Μουντιαλ Ειδήσεις Video Πρόγραμμα Όμιλοι Ομάδες Γήπεδα Στοιχημα Η Ελλάδα παίζει σε   
Euro2008.gr > Παίκτες > Πορτογαλία >
Nani
For the technical director at West Ham, see Gianluca Nani.
Nani
Personal information
Full name Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Date of birth November 17, 1986 (1986-11-17) (age 21)
Place of birth    Praia, Cape Verde
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 17
Youth clubs
2000–2003
2003–2005		 Real de Massamá
Sporting CP
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2005–2007
2007–		 Sporting CP
Manchester United		 58 (10)
26 0(3)   
National team2
2006–
2006–		 Portugal U21
Portugal		 10 (1)
14 (2)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 23:12, 16 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 21:48, 7 June 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986 in Praia, Cape Verde), better known as Nani, is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays for Manchester United and Portugal. His predominant position is as a winger.

Contents

  • 1 Career
    • 1.1 Early career
    • 1.2 Sporting
    • 1.3 Manchester United
  • 2 Celebration
  • 3 Career stats
  • 4 International career
  • 5 Honours
    • 5.1 Club
      • 5.1.1 Sporting
      • 5.1.2 Manchester United
  • 6 See also
  • 7 References
  • 8 External links

Career

Early career

Nani was born in Praia, to Maria do Céu Almeida and Domingos da Cunha, but emigrated with his family to Portugal at an early age. He was raised by his aunt Antónia Almeida in the Amadora district of Lisbon[1], where he and Everton FC midfielder Manuel Fernandes, with whom he has been friends since childhood, would often kick a ball about together.[2] He also played with Ricardo Vaz Té at youth club Real Sport Clube, and starting his career in junior football at the Massamá-based club,[3] before joining the youth setup at Sporting.[4] Despite being both part of the Sporting youth academy, Nani and Ricardo Vaz Té grew up supporting F.C. Porto and were often found talking about them during training sessions. Yet, over time, and with his assimilation to the club, he came to be attached to Sporting.[5]

Sporting

Nani made his debut for the Sporting first team in the 2005-06 season, in which he made 29 appearances and scored five goals. In the 2006-07 season, he was again a regular, achieving the same league statistics. He also played three games in the Portuguese Cup, which Sporting won, as well as six Champions League matches, scoring once. In one of those Champions League matches, a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, Felix Magath hailed the youngster. Speaking after the game, the Bayern coach said of the youngster: "He's one of the most gifted young players in Europe, and what's more, he's stronger than I thought he was."[6]

Manchester United

Sporting and Manchester United agreed an undisclosed fee for Nani to sign for the Manchester club. The fee was believed to be in the region of £17m, the alleged value of the release clause in Nani's contract.[7] Tottenham Hotspur were also reported to have made a bid for the player.[8] Real de Massamá received 5% of the transfer fee paid by Manchester United, approximately €1.25m.[9] Nani passed his medical at United's Carrington training ground on 6 June 2007,[10] before being confirmed as a Manchester United player on 2 July. It was announced that Nani had signed a five-year contract with the club.[11]

On 9 July, Nani was revealed to the press along with fellow newcomer Owen Hargreaves.[12] He was handed the number 17 shirt for the 2007-08 season, the shirt previously worn by Henrik Larsson during his short spell at the club in the previous season. With Christiano Ronaldo's huge success since he joined Manchester United. In his first season living up to the standards set by his colleague may prove difficult for the new signing, but it seemed that Nani seemed to cope with all that and had a brilliant debut game.

Nani scored on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Shenzhen FC, in which United ran out 6-0 winners. He also scored in the following game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical with a chip off the right post from the left side of the penalty area. Nani decided to set the record straight after reports suggested he had been banned by Sir Alex Ferguson from doing his trademark somersault celebration for fear of injuring himself. "That is not true", he said. "Ferguson has never spoken to me about this subject and I am going to continue to celebrate goals in this way. The conversations he has had with me are normal conversations, like he has with all players." [13]

Nani made his competitive debut for Manchester United on 5 August 2007, coming on as a substitute in the Community Shield against Chelsea. He marked his debut with a trophy after the Red Devils won 3-0 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in normal time.[14] This was followed up with Nani's third goal for the club three days later when he scored against Glentoran. The Portuguese youngster celebrated the goal with his trademark backflip.

Nani in debate with Gilberto Silva.
Nani in debate with Gilberto Silva.

Nani's Premier League debut came in United's opening match at home to Reading on 12 August as a substitute for Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury.[15] On 26 August 2007, Nani scored his first competitive goal for Manchester United, scoring a 30-yard winner against Tottenham Hotspur, leading the team to their first win of the 2007-08 season. Nani also set up crucial goals for Louis Saha and Nemanja Vidić allowing United to beat both Sunderland and Everton 1-0, respectively.[16] He returned to his previous club in a Champions League tie in September, though it was teammate and also former Sporting man Cristiano Ronaldo who "stole the limelight" by scoring the winner in a 1-0 win.[17]

