João Moutinho

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Personal information
João Moutinho

Full name	João Filipe Iria Santos Moutinho
Date of birth	September 8, 1986 (age 20)
Place of birth	Portimão, Portugal
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Nickname	Baixinho (Shorty),
Playing position	Midfield, CAM, RM
Club information
Current club	Sporting CP
Number	28
Youth clubs
	Sporting CP B
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2005-	Sporting CP	38 (8)
National team²
2006-	Portugal	7 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 6, 2006. ² National team caps and goals correct as of March 28, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

João Filipe Iria Santos Moutinho, or simply João Moutinho born on September 8, 1986 in Barreiro) is a promising star of the Portuguese football (soccer) playing for Sporting Clube de Portugal.

After showing great promise as a boy playing for his hometown club, Portimonense, as soon as João Moutinho turned 13 he had the chance to sign for one of Portugal’s big three to continue his football education. His sports-fanatic parents encouraged him to sign for Sporting owing to the club’s unparalleled reputation at nurturing home-grown talent.

From the moment the Algarve-born midfielder broke into Sporting’s first team at just 17 years of age, making his debut on 23 January 2005 in the Portuguese Cup, few onlookers doubted they were in the presence of a very special player. Instant hit Moutinho wasted no time in establishing himself as a regular as he quickly grew into a polished performer, able to play in any position across a flat midfield or in a diamond formation. His box-to-box dynamism, pinpoint passing and tremendous determination quickly made him a firm fans’ favourite.

His performances in his first season, especially in the UEFA Cup where man-of-the-match displays against Feyenoord and Newcastle United helped the Lions reach the final of the competition, made him an automatic starter for Sporting despite his young age.

In his second season Moutinho’s further progress and incredible consistency (the midfielder was the only player in Portugal in 2005/06 to play every minute of every match in the Portuguese Bwin Liga) was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for Sporting. It was fitting that Moutinho should net his team’s final goal of the campaign in a 1-0 win over Braga to ensure a return to Champions League football for the Lisbon club.

In 2006/2007, following the departure of veteran Sá Pinto, Moutinho was made sub-captain at just 19 years of age. Moutinho’s importance to the team is exemplified by the fact that he is considered too important to be included in coach Paulo Bento’s rotation system, having accumulated 84 consecutive appearances up to the winter break.

Excellent performances in Sporting’s Champions League campaign led to speculation of interest from Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United.

International Career

A Portugal international player at the age of 18, he made his debut with Portugal's shirt against Russia in the World Cup's Qualyfing. He has continued to play with the Portugal number 28 shirt in a friendly against Denmark and Portugal's first Euro 2008 qualifying game against Finland, which ended in a draw.

João Moutinho already has an official site: http://www.moutinho28.com/

[edit] Trivia

João Moutinho is one of Sporting's favourites. He has a special song for him: "Ele é o 28, ele é baixinho, João Moutinho, João Moutinho!" (He's number 28, he is short... João Moutinho, João Moutinho!)

[edit] References

www.PortuGOAL.net | | The definitive Portuguese football site (Player Profile section)

Sporting Clube de Portugal - Current Squad
1 Ricardo \| 4 Polga \| 8 Ronny \| 10 C. Martins \| 11 Tello \| 12 Caneira \| 13 Tonel \| 15 M. Garcia \| 16 Tiago \| 18 Nani \| 19 Alecsandro \| 20 Y. Djaló \| 21 P. Farnerud \| 22 R. Patrício \| 24 M. Veloso \| 27 Custódio \| 28 Moutinho \| 31 Liédson \| 34 J. Alves \| 76 Paredes \| 78 Abel \| 80 Bueno \| Manager: P. Bento