Maciel (footballer, born 1978)

Maciel Lima Barbosa da Cunha (born 29 November 1978), known simply as Maciel, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a forward.

Maciel
Personal information
Full name Maciel Lima Barbosa da Cunha
Date of birth (1978-11-29) 29 November 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Caxias, Brazil
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
–1997 Cruzeiro
1998 Guarani-MG
1999 Capivariano
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999 Ituano
1999 União São João
1999 Botafogo-PB
2000 Bangu
2001 Volta Redonda
2001−2004 União Leiria 72 (26)
2004−2007 Porto 19 (3)
2005Paranaense (loan) 3 (0)
2005–2006União Leiria (loan) 31 (5)
2006−2007Braga (loan) 19 (2)
2007−2008 União Leiria 8 (0)
2008−2009 Skoda Xanthi 4 (0)
2009 Cabofriense 5 (0)
2009 Angra dos Reis
2010 Volta Redonda 12 (4)
2010−2011 Madureira 10 (6)
2011 Guarany Sobral 3 (0)
2012 Madureira 0 (0)
2012 Volta Redonda 7 (0)
2013 Grêmio Osasco 4 (0)
2013 Madureira 3 (0)
2014 Sobradinho
2015 Cabofriense
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 March 2015

He spent the vast majority of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 149 games and 36 goals over the course of seven seasons, mostly for União de Leiria (five years). He also had spells in the country with Porto and Braga.[1]

Football career

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Maciel was born in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. After beginning professionally with modest Bangu Atlético Clube and Volta Redonda Futebol Clube, he moved to Portugal in the 2001 summer, signing with U.D. Leiria and impressing well enough (22 goals in two full seasons) to eventually draw attention from Primeira Liga club FC Porto, which purchased the player in the 2004 January transfer window.[2]

Maciel contributed significantly to the team's domestic supremacy renewal, appearing in 18 games and scoring three times. He could not participate, however, in its victorious campaign in the UEFA Champions League, being cup-tied for having played with Leiria in the season's UEFA Cup.[3]

Under contract with Porto until the 2007 summer,[4] Maciel would only appear twice in competitive matches until the end of his link, one of them a 1–1 home draw against former side Leiria in September 2004. He would be loaned in quick succession Clube Atlético Paranaense, Leiria and S.C. Braga, amassing a further 50 appearances with eight goals in Portugal's top level for the latter two. Subsequently, he signed permanently for Leiria,[5] producing a disastrous campaign at all levels – only eight matches, no goals and club relegation, as last.

After nearly seven consecutive years in the same nation, Maciel left for Skoda Xanthi F.C. in Greece, in another unassuming spell. He then returned to his Brazil with lowly Associação Desportiva Cabofriense and Angra dos Reis Esporte Clube; in January 2010 he rejoined his very first professional club Volta Redonda, netting twice in his first three matches in the Campeonato Carioca.

Maciel played the remainder of his career in his country's lower leagues, including several spells with Madureira Esporte Clube.

Personal life

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Maciel is father os the also footballer Mateus Cunha.

References

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  1. ^ "Lembra dele? Atacante do histórico Porto de 2004, Maciel joga a várzea de Sorocaba e sonha ser técnico". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 2 October 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  2. ^ United lead recruitment drive; UEFA.com, 20 January 2004
  3. ^ Coleraine pull off famous win; UEFA.com, 14 August 2003
  4. ^ Porto snap up Brazilian duo; UEFA.com, 6 January 2004
  5. ^ Paíto in pact with Braga; UEFA.com, 3 July 2006
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  • Maciel at ogol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese)
  • Maciel at Sambafoot (archived)
  • Maciel at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  • Maciel at Soccerway