Nani
Nani in the 2012 European Football Championship
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha ( born November 17, 1986 in Praia, Cape Verde), known as Nani, is a Portuguese footballer of Cape Verdean descent.
Career
Association
Since 2005, Nani was the senior squad of Sporting Lisbon under contract. Previously, he played in the youth department of the Portuguese capital club. For the season 2005/ 06 he made his debut in the Super League. Already in his first professional season, the offensive players came to 29 missions where he scored his first four matches for Sporting. The following year he was able to achieve with the green and white his first success. In the final of the Taça de Portugal, Nani's team prevailed with a 1-0 win over Belenenses Lisbon.
For the season 2007/ 08 changed the 1.75 m wide right-footed from Sporting Lisbon, where he actually still had a contract until 2009, the Champions League winners Manchester United. There, the young rider was given a contract until 2012. Exchange for his new employer paid about € 20 million, although the exact transfer fee is not known. At the beginning of his time in Manchester, he lived with his national team and new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. On August 12, 2007, he celebrated his debut against Reading FC in the Premier League when he came off the bench for the second half for Wayne Rooney. A week earlier he could celebrate with ManUnited against Chelsea in the Community Shield his first title with the Red Devils. After a 1-1 team won 3-0 on penalties. In his first season at Manchester United, he won both the Champions League and the Premier League. The Premier League win was repeated in the following season.
In the 2009/10 season he was able to fight for a regular place at Manchester United and extended his contract until 2014. Doing so they achieved him a total of four goals, his best year yield in the dress of the club, he also was the best assist provider of the association. When winning the British Supercup 7 August 2011 Nani contributed two hits for the 3-2 victory of his team in against city rivals Manchester City.
After another successful season Nani extended his contract at Manchester United until 2018.
National
Nani was between 2006 and 2009 U -21 national team for Portugal. Also in 2006 he played his first international match for the Portuguese national team and was used in the subsequent period as a reserve player. On his debut he came on 1 September in a friendly at the 2:4 defeat against Denmark. Thus his first goal for Portugal's selection - In the same game he succeeded the interim 2-2 equalizer. Since 2008 he has been a regular in the national team. At the World Championship 2008 he came with Portugal to the quarter- finals, where the team was eliminated against Germany. He prepared the 2:3 ago by Helder Postiga. He played the entire group stage match against Switzerland, and was in each case a substitute against the Czech Republic and Turkey. At the World Championship, he retired with Portugal in the semi-final 4-2 on penalties to Spain from.
In May 2010, Nani has been nominated in the squad for the World Cup 2010. However, three days before the Games begin, on 8 June 2010, he injured his shoulder and had to cancel his participation in the World Cup.
Trivia
In his youth, Nani Capoeira practiced what his goal celebration was at times marked. In the meantime, it was discussed that this jubilation he was forbidden from Manchester manager Alex Ferguson, as he feared that his offensive players could hurt. Nani, however, did not confirm this assumption.
Achievements
- Taça de Portugal: 2007
- FA Premier League: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
- UEFA Champions League: 2008
- Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
- League Cup: 2009, 2010
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2008