Francisco Conceição

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Fernandes and the second or paternal family name is da Conceição.
Francisco Conceição
Conceição playing for Ajax in 2023
Personal information
Full name Francisco Fernandes da Conceição
Date of birth (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Coimbra, Portugal
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Porto
Number 10
Youth career
2011 Belenenses
2011–2017 Sporting
2017–2018 Padroense
2018–2020 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Porto B 20 (4)
2021–2022 Porto 39 (2)
2022–2024 Jong Ajax 7 (5)
2022–2024 Ajax 19 (0)
2023–2024 → Porto (loan) 27 (5)
2024– Porto 0 (0)
International career‡
2018 Portugal U16 9 (1)
2018 Portugal U17 3 (1)
2019 Portugal U18 3 (1)
2021– Portugal U21 23 (6)
2024– Portugal 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European U21 Championship
Runner-up 2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:22, 18 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:59, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Francisco Fernandes da Conceição (born 14 December 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Porto and the Portugal national football team.

Coming through Porto's youth system, Conceição was promoted to the first-team in 2021, winning a domestic double of the Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal in 2022. In July 2022, he moved to Eredivise side Ajax, before returning to Porto in September 2023, on an initial one-year loan deal; it was made permanent at the end of the season.

Conceição is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various youth levels, being part of under-21 teams that finished as runners-up in the 2021 European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2024.

Club career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Conceição was born in Coimbra. He started playing football at Belenenses, due to his brothers Moisés and Rodrigo also playing there, before moving Sporting's academy in 2011 at the age of eight, spending six seasons at the club.[1] With his father Sérgio becoming the manager of Porto, he joined their academy and was subsequently loaned to their feeder club Padroense,[1][2] before fully joining Porto's youth setup in 2018.[1]

Porto[edit]

In August 2020, Conceição signed his first professional contract with the club until 2023,[3][4] and made his professional debut in a 1–0 loss against Varzim during the 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 season.[5] On 15 January 2021, his father called Conceição for Porto's league match against Benfica to replace Otávio, which ended 1–1. He made his debut in the Portuguese top tier in a 2–2 draw against Boavista in the Derby da Invicta, on 13 February 2021;[1][6] four days later, he became the second youngest Porto player to feature in a UEFA Champions League match, coming on in the last minutes of a 2–1 win against Juventus in the round of 16 of the 2020–21 season. At the end of the month, he was fully promoted to the first-team.[7]

In 2021–22, Conceição played 33 total games as Porto won a league and cup double; only four were starts, including one in the league.[8] He contributed three goals, beginning with a penalty to conclude a 5–1 home win over Feirense in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal;[9] his first league goal on 8 January won the game 3–2 at Estoril two minutes after coming on for Fábio Cardoso.[10]

Ajax[edit]

On 21 July 2022, Conceição signed with Eredivisie club Ajax, on a five-year contract, with Ajax triggering Conceição's release clause.[11] Nine days later, he was an unused substitute as they lost the 2022 Johan Cruyff Shield 5–3 to PSV Eindhoven.[12] He made his debut for the reserves on 8 August, equalising in a 1–1 Eerste Divisie draw at home to Telstar;[13] his first-team debut came on 3 September in a 4–0 home win over Cambuur, replacing double goalscorer Steven Bergwijn after 61 minutes.[14]

Shortly after, Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder revealed that he intended to have Conceição behind Antony in the pecking order, in order for him to get used to his new team, but despite Antony's departure Conceição status within the team didn't changed and he remained a substitute, after Mohammed Kudus was preferred as the club's starting right winger. Conceição also struggled because he could not speak Dutch or English, leading him to play on the second team to adjust to the Dutch game.[15]

"I thought it was the best thing for me, knowing that things hadn't gone so well at Ajax. I think there are always positive points to take away from an experience. It was a difficult time. I went out with the aim of showing what I'm worth, I couldn't do it, I thought about what was missing, it's always our fault. I tried to hold on to that, see what was missing and returned to FC Porto. It was the right decision [for me]."

— Conceição on his return to Proto[16]

On 1 November, two minutes after replacing Bergwijn, he scored his first goal to conclude a 3–1 win at Rangers in the UEFA Champions League group stage.[17] He played in the 2023 KNVB Cup final against PSV, coming on in the 75th minute for Steven Berghuis as the game ended 1–1 and Ajax lost on penalties.[18]

Return to Porto[edit]

On 1 September 2023, FC Porto announced that Conceição would be returning to the club on a season-long loan from Ajax. He was handed the number 10 shirt, the same number he wore at the end of his previous spell with the Dragons.[19] The deal reportedly includes a €10 million option-to-buy, which becomes mandatory if Conceição plays at least 45 minutes in 25 matches.[20] His return was criticized by the club's fans, including Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira, who was one of the person against his return.[21]

