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Alex (footballer, born 1979)

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In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Martins and the second or paternal family name is Costa.
Alex
Personal information
Full name Domingos Alexandre Martins da Costa[1]
Date of birth (1979-09-06) 6 September 1979 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth Guimarães, Portugal[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Wing-back
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
2020–2021 Zamalek (assistant)
2022–2024 Covilhã
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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 a manager.

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 the German Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg.

Alex began managing in 2013, leading three teams in his country's second tier.

Playing career

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Club

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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 away win against 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 away victory over 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).[7]

In late May 2009, Alex signed with former club Vitória de Guimarães on a free transfer.[8] 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.[9]

International

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Alex earned three caps for Portugal under Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2005. His debut was on 4 June at home to Slovakia in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting the 2–0 win at the Estádio da Luz, followed four days later by a 1–0 away victory against Estonia.[10][11][12]

Coaching career

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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.[13] 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.[14]

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;[15] they then lost 5–4 on aggregate against C.F. Os Belenenses after winning the first leg 3–1.[16] He left by mutual consent on 12 November, being one point above the relegation zone after 16 matches.[17]

After three years in charge of the under-19 team, Alex succeeded Vítor Campelos at Vitória de Guimarães B in June 2018.[18] The side suffered relegation to the third tier at the end of the campaign, and he was dismissed on 9 December 2019 while in sixth place.[19]

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;[20][7] he then replaced Leonel Pontes as manager of S.C. Covilhã on 6 October.[21] The club was relegated in last place, ending a 15-year spell in division two.[22]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23][24]
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

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[25]
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2005 3 0
Total 3 0

Honours

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Moreirense

Benfica

Vitória Guimarães

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Alex" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Beira-Mar / Moreirense, 1–2". Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 19 January 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ Palma, Irene (22 August 2003). "«Luisão vai dar mais qualidade à equipa», diz Camacho" ["Luisão will give more quality to the team", says Camacho] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Alex: «Objectivo é voltar ao Benfica»" [Alex: "Goal is to return to Benfica"]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 May 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ a b Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (31 July 2022). ""Tive um treinador na Alemanha que nos obrigava a correr uma hora na floresta e no fim só dava uma garrafa de água, a dividir por todos"" ["I had a coach in Germany who made us run one hour through the forest and at the end only gave one bottle of water, to be shared by all"]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Alex verlässt Wolfsburg in Richtung Portugal" [Alex leaves Wolfsburg towards Portugal] (in German). Goal. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Gémeos falsos" [False twins]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Alex at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  24. ^ a b Alex at Soccerway
  25. ^ "Alex". European Football. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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