Nani
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Nani
 |
| Personal information |
| Full name | Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha[1][2] |
| Date of birth | 17 November 1986 (1986-11-17) (age 24)[1] |
| Place of birth | Praia, Cape Verde[1] |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[3][4] |
| Playing position | Winger |
| Club information |
| Current club | Manchester United |
| Number | 17 |
| Youth career |
| 2000–2003 | Real Massamá[5] |
| 2003–2005 | Sporting CP[5] |
| Senior career* |
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2007 | Sporting CP | 58 | (9) |
| 2007– | Manchester United | 95 | (17) |
| National team‡ |
| 2006–2007 | Portugal U21 | 10 | (1) |
| 2006– | Portugal | 46 | (9) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 May 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 June 2011 |
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986), commonly known as
Nani, is a
Portuguese footballer currently playing as a
winger for English club
Manchester United in the
Premier League and the
Portugal national team. Although predominantly right-footed, he has been utilised on the left-wing on many occasions and was compared to compatriot
Cristiano Ronaldo during his move to
England.
Nani was born in
Cape Verde and emigrated to Europe with his family at an early age. He was raised in Portugal and began his football career playing for local side
Real Massamá. At the age of 16, he began training with
Sporting CP and
Benfica on alternate days, eventually joining Sporting's youth squad after they offered him pre-season training. In 2005, he made his professional debut with the club and won the
Portuguese Cup during his second season with them. Nani was named the
SJPF Young Player of the Month for May 2007 and his performances with Sporting culminated into a move to English club side
Manchester United in July 2007 for a fee of €25.5 million. Nani won the
Community Shield on his competitive debut at the club and has since added a number of trophies which included the
Premier League and
Champions League during his debut season at the club. He has established himself as first-choice winger at Manchester United and has won a further Premier League title, the
Football League Cup, one
FIFA Club World Cup, and two
Community Shield titles. Individually, Nani has been included into the
Professional Footballers' Association (PFA)
Premier League Team of the Year on one occasion and was a nominee for the
PFA Young Player of the Year in 2011.
Nani is also a
Portugal international. Prior to playing at senior level, he played at
under-21 level. He made his senior international debut in Portugal debut in September 2006 in a
friendly match against
Denmark and scored his first international goal during the 4–2 defeat in
Copenhagen. Since his debut, he has made 45 appearances and scored 9 goals for Portugal.
[edit] Early life
Nani was born on 17 November 1986 in
Praia,
Cape Verde, off the
west coast of
Africa.
[6] Nani emigrated with his family to
Portugal at an early age. Nani was raised by his aunt Antonia in the Santa Filomena estate in the
Amadora district of
Lisbon after being abandoned by his parents.
[7] At the age of five, his father left for a holiday in Cape Verde but never returned and when he was 12 years old his mother left Portugal to start a new life in
Holland.
[7] Nani has eight siblings from his mother, of which he is the youngest, and five from his father.
[8] Nani gained his nickname from an elder sister at a young age.
[9]
Nani's older brother taught him how to play football and he played with his childhood friend, midfielder
Manuel Fernandes.
[6][8] Around the age of 14, Nani's older brother took him to train with
Real Massamá.
[9] They were Nani's first club and gave him money, food, and helped him obtain an ID Card and a passport.
[8] At the age of 16, Nani was training on alternate days with
Sporting and
Benfica.
[9] Nani sometimes walked miles to and from practice before Sporting offered him pre-season training.
[9] Despite growing up in Lisbon, Nani and his brother supported
Porto as a boy and his footballing hero was
Luis Figo.
[7][10]
[edit] Club career
[edit] Sporting CP
Nani joined
Sporting CP from his first club
Real Massamá.
[7] After two seasons in the youth team, where he won the National Junior Championship in 2004–05, Nani was promoted to the first team early in the 2005–06 season.
[11] On 10 August 2005, Nani made his Sporting debut, coming on as a substitute for
Custódio in the 73rd minute in a 1–0 home defeat to
Udinese in their
third-round qualifier in the
UEFA Champions League.
[11][12] Nani made his
Portuguese Liga debut on 28 August,
[11] replacing
Deivid in the 76th minute of a 2–1 victory over
Marítimo at the
Estádio dos Barreiros.
