Marco Caneira

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Marco António Simões Caneira (born 9 February 1979) in Sintra, Portugal is an international Portuguese football defender, currently with Sporting CP. He preferably plays as a central defender, but is equally at ease on the right or the left back. He also played as a defensive midfielder when he was younger.^{[citation needed]} He is also known as TEH FACE.

[edit] Club career

Marco Caneira began his career at the Sporting Clube de Portugal youth system, eventually graduating to the senior squad. After signing a professional contract, Caneira immediately went on loan to SC Beira-Mar.

Caneira, along with fellow Sporting players Paulo Costa, and Vasco Faísca was then involved in a somewhat complicated 2000 transfer between F.C. Alverca, who had gained 50% of their rights, and Internazionale Milano, a move orchestrated by the players' agent, Paulo Barbosa. Caneira was immediately sent out on loan to Reggina Calcio. After a season, he Caneira was sent from Inter to SL Benfica on a two-year long loan.

After 2001-02, however, Caneira left for another loan spell, this time with Ligue 1 giants FC Girondins de Bordeaux, where he enjoyed a successful season. Indeed, at the end of his first season with Bordeaux, the club officially signed him from Inter, handing him a four-year contract. After his second season at Bordeaux, Caneira was loaned out again, this time to Valencia CF, who Bordeaux had faced twice in the UEFA Champions League 2003-04.

After two seasons at Valencia, Caneira returned to Portugal, signing a 3-year loan contract with Sporting in January 2006, where he displayed consistent defensive performances, also scoring a goal against former owners Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, in a September 12 1-0 home win. In August 2007, he returned to Quique Sánchez Flores's Valencia.On the 5th june he signed for Sporting CP for 1,500,000 euros.

[edit] International career

An international since 2002, Caneira was selected for the national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but did not play. Left out of the squad for Euro 2004, Caneira returned for the 2006 World Cup, playing in Portugal's last group stage match against Mexico (2-1 win).

[edit] Honours

• Portuguese Cup 2007
• UEFA Super Cup 2004
• Copa del Rey 2008

v • d • e Portugal squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 V. Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 A. Xavier • 4 Caneira • 5 F. Couto • 6 P. Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Pauleta • 10 Rui Costa • 11 S. Conceição • 12 H. Viana • 13 J. Andrade • 14 P. Barbosa • 15 Nélson • 16 Ricardo • 17 P. Bento • 18 Frechaut • 19 Capucho • 20 Petit • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Beto • 23 Rui Jorge • Coach: A. Oliveira

v • d • e Portugal squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place 1 Ricardo • 2 P. Ferreira • 3 Caneira • 4 R. Costa • 5 Meira • 6 Costinha • 7 Figo • 8 Petit • 9 Pauleta • 10 H. Viana • 11 Simão • 12 Quim • 13 Miguel • 14 N. Valente • 15 Boa Morte • 16 R. Carvalho • 17 C. Ronaldo • 18 Maniche • 19 Tiago • 20 Deco • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 P. Santos • 23 H. Postiga • Coach: Scolari

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