Manucho

Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves (born 7 March 1983), commonly known as Manucho, is an Angolan former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Manucho moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008. Before playing a game for United, however, he was loaned out to Greek side Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to issues with obtaining a UK work permit. Manucho received a work permit soon after returning to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008, and made his debut for the club in the League Cup against Middlesbrough on 23 September 2008. Short of first team opportunities at Old Trafford, however, on 16 January 2009 he joined Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. Having failed to break into the Manchester United first team, Manucho joined Real Valladolid in July 2009.

He was also a member of the Angolan national team, representing them at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club career

Early career

Manucho began his football career at Flaminguinhos, a small youth football club from Terra Nova, Luanda, where he lived. Under the guidance of his coach and father, Alberto Gonçalves, Manucho plied his trade as a left winger, becoming one of the club's top stars.

Upon turning professional, Manucho signed for Benfica de Luanda, a mid-table club in the Angolan league. He then moved to Luanda-based side Petro Atlético, where he initially struggled to break into the team due to the presence of striker Flávio Amado. After Flávio joined Egyptian side Al Ahly, Manucho began to establish himself in the side, scoring 16 goals in 2006 and 15 in 2007.

Manchester United

On 21 December 2007, it was announced that Manucho had agreed to sign for English Premier League champions Manchester United. He joined the club in January 2008 on a three-year contract. Prior to the announcement, Manucho had been on a three-week trial with the Manchester club, during which he managed to impress United manager Sir Alex Ferguson enough to earn himself a contract.

Panathinaikos (loan)

On 31 January 2008, it was reported that Manucho was due to head out on loan to Greek team Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, due to complications obtaining a work permit, with a view to him gaining valuable first team experience. United manager Alex Ferguson announced on 1 February 2008 that Manucho had indeed been loaned out to Panathinaikos until the end of the season. The loan period began soon after Angola's elimination from the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations by Egypt.

Manucho scored on his league debut for Panathinaikos in a 2–0 home win over Larissa. Panathinaikos finished the Super League Greece 2007–08 season in third place, qualifying the team for a play-off for the remaining European places. Manucho scored three goals in this six-game mini tournament, helping Panathinaikos to top the play-off group and qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League.

Return to Manchester United

At the end of the 2007–08 season, Manucho returned to Manchester United for pre-season training and the club's summer tour of South Africa. However, he had picked up a suspected metatarsal injury and was unable to play a part in the pre-season programme. In August 2008, the club confirmed that they had re-applied for a work permit for Manucho so that he could play for them. On 28 August 2008, the ''Manchester Evening News'' reported that Manucho had received a work permit earlier that summer, which was confirmed on the official website. Manucho was handed the number 26 shirt for the 2008–09 season. Although it was claimed he was carrying an injury and would not feature, he made his competitive first team debut as a substitute on 23 September 2008 in a League Cup Third Round tie at home to Middlesbrough. The game ended 3–1 to Manchester United. Manucho made his Premier League debut for Manchester United on 15 November 2008, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Carlos Tevez in a home match against Stoke City. Ten minutes after coming on, Manucho was involved in the build-up to United's fourth goal by Danny Welbeck. On 18 December 2008, Manucho scored his first goal in a Manchester United shirt, heading home Magnus Eikrem's cross to earn United's reserve side a 1–1 draw against Everton in a Reserve League North match.

Hull City (loan)

Having found first team opportunities hard to come by at Manchester United, on 16 January 2009 Manucho agreed to join Hull City on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. He received a renewed work permit later that day and appeared as a substitute in a 3–1 home defeat by Arsenal on 17 January. On 4 March 2009, he scored his first Premier League goal, a last-minute winner for Hull City in a 1–0 away victory at Fulham.

Real Valladolid

After his loan spell with Hull, Manucho was deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United, and on 17 July 2009, the club agreed a deal with Real Valladolid for the player's transfer. He signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club and was presented as a Real Valladolid player on 20 July 2009. After joining Valladolid, Manucho promised to score forty goals in a season for the club; he scored five in his first season. On 13 September 2009, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 defeat against Valencia. Then he had to wait until 5 December 2009 for his next goal which earned them a vital point away to title challengers Sevilla.

Bucaspor (loan)

In summer 2010, Manucho signed with Bucaspor on a loan deal from Real Valladolid. He made his debut on 23 August at 0-0 against Kasımpaşa S.K. His next game on 28 August 2010, Manucho scored his first goal against Gençlerbirliği. On 22 November 2010, Manucho scored and provided an assist for Musa Aydın in a 5–2 loss against Turkish champion Fenerbahçe. Despite the loss, Manucho was the hero when he scored a winning goal against Fenerbahçe in a 3–2 win to send the club through to the Turkiye Kupasi on 21 December 2010. This match turned out to be last appearance for Bucaspor. Later, the agreement at the club has been terminated unilaterally over the circuit between the payment of claims.

Manisaspor (loan)

Manucho signed end of January 2011 with another Turkish team Manisaspor

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