Manucho

This name uses Portuguese naming customs; the first or maternal family name is Contreiras and the second or paternal family name is Gonçalves.
Manucho
Personal information
Full name Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves
Date of birth 7 March 1983 (1983-03-07) (age 27)
Place of birth Luanda, Angola
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Striker
Left winger
Club information
Current club Bucaspor
(on loan from Real Valladolid)
Youth career
1997–1999 Flamenguinhos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1999–2002 Benfica de Luanda 12 (5)
2002–2008 Petro Atlético 78 (34)
2008–2009 Manchester United 1 (0)
2008 → Panathinaikos (loan) 7 (4)
2009 → Hull City (loan) 13 (2)
2009– Real Valladolid 24 (4)
2010– → Bucaspor (loan) 1 (1)
National team‡
2006– Angola 33 (16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:18, 26 July 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:54, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves (born 7 March 1983 in Luanda), better known as Manucho, is an Angolan footballer who currently plays for Turkish club Bucaspor,[1] on loan from Real Valladolid of Spain.[2] He moved from Petro Atletico, to Manchester United in January 2008.[3][4][5] Before playing a game for United, however, he was loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to issues with obtaining a UK work permit.[6] Manucho received a work permit soon after returning to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008,[7] and made his debut for the club in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 23 September 2008. Short of first team opportunities at Old Trafford, however, on 16 January 2009 he joined Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season.[8] Having failed to break into the Manchester United first team, Manucho joined Real Valladolid in July 2009. He is also a member of the Angolan national team.

Contents

Career

Manucho began his football career at Flamenguinhos, a small youth football club from Terra Nova, Luanda, where he lived. Under the guidance of his coach and father, Alberto Gonçalves, Manucho plied his trade as a left winger, becoming one of the club's top stars.

Early career

Upon turning professional, Manucho signed for Benfica de Luanda, a mid-table club in the Angolan league. He then moved to Luanda-based side Petro Atlético, where he initially struggled to break into the team due to the presence of striker Flávio Amado. After Flávio joined Egyptian side Al-Ahly, Manucho began to establish himself in the side, scoring 16 goals in 2006 and 15 in 2007.

On 21 December 2007, it was announced that Manucho had agreed to sign for English Premier League champions Manchester United. He joined the club in January 2008 on a three-year contract. Prior to the announcement, Manucho had been on a three-week trial with the Manchester club, during which he managed to impress United manager Sir Alex Ferguson enough to earn himself a contract.[3][4][5]

Panathinaikos

On 31 January 2008, it was reported that Manucho was due to head out on loan to Greek team, Panathinaikos, for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to complications obtaining a work permit, with a view to him gaining valuable first team experience.[6][9][10] United manager Alex Ferguson announced on 1 February 2008 that Manucho had indeed been loaned out to Panathinaikos until the end of the season. The loan period began soon after Angola's elimination from the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations by Egypt.[11]

Manucho scored on his league debut for Panathinaikos in a 2–0 home win over Larissa.[12] Panathinaikos finished the Super League Greece 2007-08 season in 3rd place, qualifying the team for a play-off for the remaining European places. Manucho scored three goals in this six-game mini tournament, helping Panathinaikos to top the play-off group and qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United

At the end of the 2007–08 season, Manucho returned to Manchester United for pre-season training and the club's summer tour of South Africa. However, he had picked up a suspected metatarsal injury and was unable to play a part in the pre-season programme.[13] In August 2008, the club confirmed that they had re-applied for a work permit for Manucho so that he could play for them.[14] On 28 August 2008, the Manchester Evening News reported that Manucho had received a work permit earlier that summer,[15] which was confirmed on the official website.[16] Manucho was handed the number 26 shirt for the 2008–09 season. Although it was claimed he was carrying an injury and would not feature, he made his competitive first team debut as a substitute on 23 September 2008 in a League Cup Third Round tie at home to Middlesbrough. The game ended 3–1 to Manchester United. Manucho made his Premier League debut for Manchester United on 15 November 2008, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Carlos Tévez in a home match against Stoke City. Ten minutes after coming on, Manucho was involved in the build-up to United's fourth goal by Danny Welbeck.[17] On 18 December 2008, Manucho scored his first goal in a Manchester United shirt, heading home Magnus Wolff Eikrem's cross to earn United's reserve side a 1–1 draw against Everton in a Reserve League North match.[18]

Hull City

Having found first team opportunities hard to come by at Manchester United, on 16 January 2009 Manucho agreed to join Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season.[8] He received a renewed work permit later that day and appeared as a substitute in a 3–1 home defeat by Arsenal on 17 January.[19] On 4 March 2009, he scored his first Premier League goal, a last-minute winner for Hull City in a 1–0 away victory at Fulham.[20]

Real Valladolid

After his loan spell with Hull, Manucho was deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United, and on 17 July 2009, the club agreed a deal with Real Valladolid for the player's transfer. He signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club and was presented as a Real Valladolid player on 20 July 2009.[2] On 13 September 2009 he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 defeat against Valencia CF. Then he had to wait until 5 December 2009 for his next goal which earned them a vital point away to title challengers Sevilla CF.

