Manuel Fernandes

Club

As of 31 October 2018

International

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fernandes goal.

In June 2007, Fernandes played in all games at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring the opening goal for Portugal in their 4–0 win over Israel – the national side eventually failed Olympic qualification. He also appeared at the 2006 edition's final stages, and was an active member in the 2009 qualifying campaign. Fernandes received his first call-up to the senior team in February 2005. He scored his first senior international goal on 26 March in a friendly match with Canada, and played his first official game against Armenia on 17 November 2007, a 1–0 win in Leiria for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers. Although not part of the list of 24 players initially selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Fernandes was one of the six players named in a backup list. He made the final squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia where he played his club football, making his debut in the competition on 30 June when he replaced João Mário for the final five minutes of the 1–2 round-of-16 loss against Uruguay.

Benfica

Born in Lisbon, Fernandes grew up in the capital suburb of Amadora, where he would regularly play street football with future Sporting CP and Manchester United star Nani as a child. Subsequently, he joined S.L. Benfica's youth system and made his first-team debut during the 2003–04 season under coach José Antonio Camacho, making an immediate impression on both the manager and the club's supporters and becoming its second youngest ever goalscorer in only his second game, a 2–1 away win against Gil Vicente FC. Fernandes became a regular first-team in 2004–05, often partnering established Petit in central midfield, under the guidance of Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni. He helped the side win the Primeira Liga title after an 11-year drought, missing just five league games and scoring in a 2–0 away victory over Vitória F.C. on 19 March 2005. He also made seven appearances in the campaign's UEFA Cup, in an eventual round-of-32 elimination at the hands of eventual winners PFC CSKA Moscow. During the 2005–06 pre-season, Fernandes underwent surgery in Munich due to an inguinal hernia. He was treated by specialist Ulrike Muschaweck. In the UEFA Champions League, he scored the equalising goal in a draw at Villarreal CF in the group stage, with Benfica again only being ousted by the eventual champions, in this case FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Portsmouth

In the summer of 2006, Fernandes signed for Portsmouth of the Premier League on loan, with a deal…

Fernandes' cousin, Gelson Fernandes, was also a footballer and a midfielder. Born in Cape Verde and starting his career at FC Sion, he opted to represent Switzerland internationally. He was also a cousin to two other footballers with Swiss nationality, Cabral and Edimilson Fernandes.