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'''Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha''' (born 17 November 1986), commonly known as '''Nani''', is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] footballer who plays as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] for English side [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and the [[Portugal national football team|Portugal national team]].
'''Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha''' (born 17 November 1986), commonly known as '''Nani''' and '''LN17''', is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] footballer who plays as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] for English side [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and the [[Portugal national football team|Portugal national team]].


Nani began his career with [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]], joining the youth team in 2003 before making his first-team debut in 2005. During his two-year tenure in Portugal, Nani won only one trophy: the [[Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] in the 2006–07 season. Before the 2007–08 season, Nani's performances attracted the attention of Manchester United, who eventually secured his services in July 2007. He gained first-team status almost immediately and has since won the [[Premier League]] twice, the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League]] and the [[2008–09 Football League Cup]].
Nani began his career with [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]], joining the youth team in 2003 before making his first-team debut in 2005. During his two-year tenure in Portugal, Nani won only one trophy: the [[Taça de Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] in the 2006–07 season. Before the 2007–08 season, Nani's performances attracted the attention of Manchester United, who eventually secured his services in July 2007. He gained first-team status almost immediately and has since won the [[Premier League]] twice, the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League]] and the [[2008–09 Football League Cup]].

Revision as of 22:10, 8 February 2010

This article is about the Portuguese footballer. For the technical director at West Ham United, see Gianluca Nani.
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Almeida and the second or paternal family name is Cunha.
Nani
Personal information
Full name Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 17
Youth career
2000–2003 Real de Massamá
2003–2005 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Sporting CP 58 (9)
2007– Manchester United 51 (5)
International career‡
2006– Portugal U21 10 (1)
2006– Portugal 33 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:44, 21 October 2009 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:44, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986), commonly known as Nani and LN17, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger for English side Manchester United and the Portugal national team.

Nani began his career with Sporting CP, joining the youth team in 2003 before making his first-team debut in 2005. During his two-year tenure in Portugal, Nani won only one trophy: the Portuguese Cup in the 2006–07 season. Before the 2007–08 season, Nani's performances attracted the attention of Manchester United, who eventually secured his services in July 2007. He gained first-team status almost immediately and has since won the Premier League twice, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and the 2008–09 Football League Cup.

Nani made his Portugal debut in 2006, scoring his first goal in the process, and has since established himself as a key member for them. He heavily featured during Euro 2008 and throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification process.

Early life

Born in Praia, Cape Verde, Nani emigrated with his family to Portugal at an early age. He was raised by his aunt Antonia in the Amadora district of Lisbon,[1] where he and childhood friend, midfielder Manuel Fernandes, would often kick a ball about together.[2]

Career

Early career

Nani grew up supporting Porto and played junior football alongside Ricardo Vaz Tê at Massamá youth club Real Sport Clube,[3] before joining the youth squad of Sporting CP.[1]

Sporting CP

Nani made his debut for Sporting in 2005–06, making 29 appearances and scoring four goals. In his second season, he had similar numbers with 29 appearances and five goals. He also played in six European games, scoring once.

Manchester United

Nani was sold to Manchester United for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £14–17 million,[4][5] five percent of which was paid to Real de Massamá.[6] He passed his medical on 6 June 2007,[7] and signed a five-year contract a month later, joining Portugal team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at the club.[8]

Nani scored on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Shenzhen, netting the third in a 6–0 win.[9] He also scored in the following game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical with a chip off the right post from the left side of the penalty area in a 3–0 win.[10]

On 5 August 2007, Nani made his competitive debut for United, coming on as a substitute in the Community Shield against Chelsea. He marked his debut with a trophy after the Red Devils won 3–0 on penalties, following a 1–1 draw during normal time.[11] This was followed up by Nani's third goal for the club three days later, when he scored against Glentoran in another 3–0 pre-season win.[12]

Nani with Gilberto Silva

Nani's Premier League debut came in United's opening match at home to Reading on 12 August as a substitute for Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury.[13] On 26 August 2007, Nani scored his first competitive goal for Manchester United, scoring a 30-yard winner in the 69th minute against Tottenham Hotspur. Nani also set up crucial goals for Louis Saha and Nemanja Vidić allowing United to beat both Sunderland and Everton 1–0.[14][15] He also scored with a stunning strike against Middlesbrough, which set the ball rolling to a 4–1 win. It was the first game in which it was thought that Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez showed the first real promise of forming a good strike partnership. He returned to his previous club, Sporting, in a Champions League tie in September, though it was team-mate and fellow former Sporting man Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the limelight by scoring the winner in a 1–0 win.[16]