[13] Nani scored his first Sporting goal on 30 October, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw away to
Boavista.
[14] Nani ended the first season of his career with 36 appearances and five goals in all competitions.
[15]
Nani first came into the spotlight after scoring in the Champions League against
Spartak Moscow,
[16] netting Sporting's goal in a 1–1
group stage tie on 27 September 2006.
[17] Nani helped Sporting win the
2006–07 Portuguese Cup,
[16] lifting the trophy after a 1–0 win over
Belenenses on 27 May 2007 in the
final.
[18] Nani was then named as the SJPF Young Player of the Month for
May 2007.
[19] Nani's second season with Sporting ended with similar league statistics and 40 appearances and six goals in all competitions.
[20]
[edit] Manchester United
[edit] Early years
Nani was sold to
Manchester United for €25.5 million,
[21][22] five percent of which was paid to Real de Massamá.
[23] He passed his medical on 6 June 2007,
[24] and signed a five-year contract a month later, joining Portugal team-mate
Cristiano Ronaldo—with whom he lived for a time at the start of his Manchester United career—at the club.
[25][26]
Nani scored on his debut in a pre-season friendly against
Shenzhen, netting the third in a 6–0 win.
[27] 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.
[28] 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 they won 3–0 on
penalties, following a 1–1 draw during normal time.
[29] 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.
[30]
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.
[31] Two weeks later, on 26 August, Nani scored his first competitive goal for United, netting 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.
[32][33] 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 scored the winner in a 1–0 victory.
[34] Nani opened the scoring in a 4–1 home victory over
Middlesbrough on 27 October.
[35]
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".
[36] After the match,
Arsène Wenger was equally displeased, while
Gilberto Silva said that Nani had a "big head".
[37] On 23 March, 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.
[38] 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 United career for a
headbutt on West Ham defender
Lucas Neill.
[39] 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.
[40]
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.
[41] On 18 October, he scored from a Wayne Rooney assist to complete the 4–0 rout of
West Bromwich Albion at
Old Trafford.
[42] 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.
[43]
[edit] Breakthrough
After
Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to
Real Madrid in the 2009 close season, the weight of expectation was on Nani to step up from
bit part player and replace his fellow Portuguese.
[44] Nani's first contribution to United's
new season was opening 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.
[45] He recovered in time to play 17 minutes for Portugal against
Liechtenstein on 12 August, however,
[46] and started the match against
Birmingham City on 16 August. Although he provided the assist for Rooney's winning goal in the 34th minute, Nani was replaced by
Ryan Giggs at half-time.
[47] On 22 August, Nani scored his first league goal of the
2009–10 season, netting a free-kick against
Wigan Athletic in a 5–0 away win.
[48]
Following several poor performances, Nani criticised
Sir Alex Ferguson and his man management tactics.
[49] Despite this outburst Nani was given a chance to shine and provided an assist for Rooney in the 4–0 league win over
Hull City.
[50] Soon after this positive display he put in another good performance in their
League Cup semi-final victory over
derby rivals
Manchester City, revealing a heart-to-heart with Sir Alex Ferguson had resulted in a better display of form.
[51] On 31 January 2010, Nani scored the first goal and set up Rooney's 100th career Premier League strike in a 3–1 league victory over
Arsenal at the
Emirates Stadium.
[52] Nani's goal was first thought of as a
Manuel Almunia own-goal by many sources, but was confirmed as belonging to Nani on 26 March by the
Dubious Goals Panel.
[53][54] Following this performance, Nani then set up the second of a 5–0 home win over
Portsmouth.
[55]
"Maturity is why we're seeing the best of him now, his last three games have been absolutely first class but today was his best."
Just four days later, however, he was sent off for a lunge at
Stiliyan Petrov against
Aston Villa, which resulted in a three match ban and ruled him out of the
League Cup final.
[57] On 10 March, Nani set up Rooney's second in a 4–0 win over
Milan,
[58] before providing another assist for Rooney four days later in the 3–0 league victory over
Fulham.
[59]
On 26 March, Nani signed a new four-year contract with United, committing himself until 2014.
[60] A day later, Nani took his assist tally in the league for the season to nine as he set up two goals in a 4–0 win over
Bolton at the
Reebok Stadium, providing goals for
Dimitar Berbatov and
Darron Gibson.