Despite the criticism, Conceição began proving his doubters wrong, impressing in Porto's 1–0 league loss home against Estoril on November 3, earning a spot in the starting eleven.[22][21] On 11 November, in a 2–1 league victory away at Vitória de Guimarães, he assisted the first goal and scored the second.[23] He also scored in the next league match away Famalicão in a 3–0.[21] A month later, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for Porto, in a 5–3 home victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, in the final match of the group stage.[24] In January 2024, Ajax, who was monitoring form, tried to get him back from his loan, however, Porto refused to negotiate with Ajax.[25]

On 3 March, Conceição impressed in Porto 5–0 league victory over Benfica in O Clássico, creating the play for Porto's second goal, which was scored by Galeno.[21] During the month, he continued to impress with his form establishing himself as one of the best dribblers in the world by International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), being considered 2nd best behind Jérémy Doku.[26] On 17 April, in the 2nd leg of the semifinals of the 2023–24 Taça de Portugal, he scored and assisted in a 3–1 victory away at Vitória de Guimarães, to help Porto reach the final of the competition.[21] On 23 April, FC Porto announced that they had re-signed Conceição on a permanent basis in a deal worth €10 million, on a five-year contract with a release clause of €60 million. He also retained for himself 20% of a future transfer.[27] Despite an underwelming season from Porto, following a third place finish in the Primeira Liga, Conceição had his breakthrough, finishing the season with 16 goal involvements (8 goals and eight assists), with Porto winning the Taça de Portugal after a 2–1 defeat of Sporting in the final on 26 May.[28]

International career[edit]

Conceição represented Portugal at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, for a total of 15 caps and three goals. In March 2021, he took part in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, earning his first cap for the under-21 side, in a 1–0 victory in Croatia on 25 Match. He would help Portugal finish as runners-up, after losing in the final 1–0 to Germany.[29] In June 2023, Conceição took part in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[30] Portugal were eliminated from the tournament, on 2 July, after a 1–0 loss to England in the quarter-finals.[31]

On 15 March 2024, he was called to the senior squad by manager Roberto Martínez for friendlies with Sweden and Slovenia.[32] He made his senior debut on 26 March 2024 in a friendly against Slovenia, that ended in a 2–0 loss.[33]

Style of play[edit]

Conceição's early promise and his small stature (1.70 m),[34] led to comparisons to Lionel Messi in the Portuguese press,[35] with him sometimes being nicknamed "Messi do Olival" (Olival's Messi) by fans and in media outlets.[36]

Personal life[edit]

Born in Coimbra, Conceição is the fourth son of former Portugal international footballer and current FC Porto manager Sérgio Conceição; his older brothers Sérgio and Rodrigo are also professional footballers.[37][38]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played 26 May 2024[39][40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Porto B 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 20 4 — — — 20 4
Porto 2020–21 Primeira Liga 14 0 1 0 0 0 2[c] 0 17 0
2021–22 Primeira Liga 25 2 4 1 1 0 3[d] 0 33 3
Total 39 2 5 1 1 0 5 0 50 3
Jong Ajax 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 7 5 — — — 7 5
Ajax 2022–23 Eredivisie 19 0 5 0 — 4[e] 1 28 1
Porto (loan) 2023–24 Primeira Liga 27 5 6 1 2 1 8[c] 1 43 8
Career total 112 16 16 2 3 1 17 2 148 21
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, KNVB Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League

Honours[edit]

