Toni Conceição

António Conceição da Silva Oliveira (born 6 December 1961), known as Toni Conceição, is a Portuguese football manager and former player who played as a right-back.

Not to be confused with Toni (footballer, born 1946).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Oliveira.

Toni Conceição
Conceição in 2022
Personal information
Full name António Conceição da Silva Oliveira[1]
Date of birth (1961-12-06) 6 December 1961[1]
Place of birth Maximinos, Portugal[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
1975–1980 Braga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1981 Braga 2 (0)
1981–1982 Vizela 24 (1)
1982–1983 Riopele 28 (1)
1983–1985 Vizela 60 (0)
1985–1989 Braga 101 (0)
1989–1991 Porto 1 (0)
Total 216 (2)
International career
1988 Portugal 1 (0)
Managerial career
1999–2002 Braga B
2003 Braga (interim)
2003–2004 Naval
2004–2006 Estrela Amadora
2006 Vitória Setúbal
2007–2008 Trofense
2009 CFR Cluj
2009–2010 Belenenses
2010–2011 Brașov
2012 Astra Ploiești
2012–2013 Braga B
2014 Moreirense
2014 Olhanense
2015 Al Faisaly
2015–2016 CFR Cluj
2017 Nea Salamina
2017 Penafiel
2018–2019 CFR Cluj
2019–2022 Cameroon
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Cameroon (as manager)
Africa Cup of Nations
Bronze medal – third place2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His playing career was spent mostly in the Primeira Liga at Braga, as well as Vizela and one appearance for Porto. He earned a sole cap for Portugal in 1988.

In a managerial career of over two decades, Conceição led a variety of Portuguese teams and won league and cup honours in three spells with Cluj in Romania. He also managed Cameroon to third place at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Playing career

Born in Maximinos, Braga District, Conceição played one full decade as a professional, making his debut in the Primeira Liga with local S.C. Braga. In 1984, he helped F.C. Vizela reach the top division for the first time in the club's history.[2][3]

Subsequently, Conceição returned to Braga. He appeared in a career-best 36 games in the 1987–88 season, helping his team to the 11th position whilst acting as the captain.[4]

Conceição signed for FC Porto in the summer of 1989. After only one competitive appearance in two years he retired at the age of 29, eventually returning late in the decade in futsal. He earned one cap for Portugal, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 friendly against Sweden in Gothenburg, on 12 October 1988.[5]

Coaching career

Conceição started his managerial career at S.C. Braga B, spending three full seasons in the third division. He acted as interim to the first team during one match late into 2002–03, a 2–2 away draw against S.C. Beira Mar.[6]

In the following years, Conceição worked with Associação Naval 1º de Maio, C.F. Estrela da Amadora, Vitória de Setúbal[7][8] and C.D. Trofense, with all sides but the third competing in the Segunda Liga and all attaining promotion. In January 2009 he moved abroad, being appointed at Liga I's CFR Cluj and winning the Cupa României.[9] He was dismissed by the latter as they led the table after 15 rounds.[10]

After three months at the helm of C.F. Os Belenenses after signing in December 2009,[11] winning only three games in 16 and suffering top-flight relegation, Conceição returned to Romania, where he coached SR Brașov and FC Astra Ploiești.[12]

Conceição returned to his country in October 2012, being appointed at Braga B who were having their first experience in the second tier.[13] He then led Moreirense F.C. to the division two championship, leaving at the end of the campaign.[14]

Conceição was subsequently appointed at S.C. Olhanense of the same division. Though expected to win promotion, he was sacked in October 2014 with the side in the bottom half of the table following a 7–0 loss at FC Porto B.[15] After a spell at Al Faisaly FC of the Saudi Professional League, he returned to Cluj in December 2015.[16] The following 17 May his team – featuring compatriots Tiago Lopes, Camora and Vítor Bruno – won the cup again with a penalty shootout victory over FC Dinamo București.[17]

In March 2017, Conceição was hired by Nea Salamis Famagusta FC, second in the Cypriot First Division.[18] Three months later he came home to take the reins at F.C. Penafiel of the second tier,[19] leaving on 25 September by mutual consent after two wins from seven league games and elimination from both cups.[20]

On 26 July 2018, Conceição began his third spell at Cluj.[21] He was sacked the following 19 February after a run of three games without a win, though the team still led the championship by as many points;[22] he earned the most points of the club's four managers in the league-winning season.[23]

On 21 September 2019, Toni succeeded Clarence Seedorf as the head coach of the Cameroonian national team.[24] On his debut on 12 October, the team achieved a goalless friendly draw away to Tunisia.[25] The Indomitable Lions took part in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification despite having a spot in the final tournament assured as hosts; they topped their qualification group.[26] After losing on penalties to Egypt in the semi-finals and then defeating Burkina Faso on the same tiebreaker, the team finished third.[27]

Conceição was dismissed on 28 February 2022.[28]