[61] On 7 April, Nani scored his first ever
European goals for United, netting two strikes in a 3–2 victory over
Bayern Munich. Despite United winning the game, they were eliminated from the competition due to the
away goals rule when the aggregate score was 4–4.
[62] On 24 April, Nani scored his first league goal at Old Trafford for 18 months, netting United's second in a 3–1 home victory over
Tottenham Hotspur.
[63] On 2 May, Nani scored for the second game in a row, netting the only goal in a 1–0 away victory over
Sunderland.
[64] Nani's third season with Manchester United ended with 34 appearances and seven goals in all competitions.
[65]
[edit] 2010–11 season
On 22 August 2010, Nani missed a penalty in the 87th minute away to Fulham, and they then equalised two minutes later through
Brede Hangeland to end the game 2–2.
[66] Six days later in a 3–0 home victory over West Ham United, Nani netted his first goal of the season and assisted
Dimitar Berbatov in a Man of the Match display.
[67] Nani scored and assisted
Michael Owen in a 2–2 away draw away to
Bolton Wanderers on 26 September.
[68] On 16 October, Nani scored United's second in a 2–2 home draw against West Bromwich Albion.
[69] Four days later Nani scored his first Champions League goal of the season, netting the solitary strike in a 1–0 home victory over
Bursaspor.
[70] Nani scored a controversial second goal as United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 at home on 30 October.
[71] Nani scored into an empty net after Tottenham goalkeeper
Heurelho Gomes rolled the ball out to take a free-kick that he thought had been given for handball, however, play was allowed to go on as referee
Mark Clattenburg did not blow his whistle.
[72] On 27 November, Nani scored United's fifth goal in a 7–1 home win over
Blackburn Rovers.
[73] Nani netted his first goal of 2011 as he scored the winning strike in a 2–1 home victory over
Stoke City on 4 January.
[74]
On 22 January, Nani scored the final goal of a 5–0 home victory over Birmingham City.
[75] Nani netted United's only goal in their first league loss of the season, a 2–1 defeat at
Wolves on 5 February.
[76] Seven days later Nani scored his first
Manchester derby goal, opening the scoring in a 2–1 home victory over
Manchester City.
[77] On 6 March, during United's 3–1 loss against Liverpool at
Anfield, Nani was stretchered off the field following a challenge from
Jamie Carragher just before half-time.
[78] It was thought that Nani would miss up to three weeks as a result of this tackle and would return in April,
[79] however, he recovered in time to play 61 minutes of a 2–1 victory over
Marseille on 15 March.
[80] He was revealed as a contender for the
Professional Footballers' Association (PFA)
Young Player of the Year award alongside teammate
Javier Hernández on 8 April.
[81] However, many people, including Nani, expressed their surprise that he was not nominated for the
main award.
[82][83] Following this nomination, he assisted both goals in a 2–0 home win over Fulham on 9 April.
[84] Nani lost out to
Jack Wilshere for the PFA Young Player of the Year award on 18 April but he was however included into the
PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the first time.
[85] He was awarded for his outstanding season as he was voted Players' Player of the Year at the club's awards night on 18 May.
[86]
[edit] International career
[edit] Portugal under–21
Nani was the youngest member of the
Portugal squad at the
2006 UEFA Under-21 Championship, making his debut on 23 May 2006 in a 0–1 defeat to
France U21.
[87] He appeared in all three games, scoring no goals, before Portugal bowed out in group stages.
[88] During the
2007 European Under-21 Football Championship, he made four appearances,
[89] scoring one goal in a 4–0 victory against
Israel U21 in a group stage match on 16 June 2007,
[90] and had to be taken off during the match after an right
ankle injury.
[91]
[edit] Portugal senior team
Nani in action for Portugal
Nani 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 to
Denmark.
[6] Nani was omitted from Portugal's 1-1 draw with
Armenia, but was recalled for Euro 2008 qualifiers against
Poland and
Serbia in September.
[92] He also provided the assist for
Ricardo Quaresma's goal in a friendly against
Italy on 6 February 2008.
[93] Nani was ruled out of Portugal's friendly with
Greece in March 2008 due to injury.
