Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro OIH (born 11 November 1977), known as Maniche (European Portuguese: [maˈniʃ]), is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Maniche
Maniche in 2009
Personal information
Full name Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro[1]
Date of birth (1977-11-11) 11 November 1977 (age 46)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
1989–1996 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Benfica 0 (0)
1996–1999 Alverca 78 (10)
1999–2002 Benfica 54 (11)
2002 Benfica B 1 (0)
2002–2005 Porto 80 (16)
2005–2006 Dynamo Moscow 12 (2)
2006Chelsea (loan) 8 (0)
2006–2009 Atlético Madrid 64 (7)
2008Inter Milan (loan) 8 (1)
2009–2010 Köln 30 (2)
2010–2011 Sporting CP 17 (1)
Total 347 (43)
International career
1997–1998 Portugal U21 10 (0)
2003–2009 Portugal 52 (7)
Managerial career
2013 Paços de Ferreira (assistant)
2016 Académica (assistant)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 2004 Portugal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He played top flight football in Portugal, Russia, England, Spain, Italy and Germany, and in 2004 he helped Porto win the Champions League, one of eight trophies conquered with that club. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 177 matches and 31 goals, during seven seasons. He also experienced success abroad, winning the Serie A with Inter Milan.

Maniche won 52 caps for Portugal, representing the nation at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup and finishing runner-up in the former competition.

Club career

edit

Portugal

edit

Born in Lisbon, Maniche played youth football for local S.L. Benfica. After three seasons with neighbouring F.C. Alverca, who acted as the former's farm team, he returned to Benfica, where he initially played as a winger.[2]

Following disciplinary problems at Benfica, Maniche was signed by José Mourinho for FC Porto. The manager made him a key member of his sides, reconverting him to central midfielder.[2]

Maniche enjoyed a successful period at Porto, winning both the UEFA Cup in 2003[3] and the UEFA Champions League in 2004[4] and contributing with 13 goals in 60 matches as the club also managed back-to-back Primeira Liga titles. He was chosen Man of the match in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup, which his team won on penalties against Once Caldas of Colombia.[5]

Abroad

edit

Maniche was sold to FC Dynamo Moscow in May 2005, for 16 million.[6] He was accompanied in that adventure by Porto teammates Giourkas Seitaridis and Costinha (another club player, Derlei, had left for the Russian team in January). Unsettled, as were the vast majority of foreign players bought by new owner Alexey Fedorychev,[7] he left in January 2006 on loan to Premier League side Chelsea.[8]

Maniche was part of Chelsea's 2006 league-winning squad. In his first start, a home game against West Ham United on 9 April, he had an opportunity to score an equaliser from six yards out but smashed his shot against the crossbar, and was shown an immediate red card in the 17th minute for a challenge on Lionel Scaloni; nevertheless, they went on to win it 4–1.[9]

However, Maniche did not make enough appearances in the league to earn a winners' medal, challenged for a central midfield place by Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Claude Makélélé.[10] Chelsea had the option of making the transfer permanent at the end of the season, for £5 million (US$9 million), but the player eventually returned to Dynamo Moscow.[11]

Maniche was signed by Atlético Madrid in late August 2006.[12] Partnering countrymen Costinha and Zé Castro, he scored four goals in 28 La Liga matches in his first season as the capital team finished seventh.[13][14]

Following a run-in with Atlético coach, Javier Aguirre,[15] Maniche was cut from the squad, and agreed to join Inter Milan on a January loan, running for the second part of 2007–08.[16] Splitting time between the bench and the first eleven in eight Serie A appearances, he managed to score one goal, in a 22 March 2008, 1–2 home defeat against Juventus FC, also hitting the post in stoppage time.[17]

In July 2008, Maniche returned to Atlético Madrid, playing a major part in the Colchoneros' early season, as the club had returned to the UEFA Champions League after a 12-year absence. In late February 2009, however, he was ousted after a new quarrel with the management, now led by former club player Abel Resino.[18]

According to additional reports in the Spanish press, Maniche was deemed surplus to requirements in Madrid after he rejected the club's offer of a new deal, as his contract was going to expire on 30 June 2009.

