Alex (footballer, born 1979)

Domingos Alexandre Martins Costa (born 6 September 1979), commonly known as Alex, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played mainly as a right back, and a current manager.

Alex
Personal information
Full name Domingos Alexandre Martins Costa
Date of birth (1979-09-06) 6 September 1979
Place of birth Guimarães, Portugal
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Wingback
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)
2004–2005Vitória Guimarães (loan) 31 (4)
2005–2009 VfL Wolfsburg 21 (0)
2009–2013 Vitória Guimarães 95 (0)
Total 295 (28)
National team
2005 Portugal 3 (0)
Teams managed
2013–2014 Felgueiras 1932
2014 Académico Viseu
2016–2018 Vitória Guimarães (youth)
2018–2019 Vitória Guimarães B
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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. He also spent four years in Germany, with Wolfsburg.

Playing career

Alex was born in Guimarães. After five seasons, spent at both AD Fafe and Moreirense FC he made his Primeira Liga debut with S.L. Benfica, mainly deputising for established Miguel. In 2004–05, he served a season-long loan spell at Vitória de Guimarães.[1]

After good performances at Vitória, which earned him a Portugal national team call-up (three matches, including two in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers),[2] Benfica sold Alex to VfL Wolfsburg on the very last days of the summer transfer window.[3] He had a relatively successful debut campaign, but only appeared four times in the Bundesliga in the next three combined (none in the last two).

In late May 2009, Alex signed for former club Vitória de Guimarães on a free transfer.[4] During that first season he operated mostly as a right back, going on to be fully reconverted to the position in the following years and being an automatic first-choice.[5]

Coaching career

On 3 July 2013, Alex announced his retirement from professional football at the age of nearly 34, immediately starting his managing career with F.C. Felgueiras 1932 in the regional championships.[6]

Career statistics

Club

[7][8]

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fafe 1998–99 17010180
1999–00 27871349
2000–01 31800318
Total 7516818317
Moreirense 2001–02 27520295
2002–03 30320323
Total 57840618
Benfica 2003–04 1403020190
2005–06 000000
Total 140302000190
Vitória Guimarães (loan) 2004–05 31430344
Wolfsburg 2005–06 17000170
2006–07 401050
2007–08 000000
2008–09 00000000
Total 2101000220
Wolfsburg II 2007–08 1010
Vitória Guimarães 2009–10 2203030280
2010–11 2806010350
2011–12 28020204010370
2012–13 1705010230
Total 9501607040101230
Vitória Guimarães B 2012–13 1010
Career Total 2952835170601034429

    International

    [9]

    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Portugal 200530
    Total30

    Honours

    Moreirense

    Benfica

    Vitória Guimarães

    References

    1. "Alex: «Objectivo é voltar ao Benfica»" [Alex: «Goal is to return to Benfica»]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 May 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
    2. "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.
    3. "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.
    4. "Alex verlässt Wolfsburg in Richtung Portugal" [Alex leaves Wolfsburg towards Portugal] (in German). Goal. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
    5. "Gémeos falsos" [False twins]. Record (in Portuguese). 13 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
    6. "Alex despediu-se em lágrimas" [Alex said goodbye in tears]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
    7. "Alex". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
    8. Alex at Soccerway
    9. "Alex". European Football. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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