Vasco Botelho da Costa

Vasco Maria de Albuquerque Botelho da Costa (born 2 March 1989) is a Portuguese football manager, who is currently the head coach of Primeira Liga club Moreirense.

After winning two league and cup titles each with Estoril's under-23 side, he was hired at União Leiria in 2022 and won Liga 3 in his first season, ending the club's 11 years outside the professional leagues. He won promotion to the Primeira Liga with Alverca in his only season in 2024–25, then joined Moreirense in the top flight.

Career Early career Born in Lisbon, Botelho da Costa was raised in Alcabideche in neighbouring Cascais. He coached at local G.D.S. Cascais before moving to local G.D. Estoril Praia as under-17 manager, then under-19 in 2019.

União Leiria On 28 June 2022, 33-year-old Botelho da Costa was given his first head coach job in senior football, at U.D. Leiria in Liga 3, having not reached an agreement with S.C. Braga B. He led the club to promotion back to the professional leagues after 11 years away, securing their place on 29 April with a 1–0 home win over Braga B themselves; on 20 May his side won by the same score against C.F. Os Belenenses to take the league title.

In 2023–24, Botelho da Costa led Leiria to the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal for the first time in 21 years, before a 3–0 home loss to Sporting CP on 7 February. On 20 March he left by mutual consent, with the club in 12th place after 26 games in Liga Portugal 2.

Alverca On 3 September 2024, Botelho da Costa was hired at F.C. Alverca also in the second tier, succeeding Zé Pedro. On his debut 12 days later he won 2–1 away to C.S. Marítimo, keeping up his record of always winning on his debut, including in youth football; furthermore it was his club's first win in a professional league since 22 May 2005, 7,027 days earlier.

Moreirense On 5 June 2025, Botelho da Costa joined Moreirense on a two-year deal. He won 2–1 at home to his previous employers Alverca on his top-flight debut on 10 August, on the first day of the season; in the previous six opening games of his career, he had won five outright and the sixth on a penalty shootout in the Taça da Liga.