Gustavo Manduca

Gustavo Manduca (born on June 8, 1980 in Urussanga, near Criciúma, Santa Catarina (state)) is a Brazil football (soccer) player. He currently plays for AEK Athens FC.

Football career

Manduca usual position is second-striker or attacking midfielder. He has very good technique and also amazing acceleration. Manduca hold Italian passport and moved to Finnish champions HJK Helsinki in January 1998.

Finland

After playing 2 match in Veikkausliiga for HJK Helsinki, Manduca was loaned to Atlantis FC of Ykkönen on the same month.

In Atlantis Manduca made 10 appearances and scored twice. He returned to Helsinki on summer 1998 and on the book of squad list submitted to UEFA for UEFA Champions League 1998-99. He was on the bench watching HJK Helsinki 2-2 SL Benfica at Estadio da Luz.

Portugal

Manduca joined Felgueiras on January 1999, and then Esposende on January 2000, G.D. Chaves on summer 2002, all were Liga de Honra.

In 2003 Manduca moved to F.C. Paços de Ferreira in Portuguese Liga, where he played 29 games.

CS Marítimo signed him in summer 2004, and made 46 league appearances before joined Benfica, and made 2 appearances and scored once in UEFA Cup 2004-05 First round against Rangers F.C, which saw Marítimo lose on penalties.

Manduca signed 4 and a half contract with S.L. Benfica on January 2006, he made 16 appearances in league, but did not played UEFA Champions League 2005-06 although Benfica reached Quarter-finals.

AEK Athens

On the 3 August, 2006, Manduca signed a one-year loan deal with the option for a permanent move with AEK Athens FC, because he was not included in the plans of the new coach Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer).

He made 3 appearances in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07 and helped the capital club to reach the second place in the Super League Greece.

On 16 May, 2007, Gustavo signed a permanent deal with AEK which will last until 2010.

Honours

HJK Helsinki
- Finnish Cup: 1998
- Finnish League Cup: 1998