Nani playing for United in 2008

On 16 February 2008, Nani put in a man of the match performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup Fourth Round, his goal and two assists helping United to a 4–0 win over their rivals. During the match, Nani was involved in an altercation with Arsenal captain William Gallas who felt that the Portuguese was "showboating".[17] After the match, Arsène Wenger was equally displeased, while Gilberto Silva said that Nani had a "big head".[18]

On 23 March 2008, Nani set up the second and scored the final goal in a 3–0 victory over rivals Liverpool, in the 79th and 81st minutes respectively, after coming onto the pitch as a substitute.[19]

On 3 May, towards the end of a 4–1 win over West Ham United, Nani was sent off for the first time in his Manchester United career for a headbutt on West Ham defender Lucas Neill.[20]

On 21 May, Nani came on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final as United defeated Chelsea 6–5 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time. Nani took and scored Manchester United's crucial fifth penalty in the shootout.[21]

Nani scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season on 23 September 2008, scoring United's third goal in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough in the last minute to secure passage to the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup.[22] On 18 October, he scored from a Wayne Rooney assist to complete the 4–0 rout of West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.[23] On 20 January 2009, he opened the scoring for United in their 4–2 win at home to Derby County in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final.[24]

Nani opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the 2009 FA Community Shield, but United eventually lost the match on penalties after a 2–2 draw. Nani suffered a dislocated shoulder during the match, which was originally expected to keep him out of the start of the season,[25] but he recovered in time to play 17 minutes for Portugal against Liechtenstein on 12 August,[26] and started the match against Birmingham City on 16 August. Although he provided the assist for Wayne Rooney's winning goal in the 34th minute, Nani was replaced by Ryan Giggs at half-time.[27] With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, there would be many wanting to take over free-kick duties and Nani put his mark down as first choice as he scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season from a free-kick against Wigan Athletic, scoring the final goal of a 5–0 away win.[28]

International career

Nani was the youngest member of the Portugal U-21 squad at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior Portuguese team on 1 September 2006, and marked his debut with a goal in Portugal's 4–2 friendly defeat against Denmark.[2]

Nani was a regular member of the Portuguese squad in qualification for UEFA Euro 2008, and scored one of the goals in the 2–1 away win over Belgium on 2 June 2007.[29] He also provided the assist for Ricardo Quaresma's goal in a friendly against Italy on 6 February 2008.[30] Nani's form for Manchester United during the 2007–08 season ultimately earned him a call-up to Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad for Euro 2008, alongside club team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. He was only used sparingly during the campaign, but did manage to provide the assist for Hélder Postiga's goal during a 15-minute cameo in the quarter-finals against Germany on 19 June 2008. Portugal eventually lost the match 3–2.[31]

Nani was influential in helping Portugal reach the 2010 Word Cup in South Africa thanks to his man of the match performance against Malta in which he opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a low, left footed volley and setting up the third goal for Portugal defender Miguel Veloso.[32]

Nani was also influential in the 2010 World Cup playoff against Bosnia & Herzegovina: in the first leg sending in a pin-point cross to which Bruno Alves got his head to, giving the Portuguese the advantage going into the second leg away in Bosnia.[33] Nani again set up the goal, sending a clever pass to the feet of Raúl Meireles who slotted it into the bottom left hand corner. Portugal won 2–0.[34]

Celebration

Nani celebrates with a mortal (English: Leap of death), similar to that of Obafemi Martins and Lomana LuaLua. The celebration derives from Nani's background in capoeira, which he used to practise as a child. For a while, it was widely reported that United boss, Alex Ferguson, had banned Nani's celebration, fearing for his safety,[35] although this was never supported by any direct quotes from Ferguson or Nani. Nani decided to set the record straight; "That is not true", he said. "Ferguson has never spoken to me about this subject and I am going to continue to celebrate goals in this way. The conversations he has had with me are normal conversations, like he has with all players".[36]

