PortuGOAL Figure of the Week: Coach Vasco Seabra adds to his burgeoning reputation | OneFootball

Vasco Seabra is the man responsible for the stabilisation of Futebol Clube de Arouca. The latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week stole a point from SL Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in commendable fashion. A well-worked goal in the latter stages of the occasion where many are prone to panic and bombard the penalty area with wayward, half-hearted deliveries, all while contending with the absence of eight players.

One week on and Seabra’s Arouca clinched three points against relegation candidates Estrela da Amadora, all but guaranteeing their presence in Portugal’s top-flight next season. Kevin Fernandes reports.

Post-match, Vasco Seabra concluded: “We were very brave, combative, always aggressive, in a fundamental game that escaped our comfort zone. We had six big chances, and they only had one. We missed the penalty which would probably kill the game at 2-0.”

The young coach is one of the most promising in the Portuguese domestic game, with the character to match his tactical nous.

A man who has equally been the protagonist of unique communication between manager and fans, opening doors and revealing details that are usually kept under wraps.

“We’re organising the scouting department. We want the fans to get excited about us, but there are certain things that have to be built so that it’s not random. We want to structure it so that CS Marítimo (the club he was managing at the time) isn’t dependent on this specific player or coach.”

Arouca forced to rebuild

Let’s bring it back to the closing stages of October 2024. The exit of Spanish coach Gonzalo García was announced after ten matches at the helm of Arouca, triggered by the 4-1 drubbing away at Estoril.

At this stage, the minnows in yellow sat on the cusp of relegation after finishing in seventh place the season prior and fifth before that. Arouca are known as the plucky underdogs susceptible to overachieving despite representing little more than a village of just 5200 habitants, defying all the odds to qualify for European competition on two separate occasions.

The odds stacked up against the Arouquenses once again, prior to this 2024/2025 campaign. The record sales of the dynamic attacking duo Rafa Mujica and Cristo González generated over 15 million euros, which for the majority of clubs in Portugal, is quite simply unbelievable. Highly rated defender Jerome Okoku and penalty-saving specialist Inacio de Arruabarrena equally departed, four fundamental figures in the previous successes of the northern Portuguese side.

Halting the slide

Then, Vasco Seabra arrived. The 41-year-old Portuguese head coach had overseen promising periods at Madeiran giants CS Marítimo, FC Midtjylland-affiliated CD Mafra and an exceptional Taça da Liga run at Estoril last season. However, he is yet to stay at a club for longer than a year, or 37 matches, despite compiling further experiences at established Portuguese football staples Paços de Ferreira, Boavista and Moreirense over eight years.

Vasco Seabra has bounced around multiple clubs since departing from Marítimo, perhaps shaping his next experiences where off-ball organisation has become more apparent.

Big match specialist

His philosophy is evident. The provider of an instant impact, empowering players and making positive adjustments to promote ambitious, attractive football. Making the lives of the traditionally recognised ‘Big 3’ more frustrating than most, Vasco Seabra has taken points from FC Porto (from 12 attempts) and SL Benfica (from 11 attempts) on 5 occasions, while limiting Sporting CP to a stalemate every other game.

Vasco Seabra has become notorious for the honeymoon period but struggling to offer continuity and maturity to his sides filled to the brim with potential. Despite some perceived pessimism, surrounding the appointment, Seabra has shown his best work in limited time once again. Arouca sit sixth in Liga Portugal for averaging possession, typically dominating control of the football more often than not, and they sit seventh for expected goals despite an underwhelming position in the table.

Strong calendar year

In 2025, Arouca have only won one point less than FC Porto and have won four points more than sixth-place high-fliers Santa Clara. They currently sit 12th, nine points above the relegation play-off spot, and no longer have to ‘look in the rear-view mirror’ in the words of their coach, who will certainly be looking forward and upwards.

Tiago Esgaio has been most consistent, guaranteeing 7/10 performances weekly, while Jason Remeseiro, the largely inconsistent Spanish attacker, has shown flashes of vital brilliance. Bayern Munich’s former player Taichi Fukui is only 20 years of age and dictates play ever more comfortability, balanced through the constant presence of veteran David Simão.

Chico Lamba will be considered the unexpected standout by Sporting academy stakeholders, as the 22-year-old defender has stepped up from Liga 3 to Liga Portugal showing some great physical and technical fundamentals. Morlaye Sylla is also talented and has the ceiling to do more for Arouca next season, showing that there is definite potential in this current Arouca squad.

The latest PortuGOAL Figure of the Week is getting the most out of them and Arouca are worth keeping an eye on.