 Vieirinha playing for PAOK in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adelino André Vieira Freitas | ||
| Date of birth | 24 January 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Guimarães, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | VfL Wolfsburg | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2003 | Vitória Guimarães | ||
| 2003–2004 | Porto | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2005 | Porto B | 38 | (11) |
| 2005–2009 | Porto | 8 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Marco (loan) | 13 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | → Leixões (loan) | 22 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | → PAOK (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | PAOK | 78 | (18) |
| 2012– | VfL Wolfsburg | 42 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2001 | Portugal U16 | 6 | (2) |
| 2002–2003 | Portugal U17 | 18 | (7) |
| 2003–2005 | Portugal U19 | 24 | (13) |
| 2005–2006 | Portugal U20 | 9 | (1) |
| 2007–2009 | Portugal U21 | 17 | (3) |
| 2009 | Portugal U23 | 4 | (0) |
| 2013– | Portugal | 4 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 September 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 June 2013 | |||
Adelino André Vieira Freitas (born 24 January 1986 in Guimarães), commonly known as Vieirinha, is aPortuguese professional footballer who plays for VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, as a winger.
Ambidextrous he started playing for Porto, but spent most of his professional career in Greece with PAOK.
Club career
Porto
Formed in the youth ranks of Vitória de Guimarães, Vieirinha caught the interest of F.C. Porto and eventually finished his football grooming there. After a six-month loan at second division's Futebol Clube do Marco he joined the first team for 2006–07, being given a four-year professional contract.[1]
Vierinha played his first official game for Porto on 11 August 2007, in the Portuguese Supercup againstVitória de Setúbal, subbing in at the 70th minute and scoring the game's last goal in the 89th, in a 3–0 final result.
Alongside teammates Diogo Valente and Paulo Machado, Vieirinha was loaned to top flight promoteesLeixões S.C. for the 2007–08 campaign. All proved instrumental as the Matosinhos outfit retained its league status at the season's close.
PAOK
Vieirinha then returned to Porto, being immediately loaned to PAOK F.C. of Greece, which had expressed interest in the player as Fernando Santos was at the club's helm at the time. A season-long loan was eventually arranged, as the player teamed up with compatriot Sérgio Conceição. After only a few games, he picked up a serious injury (torn ankle ligament[2]) in a derby against Aris Thessaloniki FC, caused by Vitolo, a player who would join PAOK in the following season; he returned to training during the January 2009 winter break, coming on as a substitute in a home game against OFI Crete.
In mid-July 2009, PAOK came to terms with Porto to make the move permanent for roughly €1 million, following Vierinha's wish to continue playing under coach Santos.[3] Late in the year he renewed his link until June 2013, with a €15 million buyout clause.
On 4 November 2010 diminutive Vieirinha scored with his head in a 1–0 home win against Villarreal CF ofSpain, for the season's UEFA Europa League.[4] He was also named the league's most valuable player, the second individual accolade in a row whilst at PAOK,[5][6] helping the team finish in third position and qualify to the Europa League.
Despite considerable transfer market speculation owing to his increased potential,[7] Vieirinha started the2011–12 season with PAOK, helping his side progress to the Europa League group stage; overall, he played in 126 official matches for the club, scoring 28 goals and making 21 assists.
Wolfsburg
With a short statement on 3 January 2012, PAOK announced the club had come to terms regarding the transfer of Vieirinha to German side VfL Wolfsburg. The player signed until June 2015 for approximately €4.000.000,[8][9] and made his Bundesliga debut on the 21st, playing 45 minutes in a 1–0 home win against 1. FC Köln.[10]
Vieirinha scored his first official goal for the Wolves on 9 March 2013, contributing to a 5–2 success at SC Freiburg with a volley from outside the box.[11]
International career
Vieirinha featured for every youth level of the Portuguese national team, from under-16 to under-23, earning a total of 92 caps and scoring 26 goals in the process. In November 2011 he received his first callup to the main squad, replacing injured Danny for the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vieirinha finally made his debut for Portugal on 22 March 2013, playing the last 30 minutes in a 3–3 away draw with Israel for the 2014 FIFA World Cupqualifiers
