FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Named in homage to Benfica’s 1980s Danish star Michael Manniche, Portugal midfielder Maniche is now a mainstay of the international team and played in all 12 qualification matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.
He won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League, as well as two Portuguese league titles with Porto. Has now rejoined ex-Porto coach Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in the Premiership.

A key member of the Portugal side which reached the UEFA Euro 2004 final, Maniche played in all six matches, scoring in the semi-final against the Netherlands, along with the winner against Russia in the group phase.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

A versatile attack-minded midfield player, Maniche approached his game with renewed vigour after joining FC Porto and has susequently remained an impressive performer for club and country.

National team
Despite great displays for the Portuguese youth teams, it was not until 2003 that Maniche finally reached the senior national side, making his debut in a 2-1 friendly win against Brazil. Was on the fringes as UEFA EURO 2004™ approached, only for coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to reward him for his club form with a place in his final squad. Played all but three minutes of Portugal's campaign, Maniche weighed in with his first international goals against Russia and the Netherlands, the latter a stunning semi-final winner that was voted Goal of the Tournament, while he was selected for the All-Star Squad.

Club
A product of SL Benfica's youth system, Maniche graduated into the first-team squad in 1995/96 only to spend the next three seasons on loan at FC Alverca. He returned to Benfica in 1999/00 and played in their first team for three seasons, scoring 14 goals.

2001: An argument with the board of directors at the Estádio Da Luz stadium meant Maniche spent much of 2001/02 training on his own. Although Porto were eager to sign him, many believed that the dispute had broken the player's spirit. With his Benfica frustrations behind him, a brilliant 2002/03 campaign followed as Porto won the league championship, Portuguese Cup and UEFA Cup, Maniche playing all of the 3-2 victory against Celtic FC.

2003: Scored two fabulous goals in the Champions League quarter-final elimination of Olympique Lyonnais and was at his scheming best as another French side, AS Monaco FC, were beaten 3-0 in a one-sided final. Maniche also scored six goals as Porto retained the SuperLiga, picking up 13 bookings in the process.

2005/06: After signing for FC Dinamo Moskva in summer 2005, Maniche rejoined his former Porto coach José Mourinho at Chelsea FC, who took him on a six-month loan deal in January 2006.

Did you Know?
Nuno Ricardo Oliveira Ribeiro was nicknamed Maniche in honour of Benfica's Danish forward Michel Manniche.

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