João Gião
Portuguese football manager (born 1986)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
João Pedro Baptista dos Santos Brito Gião (born 9 August 1986) is a Portuguese football manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Pedro Baptista dos Santos Brito Gião | ||
| Date of birth | 9 August 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2008–2010 | Mucifalense (youth) | ||
| 2010–2012 | Benfica (youth) | ||
| 2012–2013 | Atlético CP (assistant) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Benfica (youth) | ||
| 2015 | Sacavenense (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Pinhalnovense (assistant) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Melaka United (assistant) | ||
| 2018–2019 | Académica (assistant) | ||
| 2020–2021 | Grasshoppers (assistant) | ||
| 2021–2022 | Lausanne (assistant) | ||
| 2023 | Paços Ferreira (assistant) | ||
| 2024–2025 | Moreirense (assistant) | ||
| 2025–2026 | Sporting CP B | ||
| 2026 | Nacional | ||
Career
Gião was born in Montemor-o-Novo in the Évora District.[1] In October 2018, he was hired at second-tier club Académica de Coimbra as an assistant to João Alves, specialising in training methodology.[2] After having been a coordinator at FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France, he moved to Grasshopper Club Zurich as one of four Portuguese assistants to compatriot manager João Carlos Pereira in August 2020.[3] Remaining in the Swiss Super League, he filled the same role at FC Lausanne-Sport in June 2021.[4]
Returning to Portugal, Gião assisted César Peixoto at F.C. Paços de Ferreira and Moreirense FC. On 5 October 2024, due to the latter's suspension, he was in charge for a 1–0 home win over C.D. Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga.[5]
On 27 March 2025, 38-year-old Gião was given his first job as a senior head coach, taking over at Sporting CP B after the departure of João Pereira to Alanyaspor. He joined a team in second place of the promotion series in Liga 3.[6] With five wins and two draws in the last eight games of the season, he won automatic promotion as runners-up to Lusitânia Lourosa.[7] He was elected Manager of the Month for August 2025, his first month in the second division, as his team won three of four matches, including a 1–0 win at S.C.U. Torreense in the opener.[8] His team finished 13th, meeting their target of remaining in the division.[9]
On 26 May 2026, Gião took over Nacional in the Primeira Liga, on a one-year deal.[9] His debut on 10 August was a 2–2 draw away to Santa Clara.[10] After following this with one win and two defeats, he left by mutual consent on 2 September with the Madeiran team in 9th.[11]