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. ==References==