Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈuɡu viˈɐnɐ]; born 15 January 1983 in Barcelos) is a Portuguese footballer currently playing for Sporting de Braga on loan from Valencia CF, as an attacking midfielder.

His main assets are good set-pieces and passing skills.

[edit] Club career

Viana started his professional career at Sporting Clube de Portugal where he won the Young European Footballer of the Year award, after an excellent debut season in 2001–02 and, aged 19, was signed by Newcastle United for €12 million.^[1] He played there for two seasons, scoring four times with goals against Zeljeznicar Sarajevo^[2] and Feyenoord^[3] in the Champions League and Birmingham^[4] and West Bromwich Albion^[5] in the league. However he was unable to cement a starting XI position, and returned to Sporting on loan.^[6] In his return he found his old form and enjoyed a successful spell, even helping the Lions to the UEFA Cup final.

At the start of the 2005–06 season, Viana went to Valencia CF, again on loan. In March 2006, reports stated that Valencia had signed him on a permanent deal for £1.5m.^[7] During his first season, he struggled to claim a first team spot, facing tough competition from the likes of David Albelda and Rubén Baraja, manager Quique Sánchez Flores' preferred duo. Still, Viana featured in 19 league games and displayed some flashes of talent that allowed him to preserve his place in the national squad.

In a bid to secure first team football, Viana decided to join fellow first division CA Osasuna on loan, on August 2007. Unfortunately, a serious injury during pre-season forced him out for four months. As he recovered, he failed to make the breakthrough in an already established team, but would feature in all of the side's final three matches, as Osasuna barely avoided relegation. After the loan (nine matches, one goal, in a 3–1 home win against RCD Mallorca, in which he played one minute), Viana returned to Valencia.^[8]

In 2008–09, Viana took absolutely no part in coach Unai Emery's plans, being restricted to three UEFA Cup contests and some domestic cup appearances. On 31 July 2009, Viana was loaned to Sporting de Braga for one season, thus returning to Portugal after three years.^[9] As the Minho club led the league in its early stages, he scored his first goals upon returning to his country, hitting twice in a 3–1 home win against C.F. Os Belenenses, on August 30. On October 31, he again found the net, from a stunning free kick against S.L. Benfica, in a 2–0 home triumph.

[edit] International career

Viana made his debut in the national team on 14 November 2001, in a 5–1 friendly win over Angola. Replacing suspended Daniel Kenedy in the last minute, he was a non-playing squad member for Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and played for his country at the 2004 Olympics.

Viana returned to the national squad after UEFA Euro 2004, and appeared in two matches (as a substitute) at the 2006 World Cup.

[edit] Honours

• Portuguese League: 2001–02
• Portuguese Cup: 2001–02
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2004–05

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Valencia CF profile (Spanish)
• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• PortuGOAL profile
• BDFutbol profile

Portugal squads v • d • e Portugal squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 Xavier • 4 Caneira • 5 Couto • 6 Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 Pinto • 9 Pauleta • 10 Rui Costa • 11 Conceição • 12 Viana • 13 Andrade • 14 Barbosa • 15 Nélson • 16 Ricardo • 17 Bento • 18 Frechaut • 19 Capucho • 20 Petit • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Beto • 23 Rui Jorge • Coach: Oliveira v • d • e Portugal squad – 2004 Summer Olympics 1 Moreira • 2 M. Sérgio • 3 R. Meireles • 4 Bruno Alves • 5 Costa • 6 Meira • 7 C. Ronaldo • 8 Viana • 9 H. Almeida • 10 C. Martins • 11 Ribeiro • 12 Frechaut • 13 Boa Morte • 14 Bosingwa • 15 Lourenço • 16 João Paulo • 17 Danny • 18 Bruno Vale • Coach: Romão v • d • e Portugal squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place 1 Ricardo • 2 Ferreira • 3 Caneira • 4 Costa • 5 Meira • 6 Costinha • 7 Figo • 8 Petit • 9 Pauleta • 10 Viana • 11 Simão • 12 Quim • 13 Miguel • 14 Valente • 15 Boa Morte • 16 Carvalho • 17 C. Ronaldo • 18 Maniche • 19 Tiago • 20 Deco • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Santos • 23 H. Postiga • Coach: Scolari