Maciel (footballer, born 1978) explained

Maciel
Fullname:Maciel Lima Barbosa da Cunha
Birth Date:29 November 1978
Birth Place:Caxias, Brazil
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:–1997
Youthclubs1:Cruzeiro
Youthyears2:1998
Youthclubs2:Guarani-MG
Youthyears3:1999
Youthclubs3:Capivariano
Years1:1999
Years2:1999
Years3:1999
Years4:2000
Years5:2001
Years6:2001−2004
Caps6:72
Goals6:26
Years7:2004−2007
Caps7:19
Goals7:3
Years8:2005
Clubs8:Paranaense (loan)
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2005–2006
Clubs9:União Leiria (loan)
Caps9:31
Goals9:5
Years10:2006−2007
Clubs10:Braga (loan)
Caps10:19
Goals10:2
Years11:2007−2008
Caps11:8
Goals11:0
Years12:2008−2009
Caps12:4
Goals12:0
Years13:2009
Caps13:5
Goals13:0
Years14:2009
Years15:2010
Caps15:12
Goals15:4
Years16:2010−2011
Caps16:10
Goals16:6
Years17:2011
Caps17:3
Goals17:0
Years18:2012
Caps18:0
Goals18:0
Years19:2012
Caps19:7
Goals19:0
Years20:2013
Caps20:4
Goals20:0
Years21:2013
Caps21:3
Goals21:0
Years22:2014
Years23:2015
Club-Update:25 March 2015

Maciel Lima Barbosa da Cunha (born 29 November 1978), known simply as Maciel, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a forward.

He spent the vast majority of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 149 games and 36 goals over the course of seven seasons, mostly for União de Leiria (five years). He also had spells in the country with Porto and Braga.[1]

Football career

Maciel was born in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. After beginning professionally with modest Bangu Atlético Clube and Volta Redonda Futebol Clube, he moved to Portugal in the 2001 summer, signing with U.D. Leiria and impressing well enough (22 goals in two full seasons) to eventually draw attention from Primeira Liga club FC Porto, which purchased the player in the 2004 January transfer window.[2]

Maciel contributed significantly to the team's domestic supremacy renewal, appearing in 18 games and scoring three times. He could not participate, however, in its victorious campaign in the UEFA Champions League, being cup-tied for having played with Leiria in the season's UEFA Cup.[3]

Under contract with Porto until the 2007 summer,[4] Maciel would only appear twice in competitive matches until the end of his link, one of them a 1–1 home draw against former side Leiria in September 2004. He would be loaned in quick succession Clube Atlético Paranaense, Leiria and S.C. Braga, amassing a further 50 appearances with eight goals in Portugal's top level for the latter two. Subsequently, he signed permanently for Leiria,[5] producing a disastrous campaign at all levels – only eight matches, no goals and club relegation, as last.

After nearly seven consecutive years in the same nation, Maciel left for Skoda Xanthi F.C. in Greece, in another unassuming spell. He then returned to his Brazil with lowly Associação Desportiva Cabofriense and Angra dos Reis Esporte Clube; in January 2010 he rejoined his very first professional club Volta Redonda, netting twice in his first three matches in the Campeonato Carioca.

Maciel played the remainder of his career in his country's lower leagues, including several spells with Madureira Esporte Clube.

Personal life

Maciel is father os the also footballer Mateus Cunha.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lembra dele? Atacante do histórico Porto de 2004, Maciel joga a várzea de Sorocaba e sonha ser técnico . GloboEsporte . 2 October 2023 . 25 January 2024 . pt.
  2. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=138644.html United lead recruitment drive
  3. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/season=2003/round=1717/match=71335/report=rp.html Coleraine pull off famous win
  4. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=136063.html Porto snap up Brazilian duo
  5. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=433912.html Paíto in pact with Braga