"We informed Maniche three or four weeks ago that we wanted to renew his contract" said Atlético's general manager Miguel Ángel Gil Marín."

"We really wanted him to accept the conditions and sign the contract. It is a shame for us."

 
Maniche in action for Köln in August 2009

Maniche was released from contract on 6 May, even before the season was over, being left available to sign for any club, with a return to Porto one of the possible destinations.[19]

On 20 July 2009, Maniche moved to the Bundesliga with 1. FC Köln, signing a two-year deal and rejoining former Benfica and Portugal teammate Petit.[20]

Return to Portugal

edit

Maniche left after only one season in Germany and, on 16 June 2010, returned to his native country, signing a one-year deal (plus an option for two further seasons) with the club he still had not represented in the Portuguese Big Three, Sporting CP.[21][22] Frequently injured during his spell with the Lions and vastly underperforming, the 33-year-old terminated his contract by mutual consent – even though he had automatically renewed it in December after appearing in his 20th competitive game[23]– on 6 July 2011; in May of the following year, not being able to find a new team, he decided to retire.

On 12 June 2013, Maniche was appointed as assistant at Paços de Ferreira after his former Porto and international teammate Costinha was hired as the manager.[24] Three years later he was hired in the same role alongside the same boss at Segunda Liga side Académica de Coimbra, but left after four months for personal reasons.[25]

International career

edit
 
Maniche playing for Portugal in 2009

Maniche made his debut for the Portugal national team on 29 March 2003, in a 2–1 friendly victory over Brazil.[26] He was a key element in the country's runner-up run at UEFA Euro 2004, scoring in a 2–0 group stage win against Russia[27] and adding another in the semi-finals against the Netherlands, which ended in a 2–1 victory;[28] he was subsequently selected for the Team of the Tournament.[29]

On 21 June 2006, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal played Mexico, in the nation's final group game. Maniche netted in the sixth minute in an eventual 2–1 triumph that sealed the group win.[30] Four days later, in the round-of-16, as the national side faced the Netherlands once again, he scored the only goal in the game,[31] and was the only Portuguese player to feature on Adidas' Golden Ball shortlist.[32]

After appearing significantly during the qualifying stages for Euro 2008, he was surprisingly left out of the nation's final squad, although younger brother Jorge Ribeiro would make the final cut. He also featured little during the qualification for the 2010 World Cup, and was subsequently left out of the squad for the final stages by manager Carlos Queiroz.

Style of play

edit

Known for his teamwork, stamina and powerful shot, Maniche received his nickname after Benfica's 1980s Danish forward Michael Manniche.[33]

Personal life

edit

Jorge Ribeiro, Maniche's younger brother, is also a retired professional footballer. Mainly a left midfielder, he also represented Benfica amongst many other clubs, and the two were teammates at Dynamo Moscow.[34]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[35][36]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica 1995–96 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
Alverca 1996–97 Segunda Liga 23 2 1 0 24 2
1997–98 29 5 1 1 30 6
1998–99 Primeira Liga 26 3 1 1 27 4
Total 78 10 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 81 12
Benfica 1999–00 Primeira Liga 28 10 1 1 6 1 35 12
2000–01 26 1 4 1 2 0 32 2
2001–02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 54 11 5 2 0 0 8 1 0 0 67 14
Porto 2002–03 Primeira Liga 29 6 3 1 12 2 44 9
2003–04 31 7 5 1 12 3 2[a] 0 50 11
2004–05 20 3 0 0 8 0 2[b] 0 30 3
Total 80 16 8 2 0 0 32 5 4 0 124 23
Dynamo Moscow 2005 Russian Premier League 12 2 0 0 0 0 12 2
Chelsea 2005–06 Premier League 8 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 11 0
Atlético Madrid 2006–07 La Liga 28 4 2 0 0 0 30 4
2007–08 15 2 0 0 7[c] 0 22 2
Total 43 6 2 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 52 6
Internazionale 2007–08 Serie A 8 1 3 0 0 0 11 1
Atlético Madrid 2008–09 La Liga 21 1 2 0 9 1 32 2
1. FC Köln 2009–10 Bundesliga 26 2 4 1 0 0 30 3
Sporting CP 2010–11 Primeira Liga 17 1 1 0 0 0 9 3 27 3
Career total 347 50 28 4 3 0 65 10 4 0 449 64
  1. ^ One appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  2. ^ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Intercontinental Cup
  3. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Cup, two appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup

