Alex (footballer, born 1979)

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 a manager.

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 the German Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg.

Alex began managing in 2013, leading three teams in his country's second tier.

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 away win against S.C. Beira-Mar. 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. He mainly deputised for established Miguel.

For 2004–05, Alex was loaned to Vitória de Guimarães. 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 away victory over C.S. Marítimo.

Benfica sold Alex to VfL Wolfsburg on the final days of the summer 2005 transfer window. 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. 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.

International
Alex earned three caps for Portugal under Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2005. His debut was on 4 June at home to Slovakia in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting the 2–0 win at the Estádio da Luz, followed four days later by a 1–0 away victory against Estonia.

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. 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.

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; they then lost 5–4 on aggregate against C.F. Os Belenenses after winning the first leg 3–1. He left by mutual consent on 12 November, being one point above the relegation zone after 16 matches.

After three years in charge of the under-19 team, Alex succeeded Vítor Campelos at Vitória de Guimarães B in June 2018. The side suffered relegation to the third tier at the end of the campaign, and he was dismissed on 9 December 2019 while in sixth place.

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; he then replaced Leonel Pontes as manager of S.C. Covilhã on 6 October. The club was relegated in last place, ending a 15-year spell in division two.

Honours
Moreirense
 * Segunda Liga: 2001–02

Benfica
 * Taça de Portugal: 2003–04
 * Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2005

Vitória Guimarães
 * Taça de Portugal: 2012–13