Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha | ||
Date of birth | March 6, 1977 | ||
Place of birth | Barcelos, Portugal | ||
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
Playing position | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Retired | ||
Youth career | |||
1990–1995 | Gil Vicente | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1995–1997 | Gil Vicente | 58 | (10) |
1997–1998 | Braga | 16 | (2) |
1998–1999 | Estrela Amadora | 11 | (0) |
1999–2000 | Gil Vicente | 30 | (6) |
2000–2003 | Benfica | 47 | (5) |
2004 | Poli Ejido | 7 | (0) |
2004–2006 | Gil Vicente | 61 | (8) |
2007 | Belenenses | 8 | (0) |
2007–2010 | Vitória Guimarães | 37 | (0) |
2010–2011 | Gil Vicente | 16 | (0) |
National team | |||
1998–2000 | Portugal U21 | 25 | (9) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha (born 6 March 1977 in Barcelos), aka Carlitos, is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a winger.
Carlitos' career was intimately connected with Gil Vicente FC, which he represented in four separate spells. He made his first team - and first division - debuts late into the 1994–95 season, aged 18, then proceeded to amass a further 56 league appearances in two full seasons combined.
Subsequently, Carlitos had one-season top division spells with Sporting de Braga, C.F. Estrela da Amadora and Gil Vicente again. In the latter season, he scored a career-best nine goals, as the Barcelos side finished in a best-ever fifth position; his teammates included future Portuguese international Petit.
Carlitos then signed with league giants Sport Lisboa e Benfica, but could never really settle in the starting XI, also being demoted at one point to the reserves. In January 2004, he played for six months in Spain for Polideportivo Ejido, teaming up with former Benfica mate José Calado. He returned to his country and Gil shortly after, playing parts of his last season in the second division, and finishing it again in the top level, with C.F. Os Belenenses.
In 2007–08, Carlitos joined Vitória de Guimarães, upon the Minho side's return to the top flight. He would only be used regularly in the first season - 21 matches, ten from the bench - helping to a final third position, but gradually lost his importance in the team; in July 2010, he returned to Gil Vicente, aged 33, appearing in 16 games as the club promoted to the top division (eight starts, 551 minutes of play), and retiring shortly after.