| Full name | Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 November 1986 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Praia, Cape Verde[1] | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2][3] | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986) is a Portuguese footballer, commonly known as Nani. He plays as a winger for English side Manchester United and the Portugal national team.
Nani began his career with Sporting CP, joining the youth team in 2003 before making his first-team debut in 2005. During his two-year tenure in Portugal, Nani won only one trophy: the Portuguese Cup in the 2006–07 season. Before the 2007–08 season, Nani's performances attracted the attention of Manchester United, who secured his services in July 2007. He gained first-team status almost immediately and has since won the Premier League twice, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, the 2008–09 League Cup, along with the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup and three Community Shields.
Nani made his Portugal debut in 2006, scoring his first goal in the process, and has since established himself as a key member for them. He was heavily featured during Euro 2008 and throughout the 2010 World Cup qualification process. Since his debut, Nani has made 41 appearances and scored 9 goals for Portugal. Though right-footed, he is known for his ability to come inside from the right wing and shoot with power and accuracy with his left foot.
Early life
Nani was born on 17 November 1986 in Praia, Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa.[5] 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.[6] 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.[6] Nani has eight siblings from his mother, of which he is the youngest, and five from his father.[7] Nani gained his nickname from an elder sister at a young age.[8] Nani's older brother taught him how to play football and he played with his childhood friend, midfielder Manuel Fernandes.[5][7] Around the age of 14, Nani's older brother took him to train with Real Massamá.[8] They were Nani's first club and gave him money, food, and helped him obtain an ID Card and a passport.[7] At the age of 16, Nani was training on alternate days with Sporting and Benfica.[8] Nani sometimes walked miles to and from practice before Sporting offered him pre-season training.[8] Despite growing up in Lisbon, Nani and his brother supported Porto as a boy and his footballing hero was Luís Figo.[6][9]Club career
Sporting CP
2005–06 and 2006-07 season
Nani joined Sporting CP from his first club Real Massamá.[6] 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.[10] 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.[10][11] Nani made his Portuguese Liga debut on 28 August,[10] replacing Deivid in the 76th minute of a 2–1 victory over Marítimo at the Estádio dos Barreiros.[12] Nani scored his first Sporting goal on 30 October, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw away to Boavista.[13] Nani ended the first season of his career with 36 appearances and five goals in all competitions.[14]Nani first came into the spotlight after scoring in the Champions League against Spartak Moscow,[15] netting Sporting's goal in a 1–1 group stage tie on 27 September 2006.[16] Nani helped Sporting win the 2006–07 Portuguese Cup,[15] lifting the trophy after a 1–0 win over Belenenses on 27 May 2007 in the final.[17] Nani was then named as the SJPF Young Player of the Month for May 2007.[18] Nani's second season with Sporting ended with similar league statistics and 40 appearances and six goals in all competitions.[19]
Manchester United
Early years
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
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 who stole the limelight by scoring the winner in a 1–0 victory.[34] Nani opened the scoring in a 4–1 home victory over Middlesbrough on 27 October.
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]
Breakthrough
Following several poor performances, Nani criticised Sir Alex Ferguson and his man management tactics.[48] 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.[49] 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.[50] 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.[51] 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.[52][53] Following this performance, Nani then set up the second of a 5–0 home win over Portsmouth
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.[56] On 10 March, Nani set up Rooney's second in a 4–0 win over Milan,[57] before providing another assist for Rooney four days later in the 3–0 league victory over Fulham.[58]
On 26 March, Nani signed a new four-year contract with United, committing himself until 2014.[59] 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.[60] 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.[61] 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.[62] On 2 May, Nani scored for the second game in a row, netting the only goal in a 1–0 away victory over Sunderland.[63] Nani's third season with Manchester United ended with 34 appearances and seven goals in all competitions.[64]
2010–11 season
International career
Portgual 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.[77] He appeared in all three games, scoring no goals, before Portugal bowed out in group stages.[78] During the 2007 European Under-21 Football Championship, he made four appearances,[79] scoring one goal in a 4–0 victory against Israel U21 in a group stage match on 16 June 2007,[80] and had to be taken off during the match after an right ankle injury.[81]Portugal senior team
Euro 2008
2010 World Cup qualification
Euro 2012 qualification
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 2010Style of play
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 colleague.[98]
Celebration
Honours
Club
- Sporting CP
- Taça de Portugal (1): 2006–07
- Manchester United
- Premier League (2): 2007–08, 2008–09
- Football League Cup (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
- FA Community Shield (3): 2007, 2008, 2010
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2007–08
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008
Individual
- Portuguese League Young Player of the Month (1): May 2007
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