Flávio da Conceição (born 12 June 1974) is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a midfielder.
Conceição enjoyed a successful career in Spain, where he played for two clubs – including Real Madrid with which he won six major titles – and also represented Brazil on more than 40 occasions.
Club career
Born in Santa Maria da Serra, São Paulo, Conceição began his career with Rio Branco Esporte Clube in 1992. He then joined Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras a year later, and racked up over 100 first-team appearances in three years. This caught the attention of Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña, who paid €5.2 million for him after the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Playing alongside compatriot Mauro Silva in central midfield, Conceição gradually developed into a key force in the Galicians' rise in Spanish football, as he scored four goals in 27 games in the team's 1999–2000 league conquest. This led to a 2000 move to La Liga giants Real Madrid, worth €26 million.
Although he appeared sparingly, Conceição did win two league titles and the 2001–02 edition of the UEFA Champions League – in that competition, he set up Steve McManaman for the closing 2–0 semi-final win against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou – spending the 2003–04 campaign on loan to Borussia Dortmund, where he was also irregularly played.
In the summer of 2004, Conceição moved to Turkey's Galatasaray SK. In his first and only season he won the Turkish Cup but failed to make the Champions League, thus activating a clause in his contract which allowed him to leave, and he signed for Panathinaikos F.C. of Greece. Afflicted with injuries and loss of form, he was released and retired at the age of 32.
International career
Internationally, Conceição earned 44 caps (four goals) for Brazil, and was part of the nation's 1997 and 1999 Copa América-winning sides.
In addition, he won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta,[1] but was never summoned for any FIFA World Cup.
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