Flávio Conceição

Flávio da Conceição (born 12 June 1974) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Flávio Conceição
Personal information
Full name Flávio da Conceição
Date of birth (1974-06-12) 12 June 1974
Place of birth Santa Maria da Serra, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Rio Branco-SP 22 (2)
1993–1996 Palmeiras 52 (5)
1996–2000 Deportivo La Coruña 97 (9)
2000–2004 Real Madrid 45 (1)
2003–2004 → Borussia Dortmund (loan) 14 (1)
2004–2005 Galatasaray 27 (2)
2005–2006 Panathinaikos 14 (1)
Total 271 (21)
International career
1995–2000 Brazil 45 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Men's Football
Bronze medal – third place1996 AtlantaTeam Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Conceição enjoyed a successful career in Spain, where he played for two clubs—including Real Madrid with whom he won six major titles—and also represented Brazil on more than 40 occasions.[1]

Club career

Born in Santa Maria da Serra, São Paulo, Conceição began his career with Rio Branco in 1992. He then joined Palmeiras a year later, and racked up over 100 first-team appearances during his spell. This caught the attention of Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña, who paid €5.2 million for him after the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Playing alongside compatriot Mauro Silva in central midfield, Conceição gradually developed into a key force in the Galicians' rise in Spanish football,[2] as he scored four goals in 27 games in the team's 1999–2000 league conquest. This led to a 2000 move to fellow La Liga side Real Madrid, worth €26 million.[3]

Although he appeared sparingly, Conceição did win two league titles and the 2001–02 edition of the UEFA Champions League – in that competition, he set up Steve McManaman for the closing 2–0 semi-final win against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou.[4] He spent the 2003–04 campaign on loan to Borussia Dortmund,[5] where he was also irregularly played.[6]

In the summer of 2004, Conceição moved to Turkey's Galatasaray. In his first and only season he won the Turkish Cup but failed to make the Champions League, thus activating a clause in his contract which allowed him to leave, and he signed for Panathinaikos of Greece.

Afflicted with injuries and loss of form, Conceição was released and retired at the age of 32.[7]

International career

Conceição earned 45 caps for Brazil and scored four goals, and was part of the nation's 1997 and 1999 Copa América-winning sides.[8][9] He was also picked for two FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments, making four appearances in the 1997 edition for the eventual champions.[10]

In addition, Conceição won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta,[10] but was never summoned for any FIFA World Cup.

Honours

Palmeiras

Deportivo de La Coruña

Real Madrid

Galatasaray

Brazil U23

Brazil

References
  1. "Appearances for Brazil National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  2. "When La Liga was just as unpredictable as this season's Premier League". The Guardian. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  3. Sanz, Óscar (1 August 2000). "El Madrid intenta tapar con el fichaje de Flavio Conceiçao la marcha de Redondo" [Madrid try to compensate Redondo departure with signing of Flavio Conceiçao]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  4. "Madrid magic beats Barcelona". UEFA.com. 24 April 2002. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  5. Müller, Oliver (4 August 2003). "Nur Flavio Conceicao macht Borussia Dortmund Mut" [Only Flavio Conceicao emboldens Borussia Dortmund]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. "Leihen und sparen" [Loaning and saving]. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 29 January 2004. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  7. "Lembra dele? Corte na Copa de 98 ainda incomoda Flávio Conceição" [Remember him? 98 Cup cut still bothers Flávio Conceição] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  8. "Copa América 1997". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. "Copa América 1999". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  10. Flávio Conceição – FIFA competition record (archived)
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