Gonçalo Feio Explained

Gonçalo Feio
Birth Date:17 January 1990
Birth Place:Lisbon, Portugal
Currentclub:Legia Warsaw (manager)
Youthclubs1:Benfica
Youthclubs2:Belenenses
Manageryears1:2022–2024
Managerclubs1:Motor Lublin
Manageryears2:2024–
Managerclubs2:Legia Warsaw

Gonçalo Feio (born 17 January 1990) is a Portuguese professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw.

Playing career

He spent his football career in youth teams of Benfica and Belenenses.[1]

Managerial career

Early years

Feio started his coaching career during his studies at the University of Lisbon. As a first-year student, he won a competition organized by the university for the best work on youth football training. As his reward, he was offered an internship in Benfica's academy, where he worked with under-8 and under-10 youth groups. For one season, he was also an assistant coach of the under-15 team.[2]

In 2010, Feio came to Poland as part of a student exchange between the universities of Lisbon and Warsaw. Initially, in order to afford his stay in Poland, he worked as a language tutor.[3]

In November 2010, he joined Legia Warsaw's academy, working with numerous age groups in both head and assistant coaching positions.[4] In 2014, he joined Legia's senior team staff as a data analyst and later assistant coach, under first team managers Henning Berg and Stanislav Cherchesov. He left Legia in November 2015.

In 2016, he moved to Wisła Kraków, where he worked as youth coach and assistant coach to first team managers Kiko Ramírez and Joan Carrillo. In 2019, he moved to Super League Greece club Xanthi, where he operated as an assistant coach of Kiko Ramírez. Feio went back to Poland in 2020, finding employment as an assistant to Marek Papszun at Raków Częstochowa. He left Raków following a physical altercation with team manager Kamil Waskowski.[5]

Motor Lublin

On 19 September 2022, Feio took on his first senior managerial role when he was appointed manager of II liga club Motor Lublin, who at the time were placed bottom of the league table. With Feio in charge, Motor won the promotion play-offs and returned to I liga after a thirteen-year hiatus.

On 5 March 2023, following a league match against GKS Katowice, Feio insulted Motor's press officer Paulina Maciążek, which led to a confrontation with the club's chairman Paweł Tomczyk, during which Feio attacked him with a desk tray. Tomczyk had to be treated in a hospital, and left the club soon after, along with Maciążek.[5] Motor's owner Zbigniew Jakubas defended Feio during a press conference two days later.[6] For his actions, the Polish Football Association Disciplinary Committee penalised the Portuguese manager with a two-year ban (sentence suspended for a period of one year), a financial fine and ordered him to issue a written apology to both Maciążek and Tomczyk.[7]

He left the club in March 2024, despite Motor overperforming in their first season back in the second division; at the time of Feio's departure, they were placed fifth in the league table.[8]

Legia Warsaw

On 9 April 2024, following Kosta Runjaić's dismissal, it was reported by the media that Feio was to replace him as manager of Ekstraklasa side Legia Warsaw.[9] A day later, Feio was officially announced by the club, signing a deal until the end of the 2024–25 season.[10]

On 15 August 2024, Legia drew 1–1 at home against Danish Superliga club Brøndby IF in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League and advanced on aggregate after winning 2–3 away. At the final whistle, Feio made obscene gestures towards the away fans' section, later claiming he was provoked by Brøndby's behaviour towards his team during the first game.[11] Two days later, he released a formal apology.[12] For his antics, UEFA issued Feio with a suspended one-match ban.[13]

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord
Motor Lublin19 September 202218 March 2024
Legia Warsaw9 April 2024Present
Total

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mondorowicz . Marcin . Goncalo Feio: profil trenera - dane, informacje, historia kariery . 2024-04-09 . Goal.pl . pl-PL.
  2. Web site: Goncalo Feio: młody Portugalczyk szkoli dzieciaki w Legii . weszlo.com . 10 April 2024 . pl . 4 October 2011.
  3. Web site: Goncalo Feio - portugalski trener legijnej młodzieży . legionisci.com . 10 April 2024 . pl . 6 October 2011.
  4. Web site: Gonçalo Feio członkiem sztabu szkoleniowego . legionisci.com . 10 April 2024 . pl . 9 January 2014.
  5. Web site: Goncalo Feio w prezesa rzucał nawet kuwetą. Oto nowy trener Legii . przegladsportowy.onet.pl . 10 April 2024 . pl . 9 April 2024.
  6. Web site: "Czegoś takiego nie widziałem". Kuriozum! Wrze po słowach Zbigniewa Jakubasa . przegladsportowy.onet.pl . 10 April 2024 . pl . 7 March 2023.
  7. Web site: PZPN zdecydował! Goncalo Feio ukarany po aferze! Surowy wyrok . przegladsportowy.onet.pl . 10 April 2024 . pl . 23 March 2023.
  8. Web site: Dzieje się w Lublinie. Goncalo Feio odchodzi z Motoru . 2024-04-09 . Przegląd Sportowy Onet . pl.
  9. Web site: S.A . Telewizja Polska . 2024-04-09 . [PILNE] Goncalo Feio nowym trenerem Legii Warszawa! ]. 2024-04-09 . sport.tvp.pl . pl.
  10. Web site: 2024-04-10 . Gonçalo Feio nowym trenerem Legii Warszawa . 2024-04-10 . Legia Warszawa - Strona oficjalna . pl-PL.
  11. Web site: Wantowski . Adrian . Goncalo Feio z zarzutami od UEFA po skandalicznych gestach przeciwko Broendby . flashscore.pl . 19 August 2024 . pl . 16 August 2024.
  12. Web site: Głąb . Bartosz . Goncalo Feio przeprosił za zachowanie po meczu Legii Warszawa w kwalifikacjach Ligi Konferencji . gol24.pl . 19 August 2024 . pl . 18 August 2024.
  13. Web site: UEFA ukarała Goncalo Feio! Jest oficjalny komunikat . polsatsport.pl . 19 August 2024 . pl . 19 August 2024.
  14. Web site: Goncalo Feio trenerem grudnia . I liga . 23 January 2024 . pl . 4 May 2024.