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Players: Abel Freddy Adu H. Almeida Bruno Alves Anderson J. Andrade N. Assis Vitor Baia Boa Morte Bosingwa M. Caneira Cardozo R. Carvalho Ze Castro Jorge Costa Rui Costa Conceicao Costinha F. Couto M. da Costa Dady Deco Di Maria Y. Djalo Duda M. Fernandes P. Ferreira Luis Figo Luis Filipe Nuno Gomes L. Gonzalez Helton Izmailov Karagounis Katsouranis Liedson L. Lopez Luisao David Luiz Makukula Maniche Mantorras F. Meira R. Meireles P. Mendes Miguel Miguelito Moreira J. Moutinho Nani Nelson Pauleta C. Peixoto Pepe Petit Pereirinha Joao Pinto H. Postiga Polga Quaresma Quim Ricardo R. Rocha C. Rodriguez Ronaldo Romagnoli P. Sousa Simao Tarik Tiago J. Tomas Tonel Miguel Veloso Hugo Viana Vukcevic Abel Xavier Select player

Player profile: Miguel Veloso

Full name: Miguel Luis Pinto Veloso

Position: Defender/Midfielder

Date of Birth: 11 May 1986

Birthplace: Coimbra, Portugal

Miguel Veloso is a highly promising central defender who is equally at home playing as a defensive midfielder.

He burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion at the start of the 2006/07 campaign when he was thrown in at the deep end in Sporting’s opening Champions League match at home to a star-studded Inter Milan side.

Before the match much was made of Luis Figo’s homecoming, but by the end of the ninety minutes all the talk was of Veloso, who turned in a man-of-the-match display to completely shut Figo and company out and help Sporting to a memorable 1-0 win.

Veloso possesses an imposing physical presence and is extremely strong in the air, although he usually dispenses with the need to get physical due to a highly tuned sense of anticipation. He is an accurate passer, with even long throughballs rarely missing their intended target and he also has a tremendously powerful shot.

Footballing family

He is the son of Antonio Veloso, the former Portugal and Benfica stalwart defender. Veloso junior started his career at the same club where his father made his name, but at 14 he switched to rivals Sporting upon recommendation from his father because of the club’s unrivalled reputation in nurturing home-grown players.

He spent the entire 2005/06 season on loan to Olivais e Moscavide helping the team to promotion. The following season Sporting’s first-team coach Paulo Bento had no hesitation in throwing the 20-year-old straight in at the deep end, and Veloso belied his years to become a mainstay of the team, keeping Sporting’s major summer acquisition Carlos Paredes on the sidelines.

Long-term contract

Inevitably rumours quickly began swirling that some of Europe’s biggest clubs were preparing to make a bid for the talented youngster, but in January 2007 Veloso signed a long-term contract keeping him at the club until 2013.

Provided he stays injury free Miguel Veloso looks set for a glittering career at the very top of the game.

CLUB APPEARANCES* GOALS Sporting** 12 0

* League only
** Up to 28 February 2007