Manucho

This article is about the Angolan footballer. For other people, see Manucho (nickname).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Contreiras and the second or paternal family name is Gonçalves.

Manucho
Manucho playing for Real Valladolid in 2010
Personal information
Full name Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves
Date of birth (1983-03-07) 7 March 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Luanda, Angola
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1997–1999 Flaminguinhos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Benfica de Luanda 12 (5)
2002–2008 Petro Atlético 78 (34)
2008–2009 Manchester United 1 (0)
2008 → Panathinaikos (loan) 10 (4)
2009 → Hull City (loan) 13 (2)
2009–2014 Valladolid 98 (19)
2010 → Bucaspor (loan) 12 (2)
2011 → Manisaspor (loan) 9 (0)
2014–2018 Rayo Vallecano 112 (14)
2018–2019 Cornellà 16 (1)
Total 361 (81)
International career
2006–2017 Angola 53 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

Manucho moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008.[1][2][3] 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.[4] Manucho received a work permit soon after returning to Manchester United for pre-season training in July 2008,[5] 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.[6] 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 Cups of Nations.

During his career, he had many nicknames, given by his fans, but the one that remains most famous and by which he is still known is "El Ciola", given to him by Real Valladolid fans in 2009.

  1. ^ "Man Utd to sign striker Manucho". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2007.
  2. ^ "Boss reveals new signing". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Fergie reveals surprise deal". skysports.com. British Sky Broadcasting. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Manucho set for Greek loan move". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Manucho given Man Utd go-ahead". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Hull snap up Manucho from Man Utd". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.