Flávio Conceição

Flávio Conceição
Personal information
Full name Flávio da Conceição
Date of birth 13 June 1974 (1974-06-13) (age 37)
Place of birth Santa Maria da Serra, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1992–1994 Rio Branco-SP 32 (4)
1994–1996 Palmeiras 103 (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)
National team
1995–2000 Brazil 45 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Flávio da Conceição (born 13 June 1974 in Santa Maria da Serra, São Paulo) is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Conceição enjoyed a successful career in Spain, where he played for two clubs – including Real Madrid – and also represented Brazil on more than 40 occasions.

Football career

Conceição began his career with Rio Branco Esporte Clube in 1992. He then joined Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras a year later, and racked up over 100 first team appearances in three years. This caught the attention of Deportivo de La Coruña, who paid €6.3 million for him after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[1]

Playing alongside compatriot Mauro Silva in central midfield, Conceição gradually developed into a key force in the Galicians' rise in Spanish football, as he netted four times in 27 appearances in the side's 1999–2000 league conquest. This led to a 2000 move to La Liga giants Real Madrid, worth €26 million.

Although he appeared sparingly, he did amass two league titles and won the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League - in that competition, he setup Steve McManaman for the closing 2–0 win against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou - spending 2003–04 on loan to Borussia Dortmund, where he was also irregularly played.

In the summer of 2004, Conceicao moved to Turkey's Galatasaray SK. In his first 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 joined Panathinaikos FC of Greece. Afflicted with injuries and loss of form, he was released by Pana and retired after that season, at 32.

Internationally, Conceição earned 45 caps (four goals) for Brazil, and was part of the nation's 1997 and 1999 Copa América winning sides. In addition, he won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but was never summoned for any FIFA World Cup.

References

  1. ^ Flávio Conceição – FIFA competition record

External links

Brazil squad – 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup Runners-up
Brazil squad – 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalists
Brazil squad – 1997 Copa América Winners (5th Title)
Brazil squad – 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup Winners (1st Title)
Brazil squad – 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place
Brazil squad – 1999 Copa América Winners (6th Title)
Brazil squad – 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-up