Template:Short description Template:For multi Template:Portuguese name Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro Template:Post-nominals (born 11 November 1977), known as Maniche ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

He played top-flight football in Portugal, Russia, England, Spain, Italy and Germany, and in 2004 he helped Porto to the Champions League, one of eight trophies won with that club. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 177 matches and 31 goals in seven seasons.

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 careerEdit

Benfica and PortoEdit

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 was initially deployed as a winger.<ref name=MIDDLE>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following disciplinary problems at Benfica,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Maniche was signed by José Mourinho for FC Porto. The manager made him a key member of his sides, reconverting him to central midfielder.<ref name=MIDDLE/>

Maniche enjoyed a successful period at Porto, winning both the UEFA Cup in 2003<ref name=UC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the UEFA Champions League in 2004<ref name=UCL>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and contributing 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.<ref name=RSSSF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Dynamo and ChelseaEdit

Maniche was sold to FC Dynamo Moscow in May 2005, for 16 million;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he left in January 2006 on loan to Premier League side Chelsea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 4–1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Atlético MadridEdit

Maniche was signed by Atlético Madrid in late August 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Partnering his compatriots Costinha and Zé Castro, he scored four goals in 28 La Liga matches in his first season in a seventh-place finish.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following a run-in with Atlético coach, Javier Aguirre,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Maniche was cut from the squad, and agreed to join Inter Milan on a January loan, running for the second part of 2007–08.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Splitting time between the bench and the starting eleven in eight Serie A appearances, he managed to score one goal, in a 1–2 home defeat to Juventus FC on 22 March, also hitting the post in stoppage time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In July 2008, Maniche returned to Atlético Madrid, playing a major part in the Colchoneros' early season as they 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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."

File:Maniche cologne.jpg
Maniche in action for 1. FC Köln in 2009

Maniche was released on 6 May 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1. FC KölnEdit

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored the first of his three goals on 27 October, closing the 3–0 away victory over SV Eintracht Trier 05 in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Return to PortugalEdit

Maniche left after only one season in Germany, and on 16 June 2010 he 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Frequently injured during his spell with the Lions and vastly underperforming,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>– on 6 July 2011;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 F.C. Paços de Ferreira after his former Porto and international teammate Costinha was hired as the manager.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Three years later, he was hired in the same role alongside the same boss at Segunda Liga side Académica de Coimbra, but left four months later for personal reasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International careerEdit

File:Portugal 2-3 Denmark, Maniche.jpg
Maniche playing for Portugal in 2009

Maniche made his debut for the Portugal national team on 29 March 2003, in a 2–1 friendly win over Brazil.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was a key element in the country's runner-up run at UEFA Euro 2004, scoring in a 2–0 group stage defeat of Russia<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and adding another in the semi-finals against the Netherlands, which ended in a 2–1 victory;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he was subsequently selected for the Team of the Tournament.<ref name=TOT>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 21 June 2006, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal played Mexico in the final group fixture. Maniche netted in the sixth minute in an eventual 2–1 win that sealed the group win.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Four days later, in the round of 16, as the national side faced the Netherlands once again, he scored the only goal of the game,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was the only Portuguese player to feature on Adidas' Golden Ball shortlist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 playEdit

Known for his teamwork, stamina and powerful shot, Maniche received his nickname after Benfica's 1980s Danish forward Michael Manniche.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

Jorge Ribeiro, Maniche's younger brother, was also a footballer. Mainly a left midfielder, he also represented Benfica amongst many other clubs, and the two were teammates at Dynamo Moscow.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statisticsEdit

ClubEdit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>Template:Soccerway</ref><ref name=Bio/>
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 2Template:Efn 0 50 11
2004–05 20 3 0 0 8 0 2Template:Efn 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 7Template:Efn 0 22 2
Total 43 6 2 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 52 6
Inter Milan 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

Template:Notelist

InternationalEdit

citation
CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

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.<ref name=EU/>
Template:Ig matchTemplate:Ig matchTemplate:Ig matchTemplate:Ig matchTemplate:Ig matchTemplate:Ig matchTemplate:Ig match
List of international goals scored by Maniche
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition

HonoursEdit

Porto

Inter Milan

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Portugal

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Individual

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Orders

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project

Template:Navboxes Template:Navboxes