Biography
Who is Maniche?
Early career and real name
Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro is the full name of the professional athlete known as Maniche. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He began his football path by playing for the youth teams at S.L. Benfica.
After spending three seasons at F.C. Alverca, he returned to Benfica to play as a winger. His time at the club involved some disciplinary issues before he moved to FC Porto to play under José Mourinho.
Club success and highlights
During his time at FC Porto, he played as a central midfielder and won several major trophies. He helped the club secure the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. He also won two consecutive Primeira Liga titles with the team.
In 2004, he earned the Man of the Match title during the Intercontinental Cup victory against Once Caldas. His career later took him to FC Dynamo Moscow, Chelsea F.C., Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan. He also played for 1. FC Köln and Sporting CP.
International career with Portugal
Maniche earned 52 caps for the Portugal national team. He made his international debut in March 2003 against Brazil. He was a key player during the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament where his team finished as runners-up.
He also represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. During that tournament, he scored goals against both Mexico and the Netherlands. He was named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2006.
Personal life and coaching
He has a younger brother named Jorge Ribeiro who was also a professional footballer. The two brothers were teammates while playing for FC Dynamo Moscow. Maniche is 173 cm tall.
After his playing career ended, he transitioned into coaching roles. He served as an assistant at F.C. Paços de Ferreira and later at Académica de Coimbra. He has also been honored as an Officer of the Order of Prince Henry.
Birthday and age
Maniche was born on November 11, 1977, which makes Maniche 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Maniche shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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