Sérgio Conceição facts for kids
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Conceição as Porto manager in 2023
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 November 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Coimbra, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | AC Milan (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) | |
| National team | |||
| 1995–1996 | Portugal U21 | 7 | (1) |
| 1996–2003 | Portugal | 56 | (12) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 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– | AC Milan | ||
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Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição (born 15 November 1974) is a Portuguese football manager and former player. He mostly played as a right winger. Currently, he is the manager of the Italian club AC Milan.
Sérgio Conceição played for ten different teams in five countries during his career. He became well-known while playing for Porto in Portugal. Later, he moved to Italy and played for three clubs, winning important trophies with Lazio. He played 56 games for the Portuguese national team. He also represented Portugal in major tournaments like Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
In 2012, Conceição started his career as a football manager. He has led five teams in Portugal's top league and also Nantes in France. He holds the record for managing the most games for Porto. He won 11 trophies with Porto, including three league titles. After leaving Porto in June 2024, he joined AC Milan in December of the same year.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Sérgio Conceição was born in Coimbra, Portugal. He grew up in a place called Ribeira de Frades. He started playing football in the youth teams of his hometown club, Académica. His father was a bricklayer and his mother was a homemaker. He was one of eight children. As a child, he was a big fan of Sporting CP.
When Sérgio was 16, his father died in a motorbike accident. This happened just one day after he joined Porto's football academy. Two years later, his mother also passed away. She had been in a wheelchair due to health issues. His younger brother also died when Sérgio was still a teenager. He later said this was the hardest moment of his life. He even thought about quitting football because he felt so lost.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in Portugal
Sérgio Conceição began his professional playing career on loan. He played for Penafiel and Leça in Portugal's second division. He then played in the top league, the Primeira Liga, with Felgueiras. He scored four goals for them before they were relegated in the 1995–96 season.
After that, he returned to Porto. His fast runs down the right side of the field and his ability to score goals helped Porto win two national championships in a row. They also won the Taça de Portugal, which is Portugal's main cup competition.
Success in Italy
In 1998, Conceição moved to Italy to play for Lazio. He made a great start by winning the Supercoppa Italiana in his very first game. He scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Juventus. He was so new to Italy that some people even confused him with another Brazilian player named Flávio Conceição!
He played a big part in Lazio winning the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He also scored five goals in 33 games in his first season in Serie A, Italy's top league. He helped Lazio win the Scudetto (the league title) and the Coppa Italia in the 1999–2000 season. This meant they won "the double" (both the league and the cup). He also helped them win the 1999 UEFA Super Cup.
In 2000, Conceição moved to Parma. He scored in his first game for them in the UEFA Cup. His team reached the cup final, but they lost. After one season, he moved to Inter Milan. He played for Inter for two seasons before returning to Lazio. He then went back to his former club, Porto, in 2003–04. He helped Porto win his third Portuguese national championship.
Later Playing Years
In 2004, Conceição signed with Standard Liège in Belgium. In his first season, he won the Belgian Golden Shoe, which is an award for the best player of the year. After the 2006–07 season, he moved to Kuwait to play for Qadsia. However, he quickly felt unsettled there and left.
In 2008, he joined PAOK in Greece. He became the team captain in 2008–09. He was a regular player on the team's wings and became a fan favorite. He was known for his leadership and dedication to the club.
International Career for Portugal
Sérgio Conceição played 56 times for the Portuguese national team. He scored 12 goals for his country. His first game was in November 1996 against Ukraine. His last international game was in September 2003 against Spain.
He became famous for his scoring at UEFA Euro 2000. In a group stage match against Germany, he scored three goals, which is called a hat-trick. This helped Portugal win 3–0. Even though Portugal had already secured first place in their group, his performance helped him become a regular starter for the rest of the tournament.
In the qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Conceição scored four goals. Portugal finished first in their group, which included strong teams like the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
Coaching Career
Starting as a Manager
On 13 October 2009, Sérgio Conceição announced he was retiring as a professional footballer. He decided to continue working at PAOK as a technical director. In May 2010, he left PAOK and joined another former team, Standard Liège, as part of their coaching staff.
Conceição began his career as a manager on 1 January 2012. He took over Olhanense in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's top league. His team finished the season two positions higher than when he joined.
In April 2013, Conceição became the manager of his hometown team, Académica. His main goal was to help the team avoid relegation. He left at the end of the 2013–14 season, after leading the team to eighth place.
Managing Braga and Vitória Guimarães
Conceição signed a two-year contract with Braga in May 2014. He led them to a fourth-place finish in the league. He also guided them to the final of the domestic cup. After winning the semi-final, he walked 24 miles home as part of a bet he made with his players! Braga lost the final to Sporting in a penalty shootout. After this, he left the club.
On 22 September 2015, Conceição became the manager of Vitória de Guimarães. In January 2016, he led his team to their first home win against Porto in 14 years. He left the club at the end of the season.
