Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição (Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈsɛɾʒiukõsɐjˈsɐ̃w]; born 15 November 1974) is a Portuguese professional football manager and former player who mostly played as a right winger.
Throughout his career, he played for ten teams in five countries. After gaining international recognition with Porto he switched to Italy, where he appeared for three clubs, winning domestic and European honours at Lazio. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 97 games and 13 goals over four seasons, adding 136 matches and 13 goals in Serie A. Having won 56 caps for Portugal, he represented the nation at Euro 2000 and the 2002 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 and Nantes in Ligue 1. He set the record for most games as manager of Porto, winning 11 honours including three league titles and the double in 2019–20 and 2021–22.
Conceição's father died in a motorbike accident when he was 16, the day after he joined FC Porto'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]
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 a Taça de Portugal triumph.[8]
In July 2000, Conceição and Matías Almeyda transferred to Parma AC along with £16 million as part of a £40 million package deal that saw Hernán Crespo join Lazio.[15] In his only season with the Ducati, he scored the opening goal on his debut, a 2–0 away defeat of Macedonia's FK Pobeda on 14 September in the first round of the UEFA Cup.[16] His side reached the cup final, which they lost to ACF Fiorentina 2–1 on aggregate with his campaign ending through injury in the first leg; he was subsequently linked to Manchester United, Juventus and A.C. Milan.[17]
Before 2001–02, Conceição was used in exchange for the transfer of Sébastien Frey, which saw him go to Inter with 10 billion lire (£3.1 million) while the French goalkeeper 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 of 2003–04, again by mutual consent,[19][20] and adding his third Portuguese national championship.[21] He was ineligible for their UEFA Champions League triumph having already represented Lazio in that year's competition,[20] but scored his only goal of his second spell from the penalty spot on his debut on 21 January in a 4–0 win at the Estádio das Antas in the last 16 of the national cup,[22] eventually losing the final to S.L. Benfica.[23]
Later career
In summer 2004, Conceição signed for Belgium's Standard Liège on a one-year deal.[24] He won the Belgian Golden Shoe for best player of the year in his first 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 in 2005–06's league and losing the 2007 final of the Belgian Cup. He decided to move to Kuwait and Qadsia SC on an annual salary of €1.1 million[28] but, quickly unsettled, left.
In January 2008, after failed deals in Portugal, Conceição agreed to join PAOK FC in Greece, signing an 18-month contract.[29] His unlikely signing was largely attributed to club director of footballZisis Vryzas, and the presence of Portuguese manager Fernando 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 to team captain in 2008–09.[30] Along with compatriot Vieirinha, 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 of the following campaign, however, he was regularly troubled by knee injuries for the most part of October, managing only a few appearances.
International career
Conceição played 56 times with the Portugal national team and scored 12 goals,[31] his debut being on 9 November 1996 in a 1–0 home win over Ukraine for the 1998 FIFA World Cupqualifiers. In his last international game he was on the losing end of a 0–3 friendly defeat at the hands of Spain, on 6 September 2003.[32]
Early in his international career, Conceição was not known for his scoring prowess but, at UEFA 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 champions Germany in Rotterdam, he netted a hat-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.
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 as manager, he left the Thessaloniki club[38] and rejoined another former team, as part of Standard Liège's coaching staff led by Dominique D'Onofrio.[39]
Conceição was reported to have left the Algarve 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]
Académica
On 8 April 2013, Conceição was hired as manager of his hometown team Académica, less than 24 hours after the club dismissed Pedro Emanuel from the job.[47] They stood at 13th place when he joined, and his main goal was to avoid relegation.[47]
Conceição left at the end of the 2013–14 campaign,[48] after leading the side to eighth place.[49]
Braga
Conceição signed a two-year contract with S.C. Braga 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 a fourth-place finish and the final of the domestic cup.[51] After the semi-final victory at Rio Ave FC's ground, he made the 24-mile journey home from Vila do Conde on foot as part of a bet made with his players.[52] The decisive match was lost to Sporting in a penalty 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]
Vitória Guimarães
On 22 September 2015, Conceição resurfaced with his fourth management position in the Portuguese top-flight, at Vitória 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 of the season by mutual consent, after a 10th place in the championship left them out of European competitions.[58][59]
In February 2017, Conceição was linked to the vacant managerial position at struggling Premier League title holders Leicester City, but Nantes chairman Waldemar 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]
Porto
In June 2017, after cutting ties with Nantes, Conceição replaced former teammate Nuno 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 to G.D. Estoril Praia on his debut on 9 August.[69] In his first season, he led the club to the national championship after a five-year wait,[70] and his contract was extended by another year.[71] They reached the quarter-finals in the subsequent Champions League, where they were ousted by eventual winners Liverpool.[72]
On 1 March 2019, Conceição signed another deal until 2021.[73] They regained their title in 2019–20 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 the cup final to secure the double.[75] The team again reached the last-eight in the Champions League, being defeated 2–1 on aggregate by Chelsea.[76]
On 28 January 2023, Conceição won the first Taça da Liga in Porto's history with a 2–0 win over Sporting in Leiria, his third such final.[81] He managed his 323rd game for the team on 8 May, a 1–0 win at F.C. Arouca with which he surpassed José Maria Pedroto's club record.[82] On 4 June, his team won the 2023 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, after Jorge 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, he won the Portuguese Cup with a 2–1 defeat of Sporting, becoming the third manager to lift the trophy four times; unlike Otto 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]
Style of play
A talented player, Conceição was mainly known for his speed, strength, and ability to cover the flank and get forward, also possessing good dribbling skills, crossing ability, and a fairly accurate shot. A versatile and hard-working midfielder, although he was usually deployed as a right winger, he was also capable of playing in a holding role.[87][88][89][90]
Conceição helped ten families who were struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the intent of providing "a grocery store in every home".[95] During an interview to RTP1 in December 2020, he stated that his hero was God and he was a devout Catholic.[96]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[citation needed]
^"Δήλωση του Sergio Conceicao" [Sergio Conceicao statement] (in Greek). PAOK FC. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
^Moura, Alexandre (15 January 2012). "Algarvios não vencem há sete jogos" [Algarveans have not won in seven games]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^Vieira, Miguel Pedro (29 May 2015). "Uma família de craques" [A family of stars]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.