|
|
Name: Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana
Birth Date: 15 January 1983
Birth Place: Barcelos, Braga, Portugal
Nationality: Portuguese
Height: 1.81 m (5'11'')
Weight: 73 kg (161 lbs)
Position: Midfield
Number: None
Contract Expires: 30 June 2011
|
Sporting Lisbon
Viana started his professional career at Sporting Clube de Portugal where he won the Young European Footballer of the Year award, after an excellent debut season in 2001/2002.
Newcastle United
At the age of 19, he was signed by Newcastle United for ¤12 million. He played there for two seasons and, unable to cement a starting XI position, returned to Sporting on loan.
Valencia CF
At the start of the 2005/2006 season, Viana went to Valencia CF, again on loan. In March 2006, reports stated that Valencia had signed him on a permanent deal for £1.5m. During his first season, he struggled to claim a first team spot, facing tough competition from the likes of David Albelda and Rubén Baraja, manager Quique Sánchez Flores' preferred duo. Still, Viana featured in 19 league games and displayed some flashes of talent that allowed him to preserve his place in the national squad.
CA Osasuna
In a bid to secure first team football, Viana decided to join fellow first division CA Osasuna on loan in August 2007. Unfortunately, a serious injury during pre-season forced him out for four months. As he recovered, he failed to make the breakthrough in an already established team, but would feature in all of the side's final three matches, as Osasuna barely avoided relegation. After the loan (nine matches, one goal, in a 3-1 home win against RCD Mallorca, in which he played one minute), Viana returned to Valencia.
Valencia CF
In 2008/2009, Viana took absolutely no part in coach Unai Emery's plans, being restricted to three UEFA Cup contests and some domestic cup appearances.
Sporting Braga
On 31 July 2009, Viana was loaned to hometown club SC Braga for one season, thus returning to Portugal after three years. Even though he is on loan, VCF stills pays about 80% of his wages.
Viana would play well for the first half of the season, but his form faded, and for the last month of the season he was used as a substitute.
International Career
Viana made his debut in the national team on 14 November 2001, in a 5–1 friendly win over Angola. Replacing suspended Daniel Kenedy in the last minute, he was a non-playing squad member for Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played for his country at the 2004 Olympics.
Viana returned to the national squad after UEFA Euro 2004, and appeared in two matches (as a substitute) at the 2006 World Cup.
|
|
