Anderson Luís

Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira (born 13 April 1988), best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian association football, currently playing for Manchester United F.C.. Anderson Luís regular position is as an Midfielder Attacking midfielder, but Anderson Luís can also operate on the left wing.

Club career

Grêmio

Born in Porto Alegre, Anderson joined Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense as a youth player and in 2004 Anderson Luís made Anderson Luís first appearance for the team, playing 5 Brazilian Série B games in the second half of the year, as well as playing in the 2005 Gaúcho State Championship in the first half. Anderson Luís earned himself iconic status by scoring the goal that lifted Grêmio back into Serie A in a promotion playoff against Clube Náutico Capibaribe. This goal was particularly memorable because Grêmio only had seven players on the pitch at the time and had just seen the opposition have a penalty saved. The goal gave Grêmio a 1-0 victory in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Porto

Anderson Luís joined F.C. Porto in December 2005 after only five first team appearances at a national level with Grêmio, and made Anderson Luís league debut on 5 March 2006, playing a part in helping the team seal the Portuguese Liga that season. The following season, Anderson Luís made Anderson Luís UEFA Champions League debut in Porto's first group game against PFC CSKA Moscow. However, Anderson was forced to miss five months of the 2006-07 season due to a broken leg, as a result of a tackle by S.L. Benfica's player Kostas Katsouranis.

Manchester United

On 30 May 2007, the Manchester United website confirmed that the club had agreed in principle to sign Anderson from Porto for an undisclosed fee, reported to be approximately £18 million. On 29 June 2007, Anderson Luís was granted a work permit to play in the United Kingdom, and the move was completed on 2 July, with Anderson signing a five-year contract to become United's second Brazilian player after the disappointing José Kléberson.

Anderson was friends with Portuguese language-speaking team-mates, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani (footballer) prior to joining the club. Anderson Luís was handed the number 8 shirt previously worn by Wayne Rooney and made Anderson Luís Manchester United debut on 3 August 2007, playing 45 minutes of a pre-season friendly against Doncaster Rovers F.C., which United won 2-0.

Anderson made Anderson Luís competitive debut for Manchester United against Sunderland A.F.C. on 1 September 2007, before Anderson Luís was substituted at half time and replaced by Louis Saha. Anderson made Anderson Luís UEFA Champions League debut against Sporting Clube de Portugal on 19 September 2007, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Giggs in the 76th minute. Anderson Luís played the full 90 minutes in the Football League Cup match against Coventry City F.C. on 26 September 2007, in a team consisting almost entirely of youth and reserve team players.

In the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final in Moscow, Russia, Anderson was brought on as a substitute in the final minute of extra time to replace Wes Brown, and converted United's sixth attempt in the penalty shootout (association football). Anderson Luís followed it up by kicking the ball back into the net, an act which Alex Ferguson credited with returning the momentum to Manchester United.

Anderson was brought on as a substitute in the 56th minute for Danny Welbeck in the 2009 Football League Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur, and scored the winning penalty in the penalty shootout.

On 22 April 2009, Anderson Luís started the game against Portsmouth F.C, which they won 2-0, with goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick. Anderson was voted man of the match.

On 29 July 2009, Anderson scored Anderson Luís first Manchester United goal via a free kick in a friendly against Boca Juniors

International career

In April 2005, Anderson Luís played for Brazil in the South American U-17 Championship. The following October Anderson Luís featured in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship along with Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior of Real Madrid and Denílson Pereira Neves of Arsenal F.C. and Anderson Luís won the FIFA U-17 World Cup adidas Golden Ball as Brazil took silver.

Anderson made Anderson Luís international debut for the Brazil national football team on 27 June 2007 in their 2-0 loss against against Mexico national football team in Copa América 2007, coming on as a substitute. Anderson Luís made Anderson Luís first start for Brazil on 1 July 2007 against Chile national football team in a 3-0 victory.

In July 2008, Brazil coach Dunga named Anderson to the 18-man squad for the Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Anderson Luís scored Brazil's first goal in its second group match against New Zealand national football team, a match it went on to win 5-0. On 22 August 2008, Brazil won the bronze medal as they defeated Belgium 3-0.