Biography
Who is Danny?
Early life and career beginnings
Danny: Born Daniel Miguel Alves Gomes in Caracas, Venezuela, he moved to the island of Madeira at age fifteen. He started developing his skills within the youth ranks of C.S. Marítimo in Portugal. His professional introduction came during a Primeira Liga match against Gil Vicente on October 1, 2001, which resulted in a home victory.
He scored his first professional goal against Salgueiros, though he also received a red card during that match. By the end of his initial season with the club, he had accumulated five goals across twenty appearances. In the summer of 2002, he signed with Sporting CP for a transfer fee of 2.1 million euros but spent time on loan back at Marítimo before returning to the Lions in 2004.
Time in Russia and Zenit Saint Petersburg
He moved to FC Dinamo Moscow in February 2005 for 2 million euros. His impact in Russia was significant, leading to a Player of the Year award. In August 2008, he transferred to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg for 30 million euros, making him the most expensive player in the Russian Premier League at that time. He scored the winning goal during his debut in the UEFA Super Cup victory against Manchester United.
During his years in Saint Petersburg, he helped the team secure the Russian Premier League title three times. He also contributed to winning the Russian Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. In 2012, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, which kept him off the field for eight months. Despite this setback, he returned to the pitch and continued to serve as team captain after Igor Denisov moved to the youth squad.
International football career
He represented Portugal on the international stage, starting with his debut in a friendly match against the Faroe Islands in August 2008. He scored his first goal for the national team later that year in a game against Brazil. Throughout his international tenure, he was managed by figures such as Carlos Queiroz and Paulo Bento.
He participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and was a member of the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where Portugal reached the round of 16. Although he was involved in the qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2012, a knee injury prevented him from playing in the final tournament. He finished his international career with 38 full caps for his country.
Family and later career
He is married to Petra Gomes, and the couple has three children: twin sons named Bernardo and Francisco, and a daughter named Emily. Both sons have pursued football careers, playing in the youth academy of Zenit and later representing Marítimo. Following his departure from Zenit, he had a brief stint with the Czech club Slavia Prague in 2017 before returning to Marítimo in 2018.
His career concluded after he was released from his contract with Marítimo by mutual agreement in late 2018. Over the course of his professional path, he played for several clubs including Sporting CP, Dinamo Moscow, Zenit, Slavia Prague, and Marítimo. He remains recognized for his technical ability, dribbling skills, and delivery of key passes throughout his time as a midfielder.
Birthday and age
Danny was born on August 7, 1983, which makes Danny 43 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Danny shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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