Maniche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Maniche

Maniche in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth	(1977-11-11) 11 November 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Lisbon, Portugal
Height	1.73 m
Playing position	Central midfielder
Youth career
1989–1996	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1996	Benfica	0	(0)
1996–1999	Alverca	78	(10)
1999–2002	Benfica	54	(11)
2002	Benfica B	1	(0)
2002–2005	Porto	80	(16)
2005–2006	Dynamo Moscow	12	(2)
2006	→ Chelsea (loan)	8	(0)
2006–2009	Atlético Madrid	64	(7)
2008	→ Inter Milan (loan)	8	(1)
2009–2010	1. FC Köln	30	(2)
2010–2011	Sporting CP	17	(1)
Total		347	(43)
National team
1997–1998	Portugal U21	10	(0)
2003–2009	Portugal	52	(7)
Teams managed
2013	Paços de Ferreira (assistant)
2016	Académica (assistant)
Honours Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA European Championship 2004 Portugal
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro (born November 11, 1977), known as Maniche, is a Portuguese retired professional footballer. He played as a central midfielder.

Maniche played top-level football in many countries. These included Portugal, Russia, England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. In 2004, he helped Porto win the UEFA Champions League. This was one of eight trophies he won with that club. He also won the Serie A with Inter Milan in Italy.

Maniche played 52 games for the Portugal national team. He represented his country at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. Portugal finished second in Euro 2004.

Club Career Highlights

Maniche started his football journey in Lisbon, Portugal. He played youth football for S.L. Benfica. After playing for F.C. Alverca, he returned to Benfica.

Success with Porto

Maniche joined FC Porto and became a key player under coach José Mourinho. Mourinho changed his position to a central midfielder. This move helped Maniche become a star.

He had a very successful time at Porto. He won the UEFA Cup in 2003. The next year, in 2004, he won the UEFA Champions League. Porto also won the Primeira Liga (Portuguese league) two years in a row. Maniche scored 13 goals in 60 matches during this time. He was even named the best player in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup, which Porto won.

Playing Abroad

In May 2005, Maniche moved to FC Dynamo Moscow in Russia. He then went on loan to Premier League club Chelsea in England in January 2006.

Maniche was part of Chelsea's team that won the league in 2006. However, he did not play enough games to get a winner's medal. He faced strong competition from other midfielders like Frank Lampard.

After Chelsea, Maniche joined Atlético Madrid in Spain in August 2006. He played alongside his Portuguese teammates Costinha and Zé Castro. He scored four goals in 28 games in his first season.

In January 2008, Maniche went on loan to Inter Milan in Italy. He helped Inter Milan win the Serie A league title. He scored one goal for them against Juventus.

Maniche returned to Atlético Madrid in July 2008. He played an important role as the club returned to the UEFA Champions League. Later, he left Atlético Madrid before his contract ended.

Maniche in action for 1. FC Köln in 2009

On July 20, 2009, Maniche moved to Germany. He signed a two-year deal with 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga. There, he played again with his former teammate Petit.

Return to Portugal and Retirement

After one season in Germany, Maniche returned to Portugal. On June 16, 2010, he signed with Sporting CP. This meant he had played for all three of Portugal's "Big Three" clubs. These are Benfica, Porto, and Sporting.

Maniche often had injuries during his time at Sporting. He ended his contract in July 2011. In May 2012, he decided to retire from playing football. He could not find a new team.

After retiring, Maniche became an assistant coach. In 2013, he worked at F.C. Paços de Ferreira. Three years later, he was an assistant coach at Académica de Coimbra.

International Career

Maniche playing for Portugal in 2009

Maniche first played for the Portugal national team on March 29, 2003. This was a friendly game against Brazil.

Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006

He was a key player for Portugal in UEFA Euro 2004. Portugal finished second in this tournament. Maniche scored a goal in a 2–0 win against Russia. He also scored in the semi-finals against the Netherlands. Portugal won that game 2–1. He was chosen for the Team of the Tournament.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Maniche scored against Mexico. Portugal won that game 2–1. Four days later, he scored the only goal against the Netherlands in the round of 16. This goal helped Portugal win 1–0.

Maniche played in the qualifying games for UEFA Euro 2008. However, he was not chosen for the final team. His younger brother, Jorge Ribeiro, did make the team. Maniche also played in some qualifying games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But he was not selected for the final squad.

Style of Play

Maniche was known for his great teamwork and lots of energy. He also had a very powerful shot. His nickname "Maniche" came from a Danish football player named Michael Manniche from the 1980s.

Personal Life

Maniche's younger brother, Jorge Ribeiro, was also a professional footballer. Jorge mainly played as a left midfielder. Both brothers played together at Dynamo Moscow.

Honours and Awards

Maniche won many trophies and awards during his career.

Club Trophies

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04
• Taça de Portugal: 2002–03
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup: 2002–03
• Intercontinental Cup: 2004

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2007–08

International Achievements

Portugal

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2004

Individual Awards

• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2004
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2004
• Intercontinental Cup Man of the Match: 2004

Special Recognition

• Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

See also

In Spanish: Maniche para niños