Hugo Viana

Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana (born 15 January 1983) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

After starting out at Sporting CP he moved abroad at the age of 19, going on to have unassuming spells in England (Newcastle United) and Spain (Valencia) before settling back in his country with Braga.

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 165 matches and 23 goals over six seasons.

The transfer was also a record for a player of his age, breaking the 1999 record held by Robbie Keane; Newcastle invested heavily in young players in that year, and chairman Freddie Shepherd reasoned by claiming consensus that he was the best young player in the world of football.

The signing was also the first major deal between Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes and an English club.

Viana joined former Sporting manager Bobby Robson at his new team, and was mentored by veteran Gary Speed.

He scored four goals in all competitions during his spell at St James' Park, against FK Željezničar Sarajevo and Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League and Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion in the league.

Viana was unable to cement a starting position, as Speed – for whom Robson saw the Portuguese as a future replacement – was not declining with age, while Kieron Dyer, Jenas and Laurent Robert were also in form.

Viana made his debut with Portugal on 14 November 2001, in a 5–1 friendly defeat of Angola.

On 20 June 2002, 19-year-old Viana was signed by Newcastle United from the Premier League for €12 million (£8.5 million), his transfer fee becoming a record for the Magpies for a teenager by surpassing the £5 million paid to Nottingham Forest for England under-21 international Jermaine Jenas.

He returned to Sporting on loan in July 2004.

He found his old form and enjoyed a successful spell, even helping the Lions to the final of the UEFA Cup.

Viana moved to Valencia CF at the start of 2005–06, again on loan.

In March 2006, reports stated that he had been signed on a permanent deal for £1.5 million.

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, he featured in 19 league games, and displayed some flashes of talent that allowed him to preserve his place in the Portugal national squad.

In a bid to secure first-team football, Viana decided to join fellow La Liga side CA Osasuna on loan, on 13 July 2007.

However, a serious injury during pre-season forced him out for four months.

After recovering, he played all of the last three matches, helping to a narrow escape from relegation.

In the 2008–09 campaign, Viana took no part in manager Unai Emery's plans, being restricted to four UEFA Cup matches and two appearances in the Copa del Rey.

On 31 July 2009, Viana was loaned to S.C. Braga for one season, thus returning to Portugal after three years.

As they 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 over C.F. Os Belenenses on 30 August.

On 31 October, he again found the net, from a free kick against S.L. Benfica in a 2–0 home victory where he received player of the match accolades.

The Minho side eventually finished in a best-ever second place, losing the title to precisely this team in the last matchday, with the player making 28 appearances (six as a reserve, he lost his importance after the return of Uruguayan Luis Aguiar on loan).

Viana regained his starting position in 2010–11 under the same manager, Domingos Paciência, as Aguiar eventually leaving the club.

On 6 March 2011, again from a direct free kick and against Benfica, he equalised for the hosts in an eventual 2–1 home win.

He added nine games (all starts) in Braga's UEFA Europa League runner-up run.

On 27 November 2011, in a game against FC Porto, Viana displayed a white T-shirt with the words 'Gary – Rest In Peace', in a tribute to Speed, who had committed suicide earlier that day.

Viana represented Portugal in two World Cups and Euro 2012, also appearing with the under-23s at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Born in Barcelos, Viana started his professional career at Sporting CP.

There, he won the Young European Footballer of the Year award after an excellent debut season in the Primeira Liga.

On 5 June 2013, Al Ahli Club from Dubai announced the signing of Viana effective as of 1 July, when his contract with Braga expired.

He made his debut on 30 August in the year's Arabian Gulf Super Cup at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, a penalty shootout victory after a goalless draw against Al Ain FC; his performance was described as "quiet" by The National, who attributed it to his unfamiliarity with the heat of the Middle Eastern summer.

He totalled 39 appearances and three goals across his first season, helping the team conquer a domestic treble after adding the UAE Arabian Gulf League and the UAE League Cup.

Viana agreed to a deal with Al-Wasl F.C. of the same city and league, but the transfer was one of several declared void by the UAE Football Association for missing the 3 October 2014 deadline.

It was completed the following 19 January.

He retired on 13 October 2016, aged 33.

In May 2017, Viana was appointed director of football at Belenenses.

He left his post six months later.

Viana returned to Sporting in 2018, in the same capacity.

In August 2021, he was suspended for 15 days and fined €2,295 for insulting the refereeing team after a game against F.C. Famalicão held four months earlier.