Player Profile: Luis Figo  Full name: Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro
Position: MidfielderDate of Birth: 4 November 1972Birthplace: Almada, Portugal Luis Figo is seen by many as the outstanding wide player of his generation. His classy dribbling, pinpoint crossing and high work-rate have led to him being recognised with European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year awards during his career.
Born in Almada on the outskirts of Lisbon, Figo came through the ranks at Sporting. His talent was identified from an early age, and the young winger was part of the Portugal side that won under-16 and under-20 international trophies in the late 1980s. Golden Spanish yearsHe spent four seasons as a key member of the first-team at Sporting, before deciding to leave for Barcelona in 1995. Although the coach who brought him to Spain, Johan Cruijff, soon left the club, Figo made a huge impact, helping the Catalans to two La Liga titles, a Cup Winners’ Cup and two Spanish Cups, and becoming a huge fan favourite.
In 2000 Figo was at the centre of one of the most infamous transfers in football history. Florentino Perez, president of Barca’s fierce rivals Real Madrid, announced that he had agreed a deal to sign the Portuguese star. Real paid a staggering €65m to activate Figo’s release clause and complete the switch, infuriating the Nou Camp fans.
Figo thrived at the Bernabeu, winning La Liga in his first season and the Champions League the following year. A fourth Spanish title of his career followed in 2003 and Figo oversaw the likes of Ronaldo and David Beckham arriving in Madrid as Perez looked to create the famous ‘Galactico’ team of superstars.
Italian switchHowever, after two years without a trophy, Figo became frustrated with the club’s apparent priority of commercial success and big-name signings. In 2005, amid continued concern about the direction the club was going - Figo departed for Internazionale.
Initial scepticism from the Italian press about the 33-year-old’s hunger was soon proved to be unfounded. Figo showed his class and established himself as one of Inter’s key players, helping the team win the Italian Cup in his first season. Inter were later awarded the Italian title after a match-fixing scandal punished Juventus and Milan.
His contract ends in the summer of 2007, and should Figo decide on one more port of call as he winds down his illustrious career, he is unlikely to be short of offers.
International Career
Although Figo himself impressed at several tournaments, possibly the only disappointment of his career was that he, along with the generation of players so successful at youth level, were unable to win a major international trophy.
They came close, reaching the final of Euro 2004 on home soil, only to suffer heartbreak with a 1-0 loss to Greece. After briefly quitting international football, Figo graced the biggest stage one last time at the World Cup in 2006, before bowing out with a record 127 caps for his country. In his homeland Figo is considered second only to Eusebio as Portugal’s greatest ever player. by Sean Gillen | Club | Appearances* | Goals |
|---|
| Sporting | 129 | 16
| | Barcelona | 172 | 30 | | Real Madrid | 163 | 38 | | Internazionale** | 94 | 9
| | | | | PORTUGAL
| 127 | 32 |
* League only ** Up to 18 February 2009
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CON FIGO GRANDE INTER