International career

Manucho plays international football for Angola. He was a member of the Angolan squad during his nation's successful qualification campaign for the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

In January 2008, he was named in the Angolan squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana. He scored the opening goal in Angola's first game against South Africa, and struck a further two goals in their second match against Senegal in a 3–1 win. On 4 February, Manucho scored Angola's only goal in a 2–1 loss to Egypt. Although the result meant Angola were knocked out of the tournament, Manucho's 25-yard effort was described as "the goal of the tournament so far".[21] At the end of the tournament, Manucho was included in the "Best XI", a team of the best players in each position.[22] In the African Cup Of Nations 2010 he scored from the penalty spot in the opening game for Angola in the 4-4 draw with Mali.

References

  1. ↑ "Soccer: Bucaspor Sign Real Valladolid's Manucho On Loan". Turkish Daily Mail. 26 July 2010. http://www.turkishdailymail.com/news/5990/soccer-bucaspor-sign-real-valladolid-s-manucho-on-loan.html. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Striker Manucho to leave Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 17 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8156506.stm. Retrieved 17 July 2009. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Man Utd to sign striker Manucho". BBC Sport. 21 December 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7156290.stm. Retrieved 21 December 2007. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Boss reveals new signing". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). 21 December 2007. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=517365. Retrieved 21 December 2007. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Fergie reveals surprise deal". skysports.com (British Sky Broadcasting). 21 December 2007. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2997132,00.html. Retrieved 21 December 2007. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Manucho set for Greek loan move". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7219761.stm. Retrieved 1 February 2008. 
  7. ↑ "Manucho given Man Utd go-ahead". BBC Sport. 3 September 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7596242.stm. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Hull snap up Manucho from Man Utd". BBC Sport. 16 January 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/7832914.stm. Retrieved 16 January 2009. 
  9. ↑ "United starlet heads for Greece". skysports.com (British Sky Broadcasting). 31 January 2008. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3096008,00.html. Retrieved 31 January 2008. 
  10. ↑ "Manucho close to loan deal". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). 1 February 2008. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=528547. Retrieved 1 February 2008. 
  11. ↑ Thompson, G; Bostock, A (1 February 2008). "Boss explains Manucho loan deal". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=528547. Retrieved 1 February 2008. 
  12. ↑ Spender, Barney (9 March 2008). "Soccer-Manucho off the mark as Panathinaikos stay clear". Reuters UK. Reuters (Thomson Reuters). http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL0950171120080309. Retrieved 17 January 2009. 
  13. ↑ "Manucho Injury To Force Fergie's Hand?". Goal.com. 6 July 2008. http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=765060. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
  14. ↑ "Ferguson to give Campbell chance". BBC Sport. 3 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7539417.stm. Retrieved 3 August 2008. 
  15. ↑ "Manucho close to Reds break". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media). 28 August 2008. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1064508_manucho_close_to_reds_break_. Retrieved 28 August 2008. 
  16. ↑ "Reds line up for team photo". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). 28 August 2008. http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={48C41513-A376-4D1F-981D-660FC5BB193E}&newsid=6616954. Retrieved 28 August 2008. 
  17. ↑ Barder, Russell (15 November 2008). "Man Utd 5-0 Stoke". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7711301.stm. Retrieved 15 November 2008. 
  18. ↑ Bartram, Steve (18 December 2008). "Reserves: Everton 1 United 1". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6624261. Retrieved 15 January 2009. 
  19. ↑ Ashenden, Mark (17 January 2009). "Hull 1-3 Arsenal". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7830380.stm. Retrieved 17 January 2009. 
  20. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (4 March 2009). "Fulham 0-1 Hull City". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7908471.stm. Retrieved 4 March 2009. 
  21. ↑ Whyatt, Chris (4 February 2008). "Live - Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7226662.stm. Retrieved 4 February 2008. 
  22. ↑ "CAF names Best XI for Ghana 2008 ACN". cafonline.com (Confederation of African Football). 10 February 2008. http://www.cafonline50.com/?lng=1&cmpt=0&module=media&ANC=&TNews=1&idrub=96375&idnews=82854. Retrieved 11 February 2008. 

External links

Angola squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
1 Lamá • 2 Airosa • 3 Jamba • 4 Machado • 5 Kali • 6 Yamba Asha • 7 Figueiredo • 8 Macanga • 9 Mateus • 10 Maurito • 11 Gilberto • 12 Nuno • 13 Édson • 14 Mendonça • 15 Rui Marques • 16 Flávio • 17 Zé Kalanga • 18 Love • 19 Dédé • 20 Locó • 21 Delgado • 22 Mário • 23 Manucho • Coach: Gonçalves
 Angola
Angola squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
1 Lamá • 2 Jamuana • 3 Enoque • 4 Dias Caires • 5 Kali • 6 Davíd • 7 Job • 8 Xara • 9 Mantorras • 10 Zuela • 11 Gilberto • 12 Macaba • 13 Carlos • 14 Djalma • 15 Rui Marques • 16 Flávio • 17 Zé Kalanga • 18 Love • 19 Dédé • 20 Stélvio • 21 Mabiná • 22 Wilson • 23 Manucho • Coach: Manuel José
 Angola
Bucaspor – current squad

2 Tomas · 3 Bahtijarević · 4 Koray · 5 Mulemo · 6 Orhan · 7 Musa · 8 İbrahim · 9 Manucho · 10 Sercan · 11 Mendy · 13 Carlos · 16 Atilla · 20 Ali · 21 Erkan · 23 Leko · 27 Mehmet · 30 Dady · 35 Zafer · 41 Berkay · 43 Veli · 45 Erman · 46 Ömer · 54 Emre · 61 Ragıp · 77 Onur · 87 Serkan · 99 Dahmane · Manager: Aybaba