DvA
Mar 21 2006, 05:59 PM
Manuel Fernandes
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With his neat control, determination and positional awareness, the Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes is aiming to secure a place in Portugal's FIFA World Cup™ squad this summer.
Only just turned 20, Manuel Fernandes is a product of Benfica's youth system who made his first-team debut during the 2003/04 season, under then coach Jose Antonio Camacho. A defensive midfielder, he made an immediate impression on both Camacho and the Benfica supporters, scoring in only his second game for the Eagles.
The following season, under the guidance of legendary Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Manuel Fernandes established himself as a first-team regular in the centre of midfield alongside Petit. As the Lisbon club won their first Portuguese title in 11 years, he was an ever-present, playing an active role in all but five league games.
The youngster has enjoyed equally strong showings in the international club competitions, appearing in last year's UEFA Cup where Benfica went out to eventual winners CSKA Moskow, and this season's UEFA Champions League where his equalising goal earned his side a draw at Villarreal in the group stage. Under Ronald Koeman, the current coach at the Stadium of Light, Manuel Fernandes has continued to go from strength to strength, developing into one of the most highly rated talents of his generation.
Strong in defence, he is equally adept in his attacking support play and these qualities have long been recognised at international level, with Manuel Fernandes featuring for Portugal at every age level from U-15 upwards. In 2003 he was part of the Portugal team that reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Championship before going down to Spain.
Some 18 months later, in February 2005, he made his debut for the senior team against the Republic of Ireland. Just as he had scored for Benfica in only his second game, so he also notched his first international goal in his second outing against Canada.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20060320/i/2104871726.jpg
Manuel Fernandes' strong positional sense and tight marking are so impressive that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is known to be a keen admirer. Mourinho went as far as to compare his young compatriot to Claude Makelele, stating that the Portuguese midfielder was better than the Frenchman at the same age. In the wake of these comparisons, many Benfica and Portugal fans have nicknamed their young star Manelelê.
Although competition for places in the Portugal midfield is fierce, Manuel Fernandes remains hopeful of a place in their finals squad. The team's Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has made a recent point of stressing that any players in good form leading up to the tournament will have a strong case for boarding the plane to Germany, even those who are currently turning out for the Portugal U-20 side. "I have to make my final choice on 15 May, and up until then we will be watching everyone," he said.
Nonetheless, Manuel Fernandes knows that his chances are slim. He has only played for Portugal in two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and is vying for a place with some top-quality players, such as his Benfica team-mate Petit and the experienced Costinha, one of the three players whom Scolari trusts to wear the captain's armband. Yet Fernandes is remaining focused on his objective, fully aware that if he does receive the call, then he has exactly what it takes to stand out as one of world football's bright young things.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20060320/i/1807016228.jpg
With his neat control, determination and positional awareness, the Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes is aiming to secure a place in Portugal's FIFA World Cup™ squad this summer.
Only just turned 20, Manuel Fernandes is a product of Benfica's youth system who made his first-team debut during the 2003/04 season, under then coach Jose Antonio Camacho. A defensive midfielder, he made an immediate impression on both Camacho and the Benfica supporters, scoring in only his second game for the Eagles.
The following season, under the guidance of legendary Italian manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Manuel Fernandes established himself as a first-team regular in the centre of midfield alongside Petit. As the Lisbon club won their first Portuguese title in 11 years, he was an ever-present, playing an active role in all but five league games.
The youngster has enjoyed equally strong showings in the international club competitions, appearing in last year's UEFA Cup where Benfica went out to eventual winners CSKA Moskow, and this season's UEFA Champions League where his equalising goal earned his side a draw at Villarreal in the group stage. Under Ronald Koeman, the current coach at the Stadium of Light, Manuel Fernandes has continued to go from strength to strength, developing into one of the most highly rated talents of his generation.
Strong in defence, he is equally adept in his attacking support play and these qualities have long been recognised at international level, with Manuel Fernandes featuring for Portugal at every age level from U-15 upwards. In 2003 he was part of the Portugal team that reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Championship before going down to Spain.
Some 18 months later, in February 2005, he made his debut for the senior team against the Republic of Ireland. Just as he had scored for Benfica in only his second game, so he also notched his first international goal in his second outing against Canada.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fi/20060320/i/2104871726.jpg
Manuel Fernandes' strong positional sense and tight marking are so impressive that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is known to be a keen admirer. Mourinho went as far as to compare his young compatriot to Claude Makelele, stating that the Portuguese midfielder was better than the Frenchman at the same age. In the wake of these comparisons, many Benfica and Portugal fans have nicknamed their young star Manelelê.
Although competition for places in the Portugal midfield is fierce, Manuel Fernandes remains hopeful of a place in their finals squad. The team's Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has made a recent point of stressing that any players in good form leading up to the tournament will have a strong case for boarding the plane to Germany, even those who are currently turning out for the Portugal U-20 side. "I have to make my final choice on 15 May, and up until then we will be watching everyone," he said.
Nonetheless, Manuel Fernandes knows that his chances are slim. He has only played for Portugal in two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and is vying for a place with some top-quality players, such as his Benfica team-mate Petit and the experienced Costinha, one of the three players whom Scolari trusts to wear the captain's armband. Yet Fernandes is remaining focused on his objective, fully aware that if he does receive the call, then he has exactly what it takes to stand out as one of world football's bright young things.