Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha

Carlitos
Personal information
Full name Carlos Manuel da Silva Cunha
Date of birth March 6, 1977 (1977-03-06) (age 35)
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.

Football career

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.

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