his team came from behind 2–0 to beat Inter 3–2 and claim the title,[91] and he became in the process their fastest manager to do so by breakingVincenzo Montella's 2016 record of 18 games.[92]
On 29 May 2025, following defeat toBologna in theItalian Cup final and aneighth-place league finish, with the subsequent failure to qualify for any European competition,[93] Conceição was fired.[94]
On 7 October 2025, Conceição left Europe and signed a two-year contract withAl-Ittihad in theSaudi Pro League; he took over from the sackedLaurent Blanc at the title holders.[95] He achieved his first win 21 days later, beatingAl-Nassr 2–1 in theround of 16 of theKing's Cup.[96]
A talented player, Conceição was mainly known for his speed, strength, and ability to cover the flank and get forward, also possessing gooddribbling skills,crossing ability, and a fairly accurate shot. A versatile and hard-workingmidfielder, although he was usually deployed as a right winger, he was also capable of playing in aholding role.[97][98][99][100]
During his tenure at Porto, Conceição developed a reputation for an attractive style of play based on keeping possession. He was also not afraid to make bold tactical decisions, including starting players who were more suitable to his system rather than being technically gifted.[101]
Conceição often utilised a4–3–2–1 formation, and his players usually embodied a fast and aggressive mentality. He occasionally deployed a 4–4–2 formation;[101]Fabio Capello commented on this approach saying: 'As a coach he has done very, very well at Porto, demonstrating great tactical and attacking attention. His teams are solid and balanced, we saw it in the Champions League. He’s a coach capable of working with both important players and prospective players: he brings out the best in everyone. He is used to building and doing it with a winning mentality. He made this with the philosophy of Porto, where historically value is created by winning.'[101]
Coimbra's municipal government named a local 2,500-seater stadium after him – theEstádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição.[102] He fathered five sons:Sérgio,Rodrigo, Moisés,Francisco and José;[103][104] the second and fourth played under him at Porto.[105]
Conceição helped ten families who were struggling financially during theCOVID-19 pandemic, with the intent of providing "a grocery store in every home".[106] During an interview toRTP1 in December 2020, he stated that his hero wasGod and he was a devoutCatholic.[107]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Penafiel | 1993–94 | Segunda Divisão | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| Leça | 1994–95 | Segunda Divisão | 24 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 4 | ||
| Felgueiras | 1995–96 | Primeira Divisão | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 4 | ||
| Porto | 1996–97 | Primeira Divisão | 26 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| 1997–98 | Primeira Divisão | 30 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 8 | |
| Total | 56 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 10 | ||
| Lazio | 1998–99 | Serie A | 33 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 7 |
| 1999–2000 | Serie A | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | |
| Total | 63 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 87 | 11 | ||
| Parma | 2000–01 | Serie A | 25 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 36 | 7 | |
| Inter Milan | 2001–02 | Serie A | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 32 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | Serie A | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | ||
| Total | 42 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 0 | — | 65 | 2 | |||
| Lazio | 2003–04 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| Porto | 2003–04 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| Standard Liège | 2004–05 | Belgian First Division | 27 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 34 | 11 | |
| 2005–06 | Belgian First Division | 25 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 7 | |||
| 2006–07 | Belgian First Division | 22 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 4 | ||
| Total | 74 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 90 | 22 | |||
| Qadsia | 2007–08 | Kuwait Premier League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| PAOK | 2007–08 | Super League Greece | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2008–09 | Super League Greece | 28 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 6 | |||
| 2009–10 | Super League Greece | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 41 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 47 | 6 | |||
| Career total | 410 | 56 | 42 | 6 | 69 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 526 | 68 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 12 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 October 1997 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisboa, Portugal |  Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 26 March 1999 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal |  Azerbaijan | 4–0 | 7–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
| 3 | 20 June 2000 | Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Germany | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 4 | 20 June 2000 | Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Germany | 2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 5 | 20 June 2000 | Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Germany | 3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 |
| 6 | 7 October 2000 | Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal |  Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 11 October 2000 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Netherlands | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 1 September 2001 | Camp d'Esports, Lleida, Spain |  Andorra | 6–1 | 7–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 5 September 2001 | Antonis Papadopoulos, Larnaca, Cyprus |  Cyprus | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 27 March 2002 | Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal |  Finland | 1–2 | 1–4 | Friendly |
| 11 | 17 April 2002 | Estádio José Alvalade (1956), Lisbon, Portugal |  Brazil | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 12 | 16 October 2002 | Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden |  Sweden | 1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Olhanense |  | 2 January 2012 | 7 January 2013 | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 029.41 | [110] |
| Académica | | 8 April 2013 | 26 May 2014 | 41 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 029.27 | [111] |
| Braga | | 26 May 2014 | 30 June 2015 | 45 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 81 | 38 | +43 | 053.33 | [112] |
| Vitória Guimarães | | 23 September 2015 | 18 May 2016 | 31 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 025.81 | [113] |
| Nantes |  | 8 December 2016 | 6 June 2017 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 050.00 | [114] |
| Porto | | 8 June 2017 | 30 June 2024 | 379 | 274 | 53 | 52 | 812 | 314 | +498 | 072.30 | [115] |
| Milan |  | 30 December 2024 | 29 May 2025 | 31 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 051.61 | [87] |
| Al-Ittihad |  | 7 October 2025 | present | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 14 | −3 | 028.57 | [116] |
| Career Total | 594 | 359 | 112 | 123 | 1,110 | 577 | +533 | 060.44 | — | |||
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