Porto

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Almeida, Isaura (14 February 2021). "Quem é Francisco Conceição (além de ser filho de Sérgio)?" [Who is Francisco Conceição (besides being Sérgio's son)?]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. ^ Aresta, Luís (15 February 2021). "Francisco Conceição, o novo "'abre-latas" do FC Porto" [Francisco Conceição, FC Porto's new "can opener"]. Rádio Renascença (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Francisco Conceição assina contrato profissional com o FC Porto" [Francisco Conceição signs professional contract with FC Porto]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 August 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Filhos de Sérgio Conceição reforçam equipa B do FC Porto" [Sérgio Conceição's sons sign with Porto's B team]. Sapo Desporto (in Portuguese). Lusa. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Varzim vence FC Porto B com golo solitário de Yusuf" [Varzim wins against FC Porto B with solo Yusuf goal]. Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). Lusa. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. ^ Fernandes, Mariana (13 February 2021). "Francisco, só ele, merecia que as lágrimas de alegria não tivessem sido em vão (a crónica do FC Porto-Boavista)" [Francisco, only him, deserved that the tears of joy wouldn't be for nothing (the chronicle of FC Porto-Boavista)]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Francisco Conceição é o segundo mais jovem de sempre a estrear-se na Champions pelo FC Porto" [Francisco Conceição is the second youngest ever to debut in the Champions League for FC Porto]. Rádio Renascença (in Portuguese). 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Francisco Conceição nas redes sociais: "Sempre especial voltar às origens"" [Francisco Conceição on social networks: "It's always special to return to your roots"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 20 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  9. ^ "FC Porto goleia Feirense e filho de Conceição estreia-se a marcar" [FC Porto thrash Feirense and Conceição's son scores for the first time]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 November 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  10. ^ Coelho, Nuno (8 January 2022). "Super-Díaz conduz dragões e Conceições dão o xeque-mate" [Super-Díaz drives the Dragons and the Conceiçãos do the checkmate]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Ajax sign Francisco Conceição". english.ajax.nl. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Supertaça para o PSV em partida de oito golos" [Super Cup for PSV in game of eight goals] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  13. ^ Brood, Thomas (9 August 2022). "Met smaakmaker Conceição speelt Jong Ajax gelijk tegen Telstar" (in Dutch). NH Nieuws. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  14. ^ Pus, Milton (4 September 2022). "Dubbelslag Bergwijn helpt Ajax in het zadel tegen Cambuur na onrustige week" (in Dutch). NH Nieuws. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  15. ^ Ajax manager about Conceição, July 2022 AjaxShowtime, July 23, 2022. Archived on May 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "Francisco Conceição: «Regressar ao FC Porto foi a decisão certa»". PSG Talk (in Portuguese). 18 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Rangers' defeat by Ajax sets new low and seals Champions League misery". The Guardian. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  18. ^ "PSV-Ajax: Fábio Silva bate penálti e conquista Taça a Francisco Conceição" [PSV-Ajax: Fábio Silva scores penalty and wins Cup against Francisco Conceição] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Francisco Conceição de volta a casa" [Francisco Conceição is back home] (in European Portuguese). FC Porto. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Francisco Conceição no FC Porto: confira os detalhes do acordo de empréstimo" [Francisco Conceição to FC Porto: check the details of the loan deal] (in European Portuguese). O Jogo. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e "FC Porto: anda um génio à solta no Dragão" (in European Portuguese). A Bola. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  22. ^ "A campanha de Francisco Conceição" (in European Portuguese). A Bola. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Onde um filho derrotou a mãe, Francisco deu a vitória ao pai. FC Porto ganha em Guimarães" [Where a son defeated his mother, Francisco gave his father the victory. FC Porto wins in Guimarães]. TSF Rádio Notícias (in European Portuguese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Champions só no Porto" [Champions only at Porto] (in European Portuguese). FC Porto. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Ajax tentou 'resgatar' Francisco Conceição, FC Porto não deixou" (in European Portuguese). Desporto ao Minuto. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  26. ^ "CIES: Francisco Conceição é o segundo melhor driblador do mundo" (in European Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  27. ^ https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/fc-porto/liga/oficial-fc-porto-contrata-francisco-conceicao-em-definitivo
  28. ^ a b "Taça de Portugal. Sérgio Conceição é o terceiro treinador a vencer quatro finais" [Portugal Cup. Sérgio Conceição is the third manager to win four finals] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Highlights, report: Germany beat Portugal for third U21 EURO title". UEFA.com. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  30. ^ https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2036139/
  31. ^ Howell, Alex (2 July 2023). "England U21 1-0 Portugal U21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Jota Silva "muito feliz" com chamada à Seleção: «Era uma coisa que queria há muito tempo»" [Jota Silva "very happy" with national team callup: "It was something I wanted for a long time"]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Slovenia v Portugal game report". ESPN. 26 March 2024.
  34. ^ Querido, Rodrigo (24 February 2021). "Há um 'Messi' a nascer no Olival e cada vez mais decisivo no FC Porto" [A "Messi" is born at Olival and he is increasingly decisive in FC Porto]. Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  35. ^ Custódio, Miguel (14 February 2021). "Francisco: o filho de Conceição que "não tem nada a ver com o pai" e "faz lembrar Messi"" [Francisco: Conceição's son that is "nothing like his father" and "reminds of Messi"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  36. ^ Martins, Arnaldo (15 February 2021). ""Messi do Olival" cumpre sonho e dá a vida pelo pai" ["Olival's Messi" fulfills his dream and gives his life for his father]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  37. ^ Roseiro, Bruno (8 June 2017). "O clã Conceição: o pai treina o FC Porto, um filho joga no Benfica, outro está no Sporting" [The Conceição family: the father manages FC Porto, a son plays in Benfica and another in Sporting]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  38. ^ Soares da Silva, Eduardo (28 December 2019). "Filho de Sérgio Conceição estreia-se na II Liga" [Sérgio Conceição's son debuts in II Liga]. Rádio Renascença (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  39. ^ Francisco Conceição at ForaDeJogo (archived)
  40. ^ Francisco Conceição at Soccerway
  41. ^ [hhttps://www.fcporto.pt/pt/noticias/20240418-pt-francisco-conceicao-eleito-melhor-jovem-da-liga-em-marco "FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO ELEITO MELHOR JOVEM DA LIGA EM MARÇO"] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.

External links[edit]

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