Nani scored his second league goal for the club in a 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on the 27th October 2007. After dribbling from inside his own half, he cut inside and unleashed a strike from outside the box, beating goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from more than 30 yards. Nani's success continued when he scored a goal and assisted three others in a 4-0 win against Arsenal in the 5th round of the FA cup. In interviews at the end of the game, both Arsene Wenger and Ferguson criticised Nani when he began showboating after his side had gone 4-0 ahead. Wenger said: "Nani was very good today but he did not need to juggle the ball. He is a young player and wanted to show what he could do. Maybe he can learn from this." Ferguson agreed although the criticism was more mild. "I think he shouldn't be doing that, he doesn't need to do that," he said. "In some ways it shows a great deal of courage to do what he did, that's one side of it."[citation needed]

On 23 March 2008, Nani scored the third and final goal in a 3-0 victory over rivals Liverpool only five minutes after coming onto the pitch as a substitute.[18]

On 3 May, Nani was sent off for the first time in his Manchester United career for a head-butt on West Ham United's defender Lucas Neil. The headbutt was believed to have in retaliation to Lucas Neil's pinch on the inside of Nani's leg. It is rumoured that Nani was fined £60,000 and had to do community service.[19]

On 21 May, Nani was substituted on for Wayne Rooney in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final as United won 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time. He converted United's fourth successful penalty.

Celebration

Nani celebrates with a 'mortal' or, in English, a 'Leap of death', similar to that of Obafemi Martins and Lomano LuaLua. He used to practice capoeira as a boy. This is basically one somersault with bent legs (optional), and then one with straight legs. For a while, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson banned Nani's celebration, fearing for his safety[20]. However, Nani defied it when he scored in the next game[21] and has continued to do so ever since, every time he scores.

Career stats

All-Time Club Performance
Country Club Season Domestic League Domestic Cups Europe Total
Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts Apps Goals Assts
Flag of Portugal Sporting Clube de Portugal 2005-07 58 10 - - - - - - - 58 10 -
Total 58 10 - - - - - - - 58 10 -
Flag of England Manchester United 2007-08 26 3 6 3 1 2 8 - 3 37 4 11
Total 26 3 6 3 1 2 8 - 3 37 4 11
Career Totals 84 13 6 3 1 2 8 - 3 95 14 11

International career

Nani made his first appearance for Portugal on 1 September 2006 and scored on his debut in a 2-4 friendly loss against Denmark.[22]

Nani has played for the Portugal A side, he scored one of the goals against the Belgium team in a 2-1 win. He also helped Ricardo Quaresma with the goal against Italy national football team. His form during the 2007/08 season with Manchester United earned him a call up to Luis Felipe Scolari's Euro 2008 23 man squad, alongside team mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Honours

Club

Sporting

  • Taça de Portugal: 2007

Manchester United

  • UEFA Champions League: 2008
  • FA Premier League: 2007-2008
  • FA Community Shield 2007

See also

  • Portuguese squad at 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
  • Portuguese squad at 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

References

  1. ^ Tom Worden and Simon Mullock (2007-06-17). Slums Nurtured Nani. Sunday Mirror. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  2. ^ Charlie Henderson (2007-05-31). Who are Anderson & Nani?. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-08-04. “Did you know: Midfielder Manuel Fernandes, who finished the season on loan at Everton, is a friend since childhood and the pair used to kick a ball about together on the streets of Lisbon.”
  3. ^ Steve Mills (2007-06-01). Get to know... Nani. ManUtd.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  4. ^ Tom Worden and Simon Mullock (2007-06-17). Slums Nurtured Nani. Sunday Mirror. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  5. ^ http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2008/apr/30/sports-30-04-2008-001.htm |title= How parents' divorce almost ruined Nani's career |author=Sun News Publishing
  6. ^ FIFA.com - Nani, Portugal's new teen sensation
  7. ^ Tom Worden and Simon Mullock (2007-06-17). Slums Nurtured Nani. Sunday Mirror. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  8. ^ Ian McGarry (2007-05-31). It's grab a Nani night. The Sun.
  9. ^ Ricardo Gouveia (2007-07-19). Real Massamá ainda não recebeu os cinco por cento de Nani (Portuguese). Maisfutebol.
  10. ^ Ben Hibbs (2007-06-06). Nani passes Reds medical. ManUtd.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
  11. ^ Steve Bartram (2007-07-02). Reds complete triple signing. ManUtd.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
  12. ^ Nick Coppack (2007-07-09). Stars on parade. ManUtd.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  13. ^ David McDonnell. "Nani feels settled at United", ManUtd.com, 2007-08-23. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  14. ^ ManUtd.com. "Report: Reds Lift Community Shield", ManUtd.com, 2007-08-05. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 
  15. ^ ManUtd.com. "Report: United 0 Reading 0", ManUtd.com, 2007-08-12. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. 
  16. ^ "Report: Everton 0 United 1", 2007-09-15. 
  17. ^ "Report: Sporting 0, United 1.", ManUtd.com, 2007-09-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  18. ^ Report: United 3 Liverpool 0. ManUtd.com (2008-03-23). Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
  19. ^ Phil McNulty (2008-05-03). Man Utd 4-1 West Ham. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  20. ^ "Fergie bans Nani's celebration", The Mirror, 2007-07-27. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. 
  21. ^ "Naughty Nani risks wrath of Fergie after backflip celebration", Daily Mail, 2007-08-09. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. 
  22. ^ Charlie Henderson (2007-05-31). Who are Anderson & Nani?. BBC Sport.

This is a privately owned, commercial website. It is in no way related to UEFA or any other organization, governmental or corporate entity.

News Engine powered by iNews.gr

© 2008 Euro2008.gr - All Rights Reserved.