Francisco Conceição
Francisco Fernandes da Conceição (born 14 December 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Porto, on loan from Ajax, and the Portugal under-21 national team.
| Conceição playing for Ajax in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Fernandes da Conceição | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 14 December 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Coimbra, Portugal | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Porto (on loan from Ajax) | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 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– | Jong Ajax | 7 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Ajax | 19 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023– | → Porto (loan) | 10 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Portugal U16 | 9 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Portugal U17 | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Portugal U18 | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Portugal U21 | 23 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:26, 14 January 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:24, 20 November 2023 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
Club career edit
Early career edit
Francisco Conceição joined Sporting's academy at the age of eight, spending six seasons at the club.[1] He spent a season at Porto's feeder club Padroense[1][2] before joining Porto's youth setup in 2018.[1]
Porto edit
In August 2020, Conceição signed his first professional contract with the club,[3][4] and made his professional debut in a 1–0 loss against Varzim during the 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 season.[5] He made his debut in the Portuguese top tier in a 2–2 draw against Boavista, 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.[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.[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 SC Telstar;[13] his first-team debut came on 3 September in a 4–0 home win over SC Cambuur, replacing double goalscorer Steven Bergwijn after 61 minutes.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]
Porto (loan) 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.[17] The deal reportedly includes a €10 million option-to-buy, which becomes mandatory if Conceição plays at least 45 minutes in 25 matches.[18] On 11 November 2023, in a 2–1 league victory away at Vitória de Guimarães, he assisted the first goal and scored the second.[19] 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.[20]
Style of play edit
Conceição's early promise and his small stature (1.70 m),[21] led to comparisons to Lionel Messi in the Portuguese press,[22] with him sometimes being nicknamed "Messi do Olival" (Olival's Messi) by fans and in media outlets.[23]
Personal life edit
Born in Coimbra, Conceição is the fourth son of former Portugal international footballer and current manager Sérgio Conceição; his older brothers Sérgio and Rodrigo are also professional footballers.[24][25]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| 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 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6[c] | 1 | 21 | 4 |
| Career total | 95 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 126 | 17 | ||
- ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, KNVB Cup
- ^ Includes Taça da Liga
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Three appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
Honours edit
Porto
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ajax sign Francisco Conceição". english.ajax.nl. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Brood, Thomas (9 August 2022). "Met smaakmaker Conceição speelt Jong Ajax gelijk tegen Telstar" (in Dutch). NH Nieuws. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Rangers' defeat by Ajax sets new low and seals Champions League misery". The Guardian. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Francisco Conceição de volta a casa" [Francisco Conceição is back home] (in European Portuguese). FC Porto. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Champions só no Porto" [Champions only at Porto] (in European Portuguese). FC Porto. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ at ForaDeJogo (archived)
- ^ Francisco Conceição at Soccerway
External links edit
- Profile at the AFC Ajax website
- Francisco Conceição national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)