Over the past quarter-century, we’ve seen quite a few Portuguese footballers grace the football pitches of Serie A. Rafael Leão helped Milan return to the promised land after an 11-year title drought, Rui Costa struck up a phenomenal partnership in Fiorentina’s attack alongside Gabriel Batistuta, Beto emerged as Udinese’s attacking talisman before heading to Everton, whilst Bruno Fernandes cut his teeth at Udinese and Sampdoria before enjoying superstardom at Sporting and Manchester United.
Today, there are currently 12 Portuguese footballers who are plying their trade in Italy’s top-flight, making it the eighth-most represented foreign nationality after France (39), Spain (26), Argentina (25), Netherlands (14), Brazil (14), Denmark (13) and Croatia (13). But for all the foreign footballers who are showcasing their skills in Italy, foreign coaches don’t quite have the same ubiquitousness. Out of the 20 teams in Serie A, only four have foreign managers.
In contrast to the Premier League, who haven’t had an English manager win the top-flight since Howard Wilkinson led Leeds to glory in 1991/92 (back when it was still called the First Division), Italian coaches dominate Serie A. In fact, since the start of the 2000/01 campaign, only one non-Italian manager has lifted the Scudetto: José Mourinho.
Today, we’re taking a look at the Portuguese managers that have coached in Serie A.
Sérgio Conceição cut a frustrated figure after his AC Milan side were beaten by Feyenoord in Rotterdam in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie.
Las Palmas striker Fábio Silva is the leading Portuguese goalscorer across Europe’s big five leagues, having re-energised his career in Spain’s La Liga with the Canary Islands side.
Brest 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Milan 3-1 Roma