Simão Sabrosa

Simão Pedro Fonseca Sabrosa, Order of Infante D. Henrique, commonly known as Simão Sabrosa (Pronunciation. ) or just Simão (born 31 October 1979 in Constantim, Portugal), is a Portugal football (soccer) Midfielder Winger who plays for Atlético Madrid and the Portugal national football team.

Clubs

Simão started as a professional player for Sporting Clube de Portugal in the 1996-97 season, having scored in his debut match, one minute after being substituted in. He stayed in the team for three years, having moved to FC Barcelona in the summer of 1999 on a €15 million transfer. In 2001, after a comparatively low-key tenure at the Spanish club, Simão moved to Benfica, on a deal reportedly worth €12 million. He became an instant fan-favorite, quickly acquired the status of captain and was often acclaimed as Benfica's top player during the six years he spent at the club and also one of the Portuguese championship's best.

Since he arrived at Benfica, Simão has always ended seasons as the best goalscorer of the squad. He has scored a total of 72 goals in 172 matches for Benfica. He has written 2 books and recently launched a DVD teaching children how to play football.

In 2005-06 UEFA Champions League, Simão scored a free kick against Manchester United and a goal against defending champions Liverpool FC, helping to knock Liverpool out.

The summer 2005 transfer window saw Simão targeted by English Premiership club Liverpool FC in an offer worth approximately £12 million, though negotiations reportedly failed over Benfica's increase in asking price. Just before the 2006 summer transfer window, Simão revealed that Luis Felipe Vieira, the president of Benfica, would allow him to leave, if a suitable offer were made. Chelsea F.C. emerged as possible contenders for his signature, but José Mourinho declined these rumours. He was also linked with a move to Valencia CF, after the club cooled their interest in his Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Arsenal F.C. emerged as the player's latest suitors and sources claimed they bid €18 million for the player. Despite all the transfer rumours, Simão said that "the soap opera to sign me is over. I'm a Benfica player and that is the end of it". This was said alongside Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira at a UEFA meeting. During the January 2007 transfer window, he was targeted by Atlético Madrid, but denied these rumours. Liverpool also revived their interest after their chief executive, Rick Parry, confirmed that interest.

Ultimately, on July 26, 2007 it was announced by Benfica they had agreed a fee of 20 million euros with Atlético Madrid for the sale of Sabrosa. According to Reuters, the deal included the option for Benfica to get two Atletico players, in addition to the aforementioned fee.

National team

Simão's path to the national team began when he won the European Under-17 Football Championship, in 1996. In the following year, he began playing for the under-18 team, moving on to become a regular in the Portugal national under-21 football team in 1998. Simão made his debut for the national team at the senior level at 19 years of age, on November 18, 1998, against Israel national football team. He came on for Rui Costa and scored one of the goals in the 2-0 win.

Simão was not present in the 2002 World Cup due to injury, but he did participate in the 2004 European Football Championship, where Portugal finished in second place. His most notable appearance during Euro 2004 came against England national football team in the quarter-finals. He came on as a second half substitute and assisted the equalizing goal in the late minutes of the game to bring the game into extra time. Simão also scored a penalty during the shootout which Portugal won.

In the 2006 World Cup, he scored a penalty kick on the 24th minute against Mexico national football team. Portugal won that game 2-1. Then, on 1 July, in the quarterfinals, Portugal and England went into extra time and then a penalty shootout. Simão scored another penalty for Portugal, who emerged victorious 3-1 on penalties.

Honours

- Portuguese SuperLiga (2005, SL Benfica)
- SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira (2005, SL Benfica)
- Portuguese Cup (2004, SL Benfica)
- UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (1996, Portugal)