Sérgio Conceição

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Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro Conceição (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsɛɾʒiu kõsɐiˈsɐ̃ũ]; born November 15, 1974 in Coimbra) is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays for PAOK F.C. of the Greek first division, as a right winger.

Speedy and strong on his flank, he also weighs in with his fair share of goals, and is a good crosser of the ball. Coimbra's municipality governors named a local 2,500-seater stadium after him: the Estádio Municipal Sérgio Conceição.

[edit] Club career

Conceição began his career playing for the youth teams of his hometown's Académica de Coimbra. Then he played in the second division, consecutively for F.C. Penafiel, Leça F.C. and F.C. Felgueiras, before moving to F.C. Porto in 1996. Two hugely successful years with Porto saw Conceição’s marauding runs down the right flank, combined with a good goalscoring record, help his team to back-to-back domestic championships and a Portuguese Cup triumph.

Conceição joined S.S. Lazio for €11.2 million, and played a significant part in their UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1998-99 success, while also scoring five goals in 33 games in his first Serie A season. He also helped the side to a Scudetto, an Italian Cup (in a 2000 double) and the 1999 UEFA Super Cup.

In July 2000, he transferred to Parma A.C. as a makeweight in Hernán Crespo's transfer. The following season, Conceição was used in the same fashion in the transfer of Sébastien Frey, which saw him go to Internazionale while Frey went in the other direction. After two seasons and a good number of starts, he would eventually leave Inter by mutual agreement and re-joined Lazio, leaving for another familiar side, Porto, towards the end of 2003-04, again by mutual agreement, adding his third Portuguese national championship.

In 2004, Conceição signed for Belgian club Standard Liège on a one-year deal. He won the Belgian Golden Shoe for best player of the year in his first season. However, in March 2006, he was suspended for three years (4.5 months and the rest suspended),^[1] depending on good behaviour, for spitting on an opposing player and assaulting a referee.^[2]

After the 2006-07 season, Conceição decided to move to Kuwait as he joined Al Qadisiya, after failing to win silverware with Standard, finishing runner-up in 2005-06's league and losing the 2007 cup final. In January 2008, however, he moved to PAOK F.C. in Greece after signing an 18-month contract. His signing was largely attributed to PAOK technical director (and former player) Zisis Vryzas. Though he struggled to find a place in the starting XI, he was given the number 7 shirt, once worn by legendary former player (and current chairman) Theodoros Zagorakis.

In 2008-09, Conceição was promoted to team captain. Along with compatriot Vieirinha and Brazilian Lino (signed in January 2009), he remained a regular on the team's wings.

[edit] International career

Conceição gained 56 caps for the Portugal national football team, scoring 12 goals, his debut being against Ukraine on 9 November 1996, a 1-0 home win in a World Cup qualifier. In his last international game, he was on the losing end of a 3-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Spain, on 6 September 2003.

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, Conceição bagged a hat-trick, scoring all of the match's goals. Portugal had guaranteed first place in the first two games, so the side played mostly with substitutes, but Conceição cemented his place in the starting XI for the rest of the tournament and subsequent call-ups.

In qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, Conceição scored four goals as Portugal finished atop a group that also featured the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands (netting against both). He was not recalled since 2003.

[edit] Honours

• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1998-99
• UEFA Supercup: 1999
• Portuguese League: 1996-97, 1997-98, 2003-04
• Portuguese Cup: 1997-98
• Portuguese Supercup: 1997
• Italian League: 1999-2000
• Italian Cup: 1999-2000, 2003-04
• Italian Supercup: 1998

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• PortuGOAL profile
• Stats and profile at Zerozero

v • d • e Portugal squad – UEFA Euro 2000 semi-finalists 1 Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 Rui Jorge • 4 Vidigal • 5 Couto • 6 Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 Pinto • 9 Sá Pinto • 10 R. Costa • 11 Conceição • 12 Espinha • 13 Dimas • 14 Xavier • 15 Costinha • 16 Beto • 17 Bento • 18 Pauleta • 19 Capucho • 20 Secretário • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Quim • Coach: Coelho

v • d • e Portugal squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 Xavier • 4 Caneira • 5 Couto • 6 Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 Pinto • 9 Pauleta • 10 Rui Costa • 11 Conceição • 12 Viana • 13 Andrade • 14 Barbosa • 15 Nélson • 16 Ricardo • 17 Bento • 18 Frechaut • 19 Capucho • 20 Petit • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Beto • 23 Rui Jorge • Coach: Oliveira