Manucho

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Manucho
Personal information
Full name Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves
Date of birth March 7, 1983 (1983-03-07) (age 25)
Place of birth    Luanda, Angola
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Striker / Left winger
Club information
Current club Panathinaikos
(on loan from Manchester United)
Number 36
Youth clubs
1997–99 Flamenguinhos
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999–2002
2002–2008
2008–
2008		 Benfica de Luanda
Petro Atlético
Manchester United
→ Panathinaikos (loan)		 12 0(5)
78 (34)
00 0(0)
07 0(4)   
National team2
2007– Angola 14 0(6)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 16:43, 7 May 2008 (GMT).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 17:12, 15 February 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)
This article is about the Angolan association footballer. For other people known as Manucho, see Manucho (disambiguation).

Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves (born 7 March 1983 in Luanda), better known as Manucho, is an Angolan association footballer. He moved from Petro Atletico, to Manchester United in January 2008.[1][2][3] 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.[4] Manucho will return to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008, but it is as yet unknown whether he has achieved a work permit or if he will be loaned out again. He is also a member of the Angolan national team.

Contents

[edit] Biography

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Manchester United

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.[1][2][3]

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.[5][4][6] 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.[7]

[edit] Panathinaikos

Manucho scored on his league debut for Panathinakos in a 2–0 home win over Larissa.[8] Panathanaikos 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. At the end of the season, he returned to Manchester United for pre-season training and the club's summer tour of South Africa.

[edit] 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".[9] At the end of the tournament, Manucho was included in the "Best XI", a team of the best players in each position.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Man Utd to sign striker Manucho", BBC Sport, 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  2. ^ a b "Boss reveals new signing", Manchester United, 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  3. ^ a b "Fergie reveals surprise deal", Sky Sports, 2007-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-21. 
  4. ^ a b Manucho set for Greek loan move. BBC Sport (2008-01-31). Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  5. ^ "United starlet heads for Greece", Sky Sports, 2008-01-31. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "Manucho close to loan deal", Manchester United, 2008-02-01. Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  7. ^ Thompson, G; Bostock, A. "Boss explains Manucho loan deal", ManUtd.com, 2008-02-01. Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  8. ^ Soccer-Manucho off the mark as Panathinaikos stay clear
  9. ^ Whyatt, Chris. "Live - Africa Cup of Nations", BBC Sport, 2008-02-04. Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  10. ^ "CAF names Best XI for Ghana 2008 ACN", cafonline.com, 2008-02-10. Retrieved on 2008-02-11. 

[edit] External links

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Panathinaikos FC – current squad

1 Galinović • 3 Sarriegi • 4 Mattos • 5 Morris • 6 Darlas • 7 Ninis • 8 Goumas • 9 Romero • 11 Papadopoulos • 14 Salpigidis • 15 Fyssas • 18 Malarz • 19 Šerić • 20 Leontiou • 21 Karagounis • 22 Tziolis • 23 Simão • 24 Vyntra • 25 N'Doye • 27 Ivanschitz • 29 Nilsson • 30 Dimoutsos • 31 Spyropoulos • 32 Pantidos • 33 Karnezis • 35 Ntantamis • 36 Manucho • 38 Boutzikos • Manager: Vacant