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Miguel VelosoPortuguese footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Portugal |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Breakthrough at Sporting CP
- International Recognition
- Club Career in Italy and Ukraine
- International Career
- Achievements
Early Life and Career
Miguel Ângelo Tavares Veloso, a Portuguese footballer, was born on May 11, 1986, in Lisbon, Portugal. His father, António Veloso, was a former captain and defender for Benfica Lisbon. Despite his family's footballing connections, Miguel failed to make the cut at Benfica due to concerns about his weight.
However, he found acceptance at Benfica's rivals, Sporting CP, where he spent five years playing for the youth teams. In 2004-05, he broke into the senior team, initially as a central defender. To gain experience, he was loaned to Olivais e Moscavide in 2005.
Breakthrough at Sporting CP
Veloso's performances at Olivais e Moscavide earned him a recall to Sporting CP. He made his debut for the club in a Champions League match against Inter Milan, which Sporting won 1-0. Veloso was named Man of the Match for his impressive display.
Despite competition from established players like Tonel, Anderson Polga, Custódio, and Marco Caneira, Veloso gradually became a regular in Sporting's lineup. His consistent performances led to a contract extension until 2013 in January 2007.
International Recognition
Veloso's rapid rise continued with his debut for the Portugal national team. After impressing at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he was called up by then-coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. He made his international debut on October 13, 2007, against Azerbaijan.
Club Career in Italy and Ukraine
In July 2010, Veloso joined Italian club Genoa. He made 49 appearances for Genoa, scoring two goals. On July 4, 2012, he moved to Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv for a reported fee of €10 million.
At Dynamo Kyiv, Veloso quickly established himself as a key player. He scored his first goal for the club against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and was named as the First Part of the Season Player of the Year by the fans at the end of the 2012-13 Ukrainian Premier League season.
International Career
Veloso has been a regular member of the Portugal national team since his debut in 2007. He scored his first international goal against Malta in 2008. At the 2012 UEFA European Championship, Portugal reached the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Spain. Veloso played a key role in the team's success.
Achievements
Club- Sporting CP
- Portuguese Championship runner-up: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
- Portuguese Cup winner: 2006-07, 2007-08
- Portuguese Super Cup winner: 2007, 2008
- Dynamo Kyiv
- Ukrainian Premier League champion: 2014-15, 2015-16
- Ukrainian Cup winner: 2013-14, 2014-15
International
- Portugal
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship winner: 2003
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2012
