Hugo Miguel Viana

Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana (Pronunciation, 1983 in Barcelos) is a Portugal football (soccer) player. He plays for Valencia CF as an attacking midfielder, with good set-pieces and passing skills.

Club career

Viana started his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, and where he won the Young European Footballer of the Year award, after an excellent Portuguese Liga 2001-02 debut season and, aged 19, was signed by Newcastle United F.C. for Euro12m. He played there for two seasons and, unable to cement a starting XI position, returned to Sporting on loan.

At the start of the La Liga 2005-06, Viana went to Valencia CF, again on loan. In March 2006, reports stated that Valencia had signed him on a permanent deal for Pound sterling1.5m.During his first season, he struggled to claim a first team spot, facing tough competition from the likes of David Albelda and Ruben Baraja, manager Quique Sanchez 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 Portugal national football team.

In a bid to secure first team football, Viana decided to join fellow La Liga CA Osasuna on loan, on August 2007. Unfortunately, a serious injury during pre-season forced him out for 4 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 La Liga 2007-08. After the loan (9 matches, 1 goal, in a 3-1 home win against Real Mallorca, in which he played 1 minute), Viana returned to Valencia.

International career

Viana made his debut in the Portugal national football team on November 14, 2001, in a 5-1 friendly win over Angola national football team. Replacing suspended Daniel Kenedy in the last minute, he was a non-playing squad member for Portugal at the Football World Cup 2002 and played for his country at the Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Viana returned to the national squad after Euro 2004, and appeared in two matches (as a substitute (football)) at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Honours

- Portuguese Liga: 2001-02 in Portuguese football
- Portuguese Cup: 2001–02