Zé Manel (footballer)
José Manuel da Silva Fernandes (born 22 February 1975), commonly known as Zé Manel, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a winger.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Manuel da Silva Fernandes | ||
| Date of birth | 22 February 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Fraião, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Maikes Fraião | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1996 | Maikes Fraião | ||
| 1996–1999 | Caçadores Taipas | 33 | (17) |
| 1999–2004 | Paços Ferreira | 136 | (27) |
| 2004–2007 | Boavista | 84 | (18) |
| 2007–2008 | Braga | 18 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | Leixões | 56 | (7) |
| 2010–2012 | Trofense | 47 | (10) |
| 2012–2013 | Boavista | 26 | (3) |
| 2013–2015 | Caçadores Taipas | 56 | (18) |
| 2015–2016 | Académico Martim | 24 | (0) |
| Total | 480 | (102) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 270 matches and 51 goals over ten seasons, mainly in representation of Paços de Ferreira (four years) and Boavista (three).
Club career
Zé Manel was born in Fraião, Braga District. He started playing professionally for Clube Caçadores das Taipas, moving from the Portuguese third division to the second as he joined F.C. Paços de Ferreira at the age of 24. In his debut season he contributed with 24 games and three goals, helping the northerners return to the Primeira Liga as league champions.
In the following years, Zé Manel continued to be a regular offensive unit for Paços: in his last season he scored on 11 occasions, not good enough, however, to avoid relegation. From 2004 to 2007 he represented Boavista FC, netting ten goals in his first year and also being an undisputed starter; the following campaign he joined S.C. Braga, being sparingly used.
For 2008–09, Zé Manel signed a one-year deal with top level strugglers Leixões SC. After two seasons of regular use – even though 30 of his league appearances were as a substitute – being relegated in his second, the 35-year-old moved to C.D. Trofense of division two, in late August 2010.
In August 2012, aged 37, Zé Manel returned to Boavista, with the club now in the third tier.[1]
References
- "Mercado: Boavista promove regresso de antigas estrelas" [Market: Boavista promote return of former stars] (in Portuguese). Futebol 365. 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
