Alex (footballer, born 1979)
Domingos Alexandre Martins da Costa (born 6 September 1979), commonly known as Alex, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played mainly as a right-back, currently manager of S.C. Covilhã.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Domingos Alexandre Martins da Costa[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 6 September 1979||
Place of birth | Guimarães, Portugal[1] | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Wing-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Covilhã (manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
1990–1994 | Vitória Guimarães | ||
1994–1995 | Ribeira Pena | ||
1995–1998 | Vitória Guimarães | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–2001 | Fafe | 76 | (16) |
2001–2003 | Moreirense | 57 | (8) |
2003–2005 | Benfica | 14 | (0) |
2004–2005 | → Vitória Guimarães (loan) | 31 | (4) |
2005–2009 | VfL Wolfsburg | 21 | (0) |
2009–2013 | Vitória Guimarães | 95 | (0) |
2013 | Vitória Guimarães B | 1 | (0) |
Total | 295 | (28) | |
International career | |||
2005 | Portugal | 3 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
2013–2014 | Felgueiras 1932 | ||
2014 | Académico Viseu | ||
2016–2018 | Vitória Guimarães (youth) | ||
2018–2019 | Vitória Guimarães B | ||
2022– | Covilhã | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Over seven seasons (15 years in total as a professional), he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 170 matches and seven goals, mainly at the service of Vitória de Guimarães as well as Moreirense and Benfica. He also spent four years in Germany, with VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga.
Alex began managing in 2013, leading three teams in his country's second tier.
Playing career
Club
Alex was born in Guimarães. After starting his career at AD Fafe he joined Moreirense FC, where he won promotion to the Primeira Liga as champion in 2001–02 and then contributed three goals as they came 12th in his and their first top-flight campaign; this included two on 19 January in a 2–1 win at S.C. Beira-Mar.[2] He then joined Benfica, where he and fellow defender Luisão were the only signings made by manager José Antonio Camacho ahead of the new season.[3] He mainly deputised for established Miguel.
For 2004–05, Alex was loaned to Vitória de Guimarães.[4] He scored four top-flight goals that season as his hometown club came fifth and qualified for the UEFA Cup, starting on 15 November with the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Rio Ave FC; on 18 March, his brace earned a 2–1 win away to C.S. Marítimo.[5]
Benfica sold Alex to VfL Wolfsburg on the final days of the summer 2005 transfer window.[6] He had a relatively successful debut campaign, but only appeared four times in the Bundesliga over the next three (none in the last two).
In late May 2009, Alex signed with former club Vitória de Guimarães on a free transfer.[7] During that first season he operated mostly as a right-back, going on to be fully reconverted to the position the following years and being first-choice.[8]
International
Alex earned three caps for Portugal under Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2005. His debut was on 4 June in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia, starting in a 2–0 win at the Estádio da Luz, followed four days later by a 1–0 win away to Estonia.[9][10][11]
Coaching career
On 3 July 2013, Alex announced his retirement from professional football at the age of nearly 34, immediately starting his managerial career with F.C. Felgueiras 1932 in the third division.[12] He first arrived at the professionals in May 2014 after leading his team to safety, being appointed at Segunda Liga side Académico de Viseu FC.[13]
Alex won his first game at Académico, 4–1 at home to Portimonense S.C. in the first round of the Taça da Liga on 27 July 2014;[14] his team lost the second round 5–4 on aggregate to C.F. Os Belenenses after winning the first leg 3–1.[15] He left by mutual consent on 12 November with his team one point above the relegation zone after 16 games of the season.[16]
After three years in charge of the under-19 team, Alex succeeded Vítor Campelos at Vitória de Guimarães B in June 2018.[17] The team were relegated to the third tier after his first season, and he was dismissed on 9 December 2019 while in sixth place.[18]
Following a spell as assistant to compatriot Jaime Pacheco at Zamalek SC of the Egyptian Premier League, Alex ran for Vitória's presidency in March 2022, losing to António Miguel Cardoso;[19] he then replaced Leonel Pontes as manager of S.C. Covilhã on 6 October.[20] His team were relegated, ending a 15-year spell in division two.[21]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Fafe | 1998–99 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
1999–00 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 34 | 9 | ||||
2000–01 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 8 | ||||
Total | 75 | 16 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 83 | 17 | ||||
Moreirense | 2001–02 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 5 | |||
2002–03 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 3 | ||||
Total | 57 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 61 | 8 | ||||
Benfica | 2003–04 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
2005–06 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Total | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