International

edit
Appearances and goals by national team and year[37]
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2003 7 0
2004 13 3
2005 7 0
2006 12 3
2007 6 1
2008 5 0
2009 2 0
Total 52 7
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Maniche goal.[37]
List of international goals scored by Maniche
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 June 2004 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal   Russia 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2004
2 30 June 2004 Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal   Netherlands 2–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2004
3 17 November 2004 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg   Luxembourg 3–0 5–0 2006 World Cup qualification
4 1 March 2006 Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany   Saudi Arabia 2–0 3–0 Friendly
5 21 June 2006 Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany   Mexico 1–0 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup
6 25 June 2006 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany   Netherlands 1–0 1–0 2006 FIFA World Cup
7 8 September 2007 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal   Poland 1–1 2–2 Euro 2008 qualifying

Honours

edit

Porto

Inter Milan

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References

edit
  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Maniche: "Gosto de jogar no meio"" [Maniche: «I like to play in the middle»]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 July 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Uefa Cup final player ratings". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Porto perform to perfection". UEFA. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b Leme de Arruda, Marcelo (2 January 2009). "Toyota Cup – Most Valuable Player of the Match Award". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  6. ^ "Porto pair move to Moscow". UEFA. 2 May 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Maniche arrasa russos e quer sair em Janeiro" [Maniche blasts Russians and wants to leave in January]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 5 September 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Maniche completes Chelsea switch". UEFA. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Chelsea 4–1 West Ham". BBC Sport. 9 April 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  10. ^ Williams, Richard (10 April 2006). "Ruthless Chelsea driven towards destiny by Drogba". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Midfielder Maniche leaves Chelsea". BBC Sport. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Maniche makes Atlético move". UEFA. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  13. ^ Marcos, José (19 May 2007). "La importancia de Maniche" [The importance of Maniche]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Trayectoria de Javier Aguirre" [Javier Aguirre's career]. El País (in Spanish). 2 February 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  15. ^ Jiménez, Hugo (7 January 2008). "Aguirre y Maniche ni se miran" [Aguirre and Maniche don't even look at each other]. Público (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Atlético let Maniche join Inter". UEFA. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  17. ^ "La Juve batte l'Inter – campionato riaperto" [Juve beat Inter – championship reopened]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 22 March 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Abel ajusta cuentas con Maniche" [Abel settles score with Maniche]. ABC (in Spanish). 15 March 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Maniche parts company with Atlético". UEFA. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Portugiese Maniche wechselt zum 1. FC Köln" [Portuguese Maniche moves to 1. FC Köln]. Die Welt (in German). 20 July 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Maniche também é reforço" [Maniche is also an addition]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Maniche e Evaldo no Sporting" [Maniche and Evaldo in Sporting] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Maniche leão por mais uma época" [Maniche lion for another season]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 December 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Costinha succeeds Fonseca at Paços de Ferreira". UEFA. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  25. ^ "Maniche rescindiu" [Maniche cut ties]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  26. ^ "Portugal na festa holandesa" [Portugal in Dutch party]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 April 2003. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  27. ^ "Russia 0–2 Portugal". BBC Sport. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  28. ^ "Maniche has final say against Oranje". UEFA. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  29. ^ "All-Star squad revealed". UEFA. 5 July 2004. Archived from the original on 29 May 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Portugal progress as pool winners". UEFA. 21 June 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  31. ^ "Oranje see red as Portugal prevail". UEFA. 25 June 2006. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  32. ^ "Sent-off Zidane named best player". BBC Sport. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  33. ^ "Maniche". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 June 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  34. ^ Ferreira, Luís Pedro (11 June 2013). "Irmãos no futebol: um antigo "debate" no Benfica" [Brothers in football: an ancient "debate" in Benfica] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  35. ^ "Maniche". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  36. ^ "Maniche". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Maniche". European Football. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
edit