Time at Nantes
Conceição was named manager of French club Nantes in December 2016. The team was near the bottom of the Ligue 1 league table. His first game was a 3–1 home win. His one season at Nantes resulted in a 7th-place finish in the league.
In June 2017, he left Nantes to accept an offer from Porto. He said he wanted to be closer to his family in Portugal.
Return to Porto as Manager
In June 2017, Sérgio Conceição became the manager of his former club, Porto. He signed a two-year deal. In his first season, he led the club to win the national championship after a five-year wait. His contract was extended. Porto also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League that season.
On 1 March 2019, Conceição signed another deal until 2021. Porto won their league title again in 2019–20. Two weeks later, his team beat Benfica in the cup final to win "the double" (both the league and the cup). The team also reached the last eight in the Champions League again.
Conceição renewed his contract for three more years in June 2021. In April 2022, Porto set a record of 58 league matches without losing. His third league title was secured in May 2022. 15 days later, Porto also won the domestic cup final.
On 28 January 2023, Conceição won the first Taça da Liga (League Cup) in Porto's history. He managed his 323rd game for the team in May 2023, breaking a club record. On 4 June, his team won the 2023 Taça de Portugal final against Braga. This made him the first manager to win that trophy three times with Porto. With ten trophies, he became the second most successful manager in Portuguese football history.
On 25 April 2024, Conceição signed a new deal to last until 2028. A month later, he won the Portuguese Cup again, becoming the third manager to lift the trophy four times. However, shortly after, he announced his decision to leave Porto on 30 June.
Moving to AC Milan
On 30 December 2024, Conceição returned to Italy to manage AC Milan. He replaced his fellow Portuguese manager, Paulo Fonseca. In his first game, he led AC Milan to a 2–1 win over Juventus in the semi-finals of the Italian Supercup. In the final on 6 January, his team came from behind to beat Inter 3–2 and win the title. This made him the fastest manager in AC Milan's history to win a trophy.
Playing Style
As a player, Sérgio Conceição was known for his speed, strength, and ability to run down the wing. He was also good at dribbling, crossing the ball, and had a good shot. He was a versatile and hard-working midfielder. Although he usually played as a right winger, he could also play in a defensive midfield role.
Management Style
During his time at Porto, Conceição became known for an exciting style of play. His teams often kept possession of the ball. He was also not afraid to make bold tactical decisions. He would choose players who fit his system well, even if they weren't always the most famous or technically gifted.
Conceição often used a 4–3–2–1 formation. His players usually showed a fast and aggressive mindset. Sometimes, he would use a 4–4–2 formation. Famous coach Fabio Capello praised Conceição, saying he did "very, very well at Porto" and that his teams are "solid and balanced." Capello also noted that Conceição is good at working with both experienced and young players, helping them all perform their best.
Personal Life
The local government in Coimbra named a 2,500-seat stadium after Sérgio Conceição. It is called the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição. He has five sons: Sérgio, Rodrigo, Moisés, Francisco and José. Two of his sons, Rodrigo and Francisco, have played under him at Porto.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Conceição helped ten families who were struggling financially. He wanted to make sure they had enough food. In an interview in December 2020, he said that his hero was God and that he is a very religious Catholic.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | 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 | ||
International
| 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 | |
- Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Conceição goal.
| 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 |
Managerial Statistics
| 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 | 29.41 | |
| Académica | |
8 April 2013 | 26 May 2014 | 41 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 29.27 | |
| Braga | |
26 May 2014 | 30 June 2015 | 45 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 81 | 38 | +43 | 53.33 | |
| Vitória Guimarães | |
23 September 2015 | 18 May 2016 | 31 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 25.81 | |
| Nantes |  |
8 December 2016 | 6 June 2017 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 50.00 | |
| Porto | |
8 June 2017 | 30 June 2024 | 379 | 274 | 53 | 52 | 812 | 314 | +498 | 72.30 | |
| Milan |  |
30 December 2024 | present | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 66.67 | |
| Career Total | 562 | 345 | 106 | 111 | 1,058 | 534 | +524 | 61.39 | — | |||
Honours
Player
Leça
- Segunda Liga: 1994–95
Porto
- Primeira Liga: 1996–97, 1997–98, 2003–04
- Taça de Portugal: 1997–98
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1996
Lazio
- Serie A: 1999–2000
- Coppa Italia: 1999–2000, 2003–04
- Supercoppa Italiana: 1998
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1998–99
- UEFA Super Cup: 1999
Portugal
- UEFA European Championship third place: 2000
- UEFA European Under-18 Championship runner-up: 1992
Individual
- Belgian Golden Shoe: 2005
Manager
Porto
- Primeira Liga: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Taça de Portugal: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Taça da Liga: 2022–23
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2018, 2020, 2022
AC Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2024
Individual
- Primeira Liga Best Coach: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22
- Primeira Liga Manager of the Month: October/November 2018, December 2018, February 2020 December 2020, December 2021, March 2022
See also
In Spanish: Sérgio Conceição para niños
