Biography
Who is Luís Neto?
Early life and beginnings
Luís Neto Carlos Novo Neto was born on May 26, 1988, in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. He started his football path by joining the youth ranks of his hometown club, Varzim S.C., at the age of 10. He remained with this team for several seasons, gaining experience in the Segunda Liga. He served as a backup or third-choice player for four of his five seasons there.
His competitive debut for Varzim occurred on February 10, 2007. During this match, he played two minutes as the team secured a 2-1 victory over S.L. Benfica in the Taça de Portugal. This early exposure helped him develop his skills as a defensive player before moving on to higher divisions.
Club career and European transfers
In July 2011, Neto transferred to C.D. Nacional in the Primeira Liga on a free transfer. His performance quickly gained attention from other major European clubs. By the following off-season, he moved to Italy to join A.C. Siena for a fee of €1.7 million. During his time in Italy, he served as a starter and scored a goal against AS Roma.
On February 1, 2013, he signed with the Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. He played alongside teammates like Bruno Alves and Danny. His first goal for the club came on May 19 in a 3-1 win against FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod. During his tenure in Russia, he helped the team secure multiple titles, including the Russian Premier League and the Russian Cup.
International experience and retirement
Neto represented Portugal at the under-21 level, playing in the 2009 Lusofonia Games where the team won a silver medal. He received his first call-up to the senior national team on October 4, 2012, for World Cup qualifiers. He made his international debut on February 6, 2013, in a friendly match against Ecuador.
He was included in the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, though he did not play during the tournament. Later, he participated in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and scored an own goal in the third-place play-off match against Mexico. After his playing career concluded in 2024 at age 36, he transitioned into coaching. He currently serves as an assistant manager, having worked under João Pereira and Rui Borges at Sporting CP.
Birthday and age
Luís Neto was born on May 26, 1988, which makes Luís 38 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Luís shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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