Honours

Player

Porto

Manager

Trofense

CFR Cluj

Moreirense

Cameroon

References
  1. Toni Conceição at WorldFootball.net
  2. Maia, Vítor; Cunha, Pedro Jorge (20 May 2016). "Vizela: o regresso à II Liga oito anos depois" [Vizela: returning to the II League eight years later] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. Fernandes, Zélia (7 May 2021). "Toni Conceição entusiasmado com carreira do FC Vizela" [Toni Conceição excited with FC Vizela's career] (in Portuguese). Rádio Vizela. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. "Época 1987/88: Primeira Divisão" [1987/88 season: First Division] (in Portuguese). Arquivos da Bola. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. "Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses" [Complete list of Portuguese internationals] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  6. "Beira Mar-Sp. Braga, 2–2 (destaques)" [Beira Mar-Sp. Braga, 2–2 (highlights)] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 19 April 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. "Toni replaces Hélio at Setúbal". UEFA. 17 September 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  8. "Struggling Setúbal call time on Toni". UEFA. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  9. "Cupa ramane la Cluj! CFR 3–0 Timișoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)" [Cup remains at Cluj! CFR 3–0 Timișoara! (Deac '6, Peralta '28, Culio '53)] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  10. Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (20 October 2019). "Toni Conceição: "No Estrela da Amadora cheguei a fazer um jogo apenas com 10 jogadores aptos. Olhava para o banco e... nada"" [Toni Conceição: "At Estrela da Amadora I had a match with only 10 available players. I looked to my bench and... nothing"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  11. "Futebol: António Conceição é o treinador" [Football: António Conceição is the coach] (in Portuguese). C.F. Os Belenenses. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  12. "Conceicao este noul antrenor al astralilor" [Conceicao is Astra's new manager] (in Romanian). Astra Ploieşti. 6 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. Vieira, Nuno (16 October 2012). "António Conceição assume a equipa B" [António Conceição takes over B team]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  14. "Moreirense conquista o título" [Moreirense win title]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 May 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  15. "António Conceição deixa o comando técnico do Olhanense" [António Conceição leaves management of Olhanense] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  16. Măcicășan, Vlad (5 December 2015). "E sigur! Toni Conceicao va antrena CFR Cluj: portughezul se întoarce în Gruia după 6 ani! Prima reacţie a lusitanului" [It is done! Toni Conceição will manage CFR Cluj: Portuguese returns to Gruia after 6 years! First reaction of the Lusitanian]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  17. "Cluj de António Conceição vence Taça da Roménia após reviravolta" [António Conceição's Cluj win Romanian Cup after comeback] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  18. "OFICIAL: António Conceição vai treinar no Chipre" [OFFICIAL: António Conceição will manage in Cyprus] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  19. "António Conceição assume o Penafiel" [António Conceição takes over at Penafiel] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  20. "António Conceição deixa o comando técnico do Penafiel" [António Conceição leaves management of Penafiel] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  21. "António Conceição vai treinar o Cluj pela terceira vez na carreira" [António Conceição will manage Cluj for the third time in his career]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 July 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  22. "Cluj despede António Conceição e José Peseiro está na calha para o suceder" [Cluj dismiss António Conceição and José Peseiro is in line to succeed]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  23. Apostol, Eduard; Mărgărit, Marius (14 May 2019). "EXCLUSIV Toni Conceicao: "Simt că puteam să iau campionatul!" » Aflat în Cluj, lusitanul n-a fost invitat la petrecerea de titlu" [EXCLUSIVE Toni Conceição: "I feel like I could take the championship!" » While in Cluj, the Lusitanian was not invited to the title party]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  24. Enow, Njie (20 September 2019). "Cameroon name Portuguese coach Conceicao as Seedorf's replacement". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  25. "Amical – La Tunisie et le Cameroun se quittent sur un nul" [Friendly – Tunisia and Cameroon end all square] (in French). Goal. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  26. "Eliminatoires CAN 2021: Les Lions terminent en tête de leur poule" [2021 ACN qualifiers: Lions finish top of their group] (in French). Cameroonian Football Federation. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  27. "Remarkable comeback gives Cameroon third place at AFCON". France 24. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  28. "Rigobert Song nouveau sélectionneur du Cameroun" [Rigobert Song new Cameroon national team manager]. L'Équipe (in French). 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  29. "Portimonense-Trofense, 2–2: De novo em festa agora com o título" [Portimonense-Trofense, 2–2: Party time again now with title]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 May 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  30. "Toni Conceição" (in Portuguese). Be Soccer. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  31. Da Cunha, Pedro Jorge (20 March 2020). ""O presidente do Cluj ligou-me a dizer que se enganou ao despedir-me"" ["The president of Cluj called me saying he was wrong to fire me"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  32. Jesus, Diogo (17 May 2016). "Roménia: Cluj de António Conceição conquista a Taça" [Romania: António Conceição's Cluj conquer Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 October 2019.
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