Nélson VeríssimoCurrent
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Current ClubSL Benfica B
Managerial CareerBenfica (1995-1996)
Alverca (1996-2004)
Académica (loan, 1997)
Académica (loan, 1998-1999)
Vitória de Setúbal (2004-2007)
Fátima (2007-2011)
Mafra (2011-2012)
Alverca (1996-2004)
Académica (loan, 1997)
Académica (loan, 1998-1999)
Vitória de Setúbal (2004-2007)
Fátima (2007-2011)
Mafra (2011-2012)
Born in Vila Franca de Xira on 17 April 1977, Nélson Veríssimo came through the Benfica ranks as a centre-back, though his first-team opportunities at the Luz were limited.
A dependable defender across more than 400 senior matches, he went on to represent Alverca, Académica, Vitória de Setúbal and Fátima, totalling 221 Primeira Liga appearances. He won the Taça de Portugal with Vitória de Setúbal in 2004/05 and the Portuguese Second Division with Fátima in 2008/09.
Veríssimo returned to Benfica immediately on retiring in 2012, working as an assistant with the B team and then with the first team. He took caretaker charge of the senior side in July 2020 before being appointed head coach of Benfica B that December.
In December 2021 he was again entrusted with the first team, leading the Eagles to the Taça da Liga final and to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they went out to Liverpool after eliminating Ajax.
He managed Estoril Praia from July 2022 to February 2023 before returning to the Caixa Futebol Campus in July 2023 as Benfica B head coach, a role in which he remains, having signed a new two-year contract in 2026.
A dependable defender across more than 400 senior matches, he went on to represent Alverca, Académica, Vitória de Setúbal and Fátima, totalling 221 Primeira Liga appearances. He won the Taça de Portugal with Vitória de Setúbal in 2004/05 and the Portuguese Second Division with Fátima in 2008/09.
Veríssimo returned to Benfica immediately on retiring in 2012, working as an assistant with the B team and then with the first team. He took caretaker charge of the senior side in July 2020 before being appointed head coach of Benfica B that December.
In December 2021 he was again entrusted with the first team, leading the Eagles to the Taça da Liga final and to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they went out to Liverpool after eliminating Ajax.
He managed Estoril Praia from July 2022 to February 2023 before returning to the Caixa Futebol Campus in July 2023 as Benfica B head coach, a role in which he remains, having signed a new two-year contract in 2026.
Coaching Philosophy
Veríssimo favours patient build-up from the goalkeeper and centre-backs, with a high defensive block and a readiness to go direct into two strikers when opponents press aggressively.
He is pragmatic in shape, most often a 4-4-2 but switching to 4-2-3-1 or a back five against stronger opposition.
191Matches in Charge
41.36%Win Rate
297:231Goals For : Against
52Clean Sheets
191 matches in charge: 79W-55D-57L, 41% won, 1.53 points per game.
5 spells in charge: 5 Jan 2019 – 13 Jan 2019, 4 Jul 2020 – 1 Aug 2020, 3 Jan 2021 – 20 Dec 2021, 30 Dec 2021 – 13 May 2022 and 13 Aug 2023 – present.
Biggest win: 5-0 against Nacional on 9 Aug 2021.
Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches.
Set up in 4-2-3-1 most often — 49 times, winning 19.
297 scored, 231 conceded — 1.55 and 1.21 a game.
52 clean sheets — 27% of his matches.
Heaviest defeat: 0-5 to UD Leiria on 7 Dec 2024.
Detailed Metrics
Points per match1.53292 of 573 contested
Scored per match1.55297 goals
Conceded per match1.21231 goals
Goal difference per match+0.35+66 overall
Clean sheet rate27.2%52 of 191
Seasons in charge823.9 matches per season
Biggest win5-0vs Nacional
Heaviest defeat0-5vs UD Leiria
Analytics
Win Rate & Points Per Game by Season
All Results
Form — Last 10 Matches
Performance by Competition
| Competition | P | W | D | L | W% | GF | GA | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 148 | 60 | 42 | 46 | 40.5% | 221 | 180 | +41 | ||
| 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 62.5% | 44 | 21 | +23 | ||
| 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 25% | 22 | 17 | +5 | ||
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25% | 7 | 8 | -1 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2 | 3 | -1 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 1 | 2 | -1 | ||
Head-to-Head Records
View All (63)| Opponent | P | W | D | L | W% | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 55.6% | 20 | 11 | ||
| 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 44.4% | 13 | 7 | ||
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.5% | 7 | 8 | ||
| 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 37.5% | 8 | 7 | ||
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 50% | 13 | 6 | ||
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.5% | 14 | 12 | ||
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.4% | 14 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 14.3% | 6 | 10 | ||
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 14.3% | 7 | 12 | ||
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 28.6% | 10 | 15 | ||
Top 10 of 63 opponents by matches played under this manager.