Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, formerly of Porto, is one of the names being considered to take over Corinthians in 2025. According to journalist Leandro Quesada, the coach was on the list of president Augusto Melo, who monitors Luís Castro and Renato Portaluppi.
With long-term work at Porto, Sérgio won the title of best coach in the Portuguese League three times, in the 2017/18, 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons. He has been without a club since June, when he left the Norte Fluminense team.
In July, Inter consulted on the coach’s situation, but negotiations did not progress.
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Who is Sérgio Conceição?
Sérgio Conceição was born in Coimbra, on November 15, 1974. He was a professional football player and played as a winger for several Portuguese and Italian football clubs, such as Porto, Inter Milan and Palermo. He said goodbye to the pitch at PAOK, in the 2009/10 season, and began his coaching career.
He started as a technical assistant for Standard Liège, in Belgium, before returning to Portuguese football. In his home country, he commanded Olhanense, Académica, Braga, Vitória de Guimarães and Porto. He also had a brief spell at Nantes, in France, in 2016/17.
Sérgio Conceição’s style as a coach
Sérgio Conceição usually applies concepts from an offensive but cautious game model. At Porto, the coach prioritized the 4-4-2 tactical scheme, with speedy wingers and full-backs with covering capacity.
One of the commander’s legacies is his focus on changing athletes’ positions on the field. In addition to Pepê, a striker who played on the left side with the coach, there was Colombian Luis Diaz, currently at Liverpool, who gained prominence with Conceição playing more advanced.
At Corinthians, if Sérgio Conceição takes over, a possible change is to strengthen the sides and favor wingers. The versatility of Memphis Depay, who acts as a winger and false nine, could be favored.
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Clubs in Sérgio Conceição’s career
- Standard Liège (2010/11)
- Olhanense (2011 to 2012)
- Academic (2012/13 and 2013/14)
- SC Braga (2014/15)
- Vitória SC (2015/16)
- Nantes (2016/17)
- FC Porto (2017-2024)
Sérgio Conceição titles as coach
- Portuguese Championship (3x): 2017/18, 2019/20, 2021/22
- Portuguese Cup (4x): 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2018/19, 2020/21, 2022/23
- League Cup: 2022/23
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Corinthians: the coaches considered at the club for 2025
Check out names tipped to lead Timão next season.
World champion with Corinthians in 2012, Tite is one of the greatest coaches in the club’s history and is currently without a team.
He was at the club on three occasions: 2004-2005, 2010-2013 and 2015-2016. He left Corinthians to coach the Brazilian team. His last job was Flamengo, between 2023 and 2024.
At 63 years old, Renato Gaúcho has no previous experience at the São Paulo club. Between comings and goings, he has led Grêmio, Corinthians’ rival against relegation, since 2016 – with a brief spell at Flamengo in 2021.
Renato’s contract with Grêmio runs until December 2024 and, according to columnist Pedro Ernesto, from “GHZ”, there is no intention of the club to extend the contract.
Former coach of Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club in Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese coach, formerly of Botafogo, is one of the names being watched by Corinthians. Castro has been without a club since September. In a recent interview, he left his next destination open.
– (The future will be in) Europe, South America, the Middle East… I have no preference. Anyone who likes football has to be prepared for anything. The important thing is to go to a club where I feel cared for and respected – explained Luis Castro.
