Vieirinha
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adelino André Vieira Freitas | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | PAOK FC | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 August 2008 | |||
Adelino André Vieira Freitas (born January 24, 1986 in Guimarães), commonly known as Vieirinha (little Vieira), is a Portuguese footballer who currently plays as a winger at PAOK FC of the Greek first division, on loan from FC Porto.
Club career
Formed in the youth ranks of Vitória de Guimarães, Vieirinha caught the interest of F.C. Porto and eventually finished there his football grooming. After a loan at Portuguese second division's Futebol Clube do Marco, he joined the first team for 2006-07, being given a four-year professional contract.[1]
Vierinha played his first official game for Porto on 11 August 2007, in the Portuguese SuperCup against Vitória F.C., subbing in at the 70th minute, and scoring the game's last goal in the 89th, in a 3-0 final result.
Alongside teammates Diogo Valente and Paulo Machado, Vieirinha was loaned to league promotees Leixões S.C. for the 2007-08 campaign. All proved instrumental as the Matosinhos outfit retained its league status at the season's close.
Vieirinha then returned to Porto, being immediately loaned to PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece, which had expressed interest in the player as Fernando Santos was at the club's helm at the time. A season-long loan was eventually arranged, as Vieirinha teamed up with compatriot Sérgio Conceição. After only a few games, he picked up a serious leg injury in a derby against Aris FC, a 1-0 success. He returned to training during the January 2009 winter break, and came in as a substitute in a home game against OFI Crete, on the 4th, amid a warm applause by the fans.
International career
Vieirinha played for every youth level of the Portuguese national team, from under-17 to under-21. He displayed excellent performances in the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, where he won Player of the Tournament, finishing ahead of Spain's Cesc Fàbregas.
Honours
- UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship: 2003
- Portuguese SuperCup: 2006
- Portuguese League: 2006-07
References
External links
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