Portuguese footballer
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 manager of S.C. Covilhã.
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 Germany, with VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga.
Alex began managing in 2013, leading three teams in his country's second tier.
Playing career
Club
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 win at 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 win away to 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).
In late May 2009, Alex signed with former club Vitória de Guimarães on a free transfer.[7] 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.[8]
International
Alex earned three caps for Portugal under Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2005. His debut was on 4 June in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia, starting in a 2–0 win at the Estádio da Luz, followed four days later by a 1–0 win away to Estonia.[9][10][11]
Coaching career
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.[12] 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.[13]
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;[14] his team lost the second round 5–4 on aggregate to C.F. Os Belenenses after winning the first leg 3–1.[15] He left by mutual consent on 12 November with his team one point above the relegation zone after 16 games of the season.[16]
After three years in charge of the under-19 team, Alex succeeded Vítor Campelos at Vitória de Guimarães B in June 2018.[17] The team were relegated to the third tier after his first season, and he was dismissed on 9 December 2019 while in sixth place.[18]
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;[19] he then replaced Leonel Pontes as manager of S.C. Covilhã on 6 October.[20] His team were relegated, ending a 15-year spell in division two.[21]