[94]
[edit] Euro 2008
Nani was a regular member of the Portuguese squad in
Euro 2008 qualification, and scored one of the goals in the 2–1 away win over
Belgium on 2 June 2007.
[95] Nani received a call-up to
Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad for
Euro 2008 alongside Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
[96] During the campaign Nani played three games and started just one,
[88] but did provide the assist for
Hélder Postiga's goal during a substitute appearance in the 3–2 quarter-final defeat to
Germany on 19 June.
[97]
[edit] Post Euro 2008–2010
Nani's fourth international goal came in Portugal's final friendly game before their
World Cup qualifying campaign started, a 5-0 victory over the
Faroe Islands on 20 August 2008.
[98] Nani scored the final goal of a 4–0 victory over
Malta as Portugal started qualification for the
2010 World Cup on 6 September.
[99] He opened the scoring in the 3-2 home loss against Denmark four days later.
[100] Nani helped Portugal book a
play-off place for the World Cup as he netted in the 4-0 home win over Malta on 14 October 2009.
[101] Nani was influential in the play-off against
Bosnia and Herzegovina, setting up
Bruno Alves for the only goal in the first leg.
[102] Raul Meireles' goal in the second-leg sealed Portugal's place at the World Cup in
South Africa.
[103] On 1 June 2010, Nani netted Portugal's third in a 3–1 victory over
Cameroon.
[104] Following that game Nani was named in
Carlos Queiroz 23-man squad for the tournament,
[105] However on 8 June, Nani was ruled out of the tournament through a shoulder injury and was replaced by Benfica midfielder
Ruben Amorim.
[106]
[edit] 2010–present
Nani scored twice in
Paulo Bento's first game in charge of Portgual in a 3–1
Euro 2012 qualifying win over Denmark on 8 October 2010.
[107]
[edit] International goals
[edit] Under–21
[edit] Senior team
| [show]# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 1 September 2006 | Brøndby Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark |  Denmark | 2–2 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2. | 2 June 2007 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium |  Belgium | 0–1 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2008 Qual. |
| 3. | 20 August 2008 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal |  Faroe Islands | 5–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 6 September 2008 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta |  Malta | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 5. | 10 September 2008 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal | Denmark | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 6. | 14 October 2009 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal | Malta | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qual. |
| 7. | 1 June 2010 | Complexo Desportivo da Covilhã, Covilhã, Portugal |  Cameroon | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 8. | 8 October 2010 | Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal | Denmark | 1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qual. |
| 9. | 2–0 |
[edit] Style of play
"Nani's got the potential to do what he wants. He's one of the sharpest players around, has a great strike with both feet - he's got the potential to be a top, top player."
In the early stages of his career at Manchester United, Nani often invited comparison in playing style and ability with club and international colleague Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom he often deputised at club level.
In Ronaldo's absence, however, Nani's style has developed into a more classical winger's style, able to play on both wings though more comfortable on the right, utilising pace, ball control and trickery to create space. While capable of cutting off both wings to strike at goal from distance, Nani has substantially fewer goals, yet a substantially higher proportion of assists than his former colleague.
[109]
[edit] 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 practice as a child.
[110] For a while, it was reported that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, had banned Nani's celebration due to fear for his safety.
[111] Nani denounced the reports in August 2007, stating that it was "not true" and that "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."
[112]
[edit] Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other[nb 1] | Total |
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sporting CP | 2005–06 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 1 | – | 2 | 0 | – | 36 | 5 |
| 2006–07 | 29 | 5 | 5 | 0 | – | 6 | 1 | – | 40 | 6 |
| Total | 58 | 9 | 10 | 1 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 76 | 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 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 7 |
| 2010–11 | 33 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 10 |
| Total | 95 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 37 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 154 | 27 |
| Career total | 153 | 26 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 45 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 230 | 38 |
Statistics accurate as of match played 22 May 2011[108][113]
[edit] International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Portugal | 2006 | 5 | 1 |
| 2007 | 7 | 1 |
| 2008 | 11 | 3 |
| 2009 | 11 | 1 |
| 2010 | 8 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 9 |
- As of 29 March 2011[114]
[edit] Honours
- Sporting CP
- Manchester United
[edit] Individual