Vitória Guimarães (loan) | 2004–05 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 4 | |||
VfL Wolfsburg | 2005–06 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | |||
2006–07 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
2007–08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |||
VfL Wolfsburg II | 2007–08 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
Vitória Guimarães | 2009–10 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 | ||
2010–11 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | |||
2011–12 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
2012–13 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
Total | 95 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 123 | 0 | |
Vitória Guimarães B | 2012–13 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
Career total | 295 | 28 | 35 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 344 | 29 |
Honours
Moreirense
Benfica
Vitória Guimarães
References
- "Alex" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- "Beira-Mar / Moreirense, 1–2". Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 19 January 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "«Luisão vai dar mais qualidade à equipa», diz Camacho" ["Luisão will give more quality to the team", says Camacho] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 22 August 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Alex: «Objectivo é voltar ao Benfica»" [Alex: "Goal is to return to Benfica"]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 May 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- "Marítimo-V. Guimarães, 1–2: Alex e amigos dão asas ao sonho europeu" [Marítimo-V. Guimarães, 1–2: Alex and friends give wings to the European dream]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 March 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Fußball: VfL Wolfsburg verpflichtet portugiesischen Verteidiger Alex" [Football: VfL Wolfsburg acquire Portuguese defender Alex] (in German). Kicker. 20 August 2005. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- "Alex verlässt Wolfsburg in Richtung Portugal" [Alex leaves Wolfsburg towards Portugal] (in German). Goal. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- "Gémeos falsos" [False twins]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- Pereira, António Pedro (5 June 2005). "Portugal à porta do Mundial" [Portugal at the door of the World Cup]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Portugal frente à Estónia: Capitão a amenizar uma crise de nervos" [Portugal against Estonia: Captain eased a nervous breakdown]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 June 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Estreias com Scolari raramente são a doer" [Debuts with Scolari rarely happen when it matters]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 May 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- Sousa, Pascoal (3 July 2013). "Alex despediu-se em lágrimas" [Alex said goodbye in tears]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- "Alex é o novo treinador do Ac. Viseu" [Alex is the new manager of Ac. Viseu] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- "Académico de Viseu vence Portimonense e começa a época a ganhar" [Académico de Viseu defeat Portimonense and start the season with a win]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 27 July 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "União da Madeira atira Paços de Ferreira para fora da Taça da Liga" [União da Madeira knock Paços de Ferreira out of the League Cup]. Público (in Portuguese). 29 October 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Alex Costa deixa comando do Académico de Viseu" [Alex Costa leaves the helm of Académico de Viseu]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 12 November 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Alex Costa assume V. Guimarães B para continuar a "formar jogadores"" [Alex Costa takes over at V. Guimarães B to continue to "shape players"]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 June 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- Ferreira, Bruno José (9 December 2019). "OFICIAL: Alex Costa deixa comando técnico do V. Guimarães B" [OFFICIAL: Alex Costa leaves the helm of V. Guimarães B] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- "Alex Costa deu os parabéns ao novo Presidente pelo seu "grande triunfo"" [Alex Costa gave congratulations to the new President for his "great triumph"] (in Portuguese). Guimarães Digital. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- Freitas, Bruno (6 October 2022). "Alex Costa é o novo treinador do Sp. Covilhã" [Alex Costa is the new manager of Sp. Covilhã]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- Freitas, Bruno (25 May 2023). "Alex Costa: «Sp. Covilhã desce por culpa própria, mas com muita gente a ajudar»" [Alex Costa: "Sp. Covilhã is going down by our own fault, but with lots of people helping"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- Alex at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Alex at Soccerway
- "Alex". European Football. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
External links
- Alex at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Alex manager stats at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- Alex at fussballdaten.de (in German)
- Alex at National-Football-Teams.com