Fernando Meira
Fernando Meira [ fɯɾnɐðu mɐiɾɐ ] ( born June 5, 1978 in Guimarães; actually Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira ) is a former Portuguese football player.
- 3.1 club
- 3.2 national team
Club career
In Portugal
The Defensive Allrounder began his career in his hometown at Vitória Guimarães and received also his first professional contract. In the 1998/1999 season he was loaned to FC Felgueiras, but returned early as the following season to Vitória Guimarães and was subsequently captain of the team.
At the beginning of the 2000/01 season Meira moved to Benfica, where he was also promoted to captain.
VfB Stuttgart
Since January 2002 he stood at 7.5 million euros, as to date the most expensive transfer in the club's history at VfB Stuttgart under contract, but this item lost in the summer of 2007, Ciprian Marica, which cost eight million euros. With the VfB moved Meira 2003 and 2007 in the Champions League. Here, he underwent an own goal against Chelsea (0:1; 0:0 ), whereby the VfB retired from the competition.
In March 2006, he extended his original contract early to 2007 to 2010. Prior to the 2006/07 season Meira was captain of VfB Stuttgart.
In his first season as captain of VfB he was presented with the championship trophy by Guido Buchwald after winning the German championship, the still himself took the trophy in 1992 as VfB captain in reception. It was the first title in Meiras career.
Before the season 2008/ 09 Fernando Meira was deposed by coach Armin Veh as team captain. On 18 July 2008 announced manager Horst Heldt that Meira will leave VfB Stuttgart.
Galatasaray
Meira signed on 22 July 2008 contract with Galatasaray Istanbul is dated to 30 June 2012. His first success with his new team, he celebrated winning the Turkish Super Cup on August 17, 2008 against Kayserispor.
Zenit St Petersburg
On 10 March 2009 Meira moved for the release of 6 million euros to Zenit St Petersburg. A year later, the club engaged but Bruno Alves Meira and lost his place in the starting XI.
Real Zaragoza
In summer 2011, Meira joined the La Liga to Real Zaragoza. On February 1, 2012 Fernando Meira broke his contract with Zaragoza on. Reasons ongoing injury problems and thus a concomitant lack of fitness were called.
Career in the national team
Meira 's national team since 2000. For the World Cup 2002, he has not yet taken into account. But since the new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach of the Portuguese national football team has taken over in 2003, Meira comes to regular operations, but was not nominated for the 2004 European Championship in the home country. It was only at the 2006 World Cup, he was part of the squad and played his first major tournament for Portugal. The team pushed on to the semifinals, but retired there from against France. Meira played in all seven games for his team. For the 2008 European Championship in Switzerland and Austria, he was also nominated, but was in contrast to previous tournaments only as a substitute for use.
Achievements
Association
- German Champion 2007 with VfB Stuttgart
- DFB Pokal Finale 2007 with VfB Stuttgart
- Turkish Super Cup Winner 2008, Galatasaray Istanbul
National
- 4th place with Portugal at the World Cup in Germany
Family
Meira is married and has two children.