Miguel Monteiro

Luís Miguel Brito Garcia Monteiro OIH (born 4 January 1980), known simply as Miguel (Portuguese pronunciation: [miˈɣɛl]), is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a right-back or a winger.

He spent the vast majority of his career with Benfica (five seasons) and Valencia (seven), appearing in 161 official matches for the first club and 239 for the second while winning four major titles.

Miguel earned 59 caps for Portugal in the 2000s and represented the country at two World Cups and as many European Championships.

Born in Lisbon of Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean descent, Miguel started his senior career with local C.F. Estrela da Amadora as a winger, having previously spent five years at Sporting CP's youth system and being released for being too short. On 30 April 1999, he made his first-team debut by playing 17 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Boavista FC, then added 28 Primeira Liga appearances in his only full season as the capital club retained its top-division status.

Miguel moved to S.L. Benfica in summer 2000, making the transition to right midfielder and then right-back (by the hand of former Benfica player Fernando Chalana, in his only game as a transition coach) – the position that ultimately brought him international recognition. In the 2004–05 campaign, he contributed 22 matches and two goals to a national championship conquest after an 11-year wait.

Miguel joined Valencia CF in August 2005, for a €7.5 million fee. Fully established as first choice, he signed a new five-year deal in September 2007, and helped the Che to win the Copa del Rey the following year, playing in the final 3–1 win against Getafe CF.

In 2009–10, Miguel was challenged by new signing Bruno. He still appeared in 25 matches as Valencia finished third and returned to the UEFA Champions League.

In May 2012, following several occasions where he displayed unprofessional behaviour, Miguel's contract expired and he was released. In 2014, he started practising with the SJPF (syndicate of professional football players) alongside other unemployed players to regain fitness.