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Maniche

 
Wikipedia: Maniche
Maniche
Portugal 2-3 Denmark, Maniche.jpg
Personal information
Full name Nuno Ricardo Oliveira Ribeiro
Date of birth November 11, 1977 (1977-11-11) (age 32)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Köln
Number 12
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Benfica 0 (0)
1996–1999 Alverca 78 (10)
1999–2002 Benfica 54 (11)
2002–2005 Porto 80 (16)
2005–2006 Dynamo Moscow 12 (2)
2006 Chelsea (loan) 8 (0)
2006–2009 Atlético Madrid 64 (7)
2008 Internazionale (loan) 8 (1)
2009– Köln 7 (0)
National team
2003– Portugal 49 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 October 2009.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 July 2009

Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro, OIH (born 11 November 1977 in Lisbon), commonly known as Maniche (Portuguese pronunciation: [maˈniʃɨ], or less commonly [maˈnik(ɨ)]), is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for 1. FC Köln in the German Bundesliga.

Known for his teamwork, stamina, and powerful shot, the Portuguese international received his nickname after Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 1980s legendary Danish forward Michael Manniche. He is amongst the players who have competed in all four major European leagues.

Contents

Club career

Maniche began his career in the junior teams of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. After a stint with F.C. Alverca, he returned to Benfica in 1999, where he initially played as a winger.

Following disciplinary problems at Benfica, he was signed by José Mourinho, the former manager of FC Porto. Mourinho made Maniche a key member of his team, reconverting him to centre midfielder.

After a successful Porto period, winning both the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004, Maniche was sold to FC Dynamo Moscow in 2005, for 16 million.[1] Unsettled, as the vast majority of foreign players bought by new team owner Alexei Fedorychev, he would leave the side on January 2006, loaned to Premier League side Chelsea.[2]

Maniche played a significant role in Chelsea's 2006 championship run, the second consecutive for the club, though it was not the sort of involvement he would have hoped for. Making his first start for Chelsea in a home game against West Ham United, he failed to stop opponent James Collins from putting the Hammers ahead on 14 minutes, had an opportunity to score an equaliser but smashed his shot against the crossbar, and was then shown an immediate red card three minutes later for a challenge on Lionel Scaloni. However, Chelsea went on to secure an improbable 4-1 victory.

However, Maniche did not make enough appearances in the league to earn a winners' medal. Chelsea had the option of making the transfer permanent at the end of the season, for £5 million ($9 million), but the player eventually returned to Dynamo Moscow.[3] He then was subsequently signed by Atlético Madrid in late August 2006.[4]

Following a run-in with Atlético coach, Mexican Javier Aguirre,[5] Maniche was cut from the squad, and agreed to join Inter Milan on a January loan, running for the second part of 2007-08.[6]Splitting time between the bench and the first eleven in eight Serie A appearances, he managed to score one goal, in a 22 March 2008, 2-1 home defeat against Juventus, also hitting the post in stoppage time.

On July 2008, Maniche returned to Atlético Madrid, playing a major part in the Colchoneros' early season, as the club had returned to the UEFA Champions League after a 12-year absence. However, he was ousted in late February 2009 after a new quarrel with the management, now led by former club goalkeeper Abel Resino.[7]

According to additional reports in the Spanish press, Maniche was told to be surplus to requirements in Madrid after he rejected the club's offer of a new deal, as his contract was going to expire on 30 June 2009.

"We informed Maniche three or four weeks ago that we wanted to renew his contract” said Atlético’s general manager Miguel Ángel Gil Marín." "We really wanted him to accept the conditions and sign the contract. It is a shame for us."

Maniche was released from contract on 6 May, even before the season was over, being left available to sign for any club, with a return to Porto one of the possible destinations.[8]

On 20 July 2009, Maniche moved to the German Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln, signing a two-year contract and rejoining former Benfica and Portugal teammate Petit.[9]

International career

Maniche played for his country in their second-place finish at UEFA Euro 2004, having just debuted the previous year. He scored from long-range against the Netherlands in the semi-final, in a 2-1 win.

On 21 June 2006, in the FIFA World Cup, Portugal played Mexico, in the nation's final group game. Maniche scored in the 6th minute, and Portugal went on to win 2-1, progressing as group-winners.[10] On 25 June, in the round-of-16, as the national side faced the Netherlands once again, he netted the only goal in the game,[11] and was the only Portuguese player to feature on Adidas' Golden Ball shortlist.[12]

After appearing significantly during the qualifying stages for UEFA Euro 2008, he was surprisingly left out of the nation's final squad, although younger brother, left back Jorge Ribeiro, would make the final cut.[13]

Personal life

Jorge Ribeiro, Maniche's younger brother, is also a footballer, who also represented, amongst many other clubs, Benfica.

Club statistics

[14]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Portugal League Cup of Portugal Portuguese League Cup Europe Total
1995-96 Benfica Portuguese League 0 0
1996-97 Alverca Second Division 23 2
1997-98 29 5
1998-99 Portuguese League 26 3
1999-00 Benfica Portuguese League 28 10
2000-01 26 1
2001-02 0 0
2002-03 Porto Portuguese League 29 6
2003-04 31 7
2004-05 20 3
Russia League Russian Cup Russian Premier League Cup Europe Total
2005 Dynamo Moscow Russian League 12 2
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2005-06 Chelsea Premier League 8 0
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2006-07 Atlético Madrid Spanish League 28 4
2007-08 15 2
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total
2007-08 Internazionale Italian League 8 1
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2008–09 Atlético Madrid Spanish League 21 1 1 0 4 1 26 2
Total Portugal 212 37
Russia 12 2
England 8 0
Spain 64 7
Italy 8 1
Career Total 297 47

Honours

References

External links



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