Simao Sabrosa
Simão Pedro Fonseca Sabrosa, OIH, commonly known as Simão Sabrosa or just Simão (born 31 October 1979 in Constantim, Portugal), is a Portuguese football winger who plays for SL Benfica (where he is the team captain) and the Portuguese national team.
Simão is a very quick wing forward/attacking midfielder with a fast dribble and a taste for scoring decisive goals. He has a very refined technique, can play on both sides of the pitch, and is an expert penalty and free kick taker. Agostinho Oliveira, Simão's former coach in the youth national team, has been quoted as saying that Simão's fundamental weapon is his ability to control the ball at full speed, and that while there may be other players who are equally fast or equally gifted technically, few manage to master both abilities so well.
National team
Simão's path to the national team began when he won the European Under-16 Championship, in 1996. In the following year, he began playing for the under-18 team, moving on to become a regular in the under-21 team in 1998. Simão made his debut for the national team at the senior level at 19 years of age, on November 12, 1998, against Israel. He came on for Rui Costa and scored one of the goals in the 2-0 win.
Simão was not present in the 2002 World Cup due to injury, but he did participate in the 2004 European Championship, where Portugal finished in second place. His most notable appearance during Euro 2004 came against England in the quarter-finals. He came on as a second half substitute and assisted the equalizing goal in the late minutes of the game to bring the game into extra time. Simão also scored a penalty during the shootout which Portugal won.
In the 2006 World Cup, Simão scored a penalty kick on the 24th minute against Mexico. Portugal won that game 2-1. Again, on 1 July, in the quarter final, Portugal and England went into extra time and then a penalty shoot out. Simão scored another penalty for Portugal and Portugal won the shoot out 3-1.
Clubs
Simão started as a professional player for Sporting in the 1996–1997 season, having scored in his debut match, one minute after being substituted in. He stayed in the team for three years, having moved to FC Barcelona in the summer of 1999 on a €15 million transfer. In 2001, after a comparatively low-key tenure at the Spanish club, Simão moved to his current team, SL Benfica, on a deal reportedly worth €12 million. He is currently the captain of the team, and is considered one of the best players currently playing in the Portuguese championship.
Since he arrived at Benfica, Simão has always ended seasons as the best goalscorer of the squad. He has scored a total of 72 goals in 172 matches for Benfica, an extraordinary record for a winger. He has written 2 books and recently launched a DVD teaching children how to play football.
Simão has also played a big role at SL Benfica where he scored a magnificent free kick against Manchester United and a beautiful goal against defending champions Liverpool FC helping to knock out the defending champions. Many speculate that Simão refused a move to Liverpool after what many consider a dislike of Rafael Benitez.
The summer 2005 transfer window saw Simão targeted by English Premiership club Liverpool FC in an offer worth approximately €12 million, though negotiations reportedly failed over Benfica's increase in asking price.
Just before the 2006 summer transfer window, Simão revealed that Luis Felipe Vieira, the president of Benfica, would allow him to leave, if a suitable offer were made. Chelsea emerged as possible contenders for his signature, but José Mourinho declined these rumours. He was also linked with a move to Valencia, after the club cooled their interest in his Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo However, Arsenal have emerged as the player's latest suitors and sources claim that they have bid €18 million for the player. Despite all the transfer rumours, Simão says that "the soap opera to sign me is over. I'm a Benfica player and that is the end of it." This was said alongside Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira at a UEFA meeting. During the January 2007 transfer window, he may be targeted by Atletico Madrid, but he has denied these rumours. the english giant manchester united have also shown interest in the portuguse player.
i would like to see this guy with juve, as well as Van Der Vaart but hes already on this topic anyway
Honours
* Flag of Portugal Portuguese SuperLiga (2005, SL Benfica)
* Flag of Portugal Portuguese Supercup (2005, SL Benfica)
* Flag of Portugal Portuguese Cup (2004, SL Benfica)
* Flag of European Union UEFA Under-16 Championship (1996, Portugal)
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great player and surely will be looking for a move to a great team this summer