Career statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[37] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting CP 2005–06 29 4 3 1 – 0 0 0 0 32 5
2006–07 29 5 0 0 – 6 1 0 0 35 6
Total 58 9 3 1 – 6 1 0 0 67 11
Manchester United 2007–08 26 3 2 1 1 0 11 0 1 0 41 4
2008–09 13 1 2 2 6 3 7 0 3 0 31 6
2009–10 12 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 1 1 19 2
Total 51 5 4 3 9 3 22 0 5 1 91 12
Career total 109 14 7 4 9 3 28 1 5 1 158 23

Statistics accurate as of match played 6 February 2010[38]

Honours

Club

Sporting CP
Manchester United

References

  1. ^ a b Worden, Tom (17 June 2007). "Slums nurtured Nani". sundaymirror.co.uk. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 17 June 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Henderson, Charlie (31 May 2007). "Who are Anderson & Nani?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  3. ^ Mills, Steve (1 June 2007). "Get to know... Nani". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  4. ^ Anstead, Mike (26 June 2007). "Nani will be a big star". Sun Online. News Group Newspapers. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  5. ^ Winter, Henry (14 June 2007). "Nani shows United's £17m is well spent". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  6. ^ Gouveia, Ricardo (19 July 2007). "Real Massamá ainda não recebeu os cinco por cento de Nani" (in Portuguese). Maisfutebol. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  7. ^ Hibbs, Ben (6 June 2007). "Nani passes Reds medical". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
  8. ^ Bartram, Steve (2 July 2007). "Reds complete triple signing". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  9. ^ Coppack, Nick (23 July 2007). "Shenzhen 0 United 6". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  10. ^ Coppack, Nick (27 July 2007). "Guangzhou 0 United 3". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
  11. ^ Coppack, Nick (5 August 2007). "Report: Reds Lift Community Shield". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  12. ^ Hibbs, Ben (8 August 2007). "Glentoran 0 United 3". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
  13. ^ Bartram, Steve (12 August 2007). "Report: United 0 Reading 0". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 August 2007.
  14. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (1 September 2007). "Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  15. ^ McNulty, Phil (15 September 2007). "Everton 0-1 Man Utd". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  16. ^ Bartram, Steve (19 September 2007). "Report: Sporting 0 United 1". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  17. ^ Poll, Graham (22 February 2008). "Graham Poll: The Official Line - Nani must learn rules of respect". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  18. ^ Kay, Oliver (18 February 2008). "Arsene Wenger 'humiliated' by Nani juggling act". Times Online. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  19. ^ Bostock, Adam (23 March 2008). "Report: United 3 Liverpool 0". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 23 March 2008.
  20. ^ McNulty, Phil (3 May 2008). "Man Utd 4-1 West Ham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  21. ^ McNulty, Phil (21 May 2008). "Man Utd earn dramatic Euro glory". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  22. ^ "Man Utd 3-1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  23. ^ Whyatt, Chris (18 October 2008). "Man Utd 4-0 West Brom". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  24. ^ Bevan, Chris (20 January 2009). "Man Utd 4-2 Derby (4-3 agg)". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  25. ^ "Man Utd suffer Nani injury blow". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  26. ^ Coppack, Nick (13 August 2009). "Nani returns for Portugal". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  27. ^ Soneji, Pranav (16 August 2009). "Man Utd 1-0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  28. ^ Bevan, Chris (22 August 2009). "Wigan 0-5 Man Utd". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  29. ^ "Postiga keeps Portugal pressing". euro2008.com. Union of European Football Associations. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  30. ^ "Italy 3-1 Portugal: Rampant Azzurri looking good". ESPNsoccernet. ESPN Internet Ventures. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  31. ^ Hart, Simon (19 June 2008). "Portugal ousted by German power show". euro2008.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  32. ^ Mira, Luís. "Portugal Thrash Sorry Malta", Goal.net, 6 September 2009 Retrieved on 22 January 2010.
  33. ^ "Alves goal gives Portugal advantage", ESPN Soccernet, 14 November 2009. Retrieved on 22 January 2010.
  34. ^ "Portugal seal South Africa berth", FIFA.com, 18 November 2009. Retrieved on 2010-01-22.
  35. ^ McDonnell, David (27 July 2007). "Fergie bans Nani's celebration". Mirror.co.uk. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  36. ^ McDonnell, David (23 August 2007). "Nani feels settled at United". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
  37. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  38. ^ Endlar, Andrew. "Nani". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
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