Nuno Valente

Nuno Valente

Personal information
Full name	Nuno Jorge Pereira Silva Valente
Date of birth	12 September 1974 (1974-09-12)
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Left back
Youth career
	Portimonense
1986–1993	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1993–1994	→ Portimonense (loan)	26	(1)
1994–1999	Sporting CP	36	(1)
1996–1997	→ Marítimo (loan)	30	(0)
1999–2002	União Leiria	87	(2)
2002–2005	Porto	58	(0)
2005–2009	Everton	45	(0)
Total		282	(4)
National team
1996	Portugal U21	1	(0)
2002–2008	Portugal	33	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Nuno Jorge Pereira da Silva Valente, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈnunu vɐˈlẽt(ɨ)]; born 12 September 1974) is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender.

After settling with a club in his late 20's with F.C. Porto - he started out his career with Sporting, but never imposed there - he moved at 31 to England with Everton, where he finally retired after playing regularly in three out of four seasons.

A late bloomer in the international stage, Valente helped Portugal finish second in Euro 2004, a competition which was played in his country. He also participated in the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Born in Lisbon, Valente began his career at second division club Portimonense Sporting Clube, loaned by hometown's Sporting Clube de Portugal. However, he found first team chances limited in the capital outfit and, despite success in helping win the Portuguese Cup in 1995, he was loaned for 1996–97 to fellow league side Club Sport Marítimo.

A young José Mourinho recognized Valente's talent and brought him to his then club, União de Leiria. He spent three years at Leiria, helping the club achieve successful seasons. In 2002, when Mourinho left to join F.C. Porto, Valente and teammate Derlei were the first signings made by the coach. Valente repaid Mourinho's faith in him with some good displays as Porto romped to victory in the national league, and won the UEFA Cup against Celtic FC (3–2).

The following season, Valente produced yet another excellent season, helping his club to domestic championship and Champions League wins, as the defender appeared in 11 games during that run, 10 of those complete. At the season's closure, he renewed his contract until 2007.

After Mourinho left for Chelsea, Valente picked up a succession of injuries. In total he only played eight games in the entire domestic season, but returned in time to face F.C. Internazionale Milano in the Champions League quarterfinal, but could not prevent his team losing 4–2 on aggregate.

After another poor season, which included an ultimatum by Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa that ordered him to choose between club or national team, eventually leading to a suspension, he was signed by Everton on a three-year deal worth €2.2 million, under recommendation of mentor Mourinho, at the end of August 2005, after the Merseyside club lost regular left-back Alessandro Pistone to injury. Valente took a while to adapt to the hectic pace of the Premier League, but soon became a key feature in the Everton side from then on. In the 2005–06 and 06–07 seasons he was considered first-choice, but faced stiff competition from Scotsman Gary Naysmith. In February 2007, Everton took the option of a one-year extension to Valente's contract, tying him to the club until 2008.

In May 2008, Valente signed another one-year link, but would fall down the pecking order at Everton, usually backing Leighton Baines; furthermore, with centre back Joleon Lescott also being able to play the position, he received little playing time during 2008–09, being released on 12 June 2009 and choosing to retire from playing.

Upon his retirement, Valente was appointed Everton's official scout in Portugal. After one year, he returned to main club Sporting, joining Paulo Sérgio's coaching staff.

International career

A full Portuguese international since after the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Valente was first-choice for the national side during the runner-up campaign at UEFA Euro 2004, played in home soil. During 2005, he suffered a thigh strain, but recovered in time to play in the 2006 World Cup, again playing a key part in Portugal's eventual fourth-place finish.

After playing only once during the Euro 2008 qualifiers, Valente retired from international football in September 2008.

Nuno Valente: International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	31 March 2004	Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal	Italy	1–0	1–2	Friendly

Club statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portugal			League		Taça de Portugal		Taça da Liga		Europe		Total
1993–94	Portimonense		26	1
1994–95	Sporting	Portuguese League	9	0
1995–96			9	0
1996–97	Marítimo	Portuguese League	30	0
1997–98	Sporting	Portuguese League	6	0
1998–99			12	1
1999–00	União Leiria	Portuguese League	28	0
2000–01			31	2
2001–02			28	0
2002–03	Porto	Portuguese League	21	0
2003–04			27	0
2004–05			8	0
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2005–06	Everton	Premier League	20	0
2006–07			14	0
2007–08			9	0
2008–09			2	0
Total	Portugal		235	4
	England		43	0
Career total			278	4

Honours

Club

• UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup: 2002–03
• Intercontinental Cup: 2004
• Portuguese League: 2002–03, 2003–04
• Portuguese Cup: 2002–03
• Portuguese Supercup: 2002, 2003

Country

• UEFA European Football Championship: Runner-up 2004

Orders

• Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Nuno Valente career stats at Soccerbase