Quick Facts
Biography
Manuel José Azevedo Vieira (born 4 February 1981), known as Manuel José, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Leixões SC. Mainly a right midfielder, he can also play as an attacking right back.
Football career
Born in Paranhos (Porto), Manuel José unsuccessfully graduated from FC Porto's academy, going on to serve a number of loans in almost four year before being released in June 2005. He made his Primeira Liga debuts with Académica de Coimbra, where he played from January–June 2003.
After a solid season with Porto's neighbours Boavista FC, Manuel José joined Romania's CFR Cluj Portuguese contingent in June 2006, for €300,000. During his first year in Liga I he was a first-team regular and the team player with the most assists, accumulating eleven decisive passes; however, with the arrival of Ioan Andone as head coach during the summer of 2007, he lost his place in the starting eleven and failed to regain that position.
On 5 February 2009, Manuel José terminated the contract that bound him with Cluj. In July he returned to Portugal, signing with F.C. Paços de Ferreira; he scored a career-best eight goals in the 2012–13 campaign – in only 19 starts – being essential as his team finished third and qualified to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.
Honours
- Porto
- Portuguese Cup: 2002–03
- Vitória Setúbal
- Portuguese Cup: 2004–05
- Cluj
- Romanian League: 2007–08
- Romanian Cup: 2007–08