Fernando Meira

Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira (Portuguese pronunciation: [fɨɾˈnɐ̃du ˈmɐjɾɐ]; born 5 June 1978) is a Portuguese former footballer who played mainly as a central defender.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Freitas Meira.
Fernando Meira
Meira in 2009
Personal information
Full name Fernando José da Silva Freitas Meira
Date of birth (1978-06-05) 5 June 1978[1]
Place of birth Guimarães, Portugal[1]
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1988–1992 Vitória Guimarães
1992–1993 Ribeira de Pena
1993–1996 Vitória Guimarães
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Vitória Guimarães 53 (2)
1998–1999 → Felgueiras (loan) 33 (0)
2000–2001 Benfica 46 (2)
2002–2008 VfB Stuttgart 173 (11)
2008–2009 Galatasaray 21 (0)
2009–2011 Zenit St. Petersburg 35 (1)
2011–2012 Zaragoza 12 (0)
Total 373 (16)
National team
1997–1998 Portugal U20 14 (0)
1998–2000 Portugal U21 20 (0)
2000–2008 Portugal 54 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In his country, he represented most notably Vitória de Guimarães, also playing one year with Benfica. After a lengthy spell in Germany with Stuttgart, he went on to appear for teams in Turkey, Russia and Spain.[2]

A strong and skillful defender,[3] Meira played 54 times for the Portugal national team, being part of the squads at one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Early career / Benfica

Born in Guimarães, Meira began his professional career with hometown's Vitória Sport Clube, but only had one solid season with its first team, in 1999–2000 (precisely his last), as he appeared in 30 of his 53 games with the Minho side. In 1998 he was also loaned, to F.C. Felgueiras of the second division, being an essential defensive unit as they narrowly missed out on promotion after finishing fifth.[4]

In the summer of 2000, Meira joined Primeira Liga giants S.L. Benfica for a €4 million transfer fee plus one player. He played 31 matches in his first season – 30 starts – and was also awarded team captaincy, but the Lisbon club did not win any silverware during his stint.

Stuttgart

In January 2002, Meira signed for VfB Stuttgart in Germany for €7.5 million[5]– it was the Bundesliga club's record transfer fee until July 2007, when they signed Ciprian Marica from FC Shakhtar Donetsk for €8 million,[6] and general manager Rolf Rüssmann described the player as a "trophy" signing, showing great ambitions for the future.[7] He made his league debut on the 26th in a 3–0 home win against Hamburger SV, playing the entire game as a stopper.[8][9]

OMeira scored his first goal for Stuttgart on 23 February 2002, in a 1–1 draw at F.C. Hansa Rostock where he also conceded a penalty which resulted in the opponents' goal.[10] His second came on 7 April in a 2–0 away victory over SC Freiburg,[11] and he finished his first year with 14 league appearances to help his side finish in eighth position.

In the 2002–03 campaign, Felix Magath fielded Meira in 31 league games, and only a suspension prevented him from taking part in all 34 fixtures as they finished second behind FC Bayern Munich to achieve qualification honours to the UEFA Champions League. He missed two UEFA Cup matches, including the home win against Celtic in the round of 16's second leg,[12] and found the net in the second round's 2–0 home defeat of Ferencvárosi TC.[13]

For the 2006–07, Meira was named captain by manager Armin Veh,[14] making him the first Portuguese ever to achieve that feat in the Bundesliga.[15] He appeared in 20 matches and added three goals as the Baden-Württemberg club was crowned national champions for the first in 15 years,[16] adding four in a runner-up run in the DFB-Pokal.

Over a six-and-a-half-year spell, Meira made 230 competitive appearances and scored 13 goals.[17] He left the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in summer 2008, aged 30.

Galatasaray

On 20 July 2008, at the end of the 2007–08 season, Stuttgart stripped Meira of the captaincy and announced their intention to sell the player.[18] Two days later, he agreed to a four-year deal at Galatasaray SK for €4.5 million.[19][20]

Meira made his official team debut in the season's Turkish Super Cup, a 2–1 win against Kayserispor,[21] but left Turkey at the end of the campaign, with his team only ranking in fifth position in the Süper Lig.

Zenit

In mid-March 2009, after reported interest from FC Zenit Saint Petersburg as the player grew unsettled in Istanbul,[22][23] Meira signed for the Russian club for €4.5 million,[24] being awarded the number 3 shirt previously worn by Martin Škrtel.[25]

He made his Russian Premier League debut on 15 March 2009, starting in a 1–1 away draw to FC Spartak Moscow. On 5 April he netted his first goal for his new team, in a 3–0 victory at FC Tom Tomsk.

Later years

On 15 August 2011, aged 33, Meira joined Real Zaragoza from Spain after mutually terminating his contract with Zenit.[26] He made his official debut 13 days later, starting and being booked in a 0–6 home loss against Real Madrid.[27]

In his spell with the Aragonese, Meira featured almost exclusively as a defensive midfielder, partnering Leonardo Ponzio.[28][29] He terminated his contract on 1 February 2012, as the side were placed last in the league;[30] late into the year, not being able to find a new club, he retired from football.

International career

After having earned 20 caps for the under-21s, Meira made his full debut for Portugal on 11 October 2000 in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.[31] In 2004 he played three games at the Summer Olympic Games, in an eventual group stage exit.[32][2]

Meira was selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Benefitting from injury to Jorge Andrade, he appeared in all of Portugal's seven matches in the tournament as the national team finished fourth.[33]

Meira was also a regular fixture at UEFA Euro 2008 held in Austria and Switzerland, playing three group stage matches but missing the quarter-final clash with Germany, a 3–2 defeat.[34][35][36]

Career statistics

Club

[37][38][39]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Portugal League Taça de Portugal Taça da Liga Europe Total
1999–00Vitória GuimarãesPrimeira Liga30240——342
2000–01BenficaPrimeira Liga31030—20360
2001–0215220——172
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2001–02StuttgartBundesliga14200——142
2002–0331120—61392
2003–0432130—80431
2004–0516110—31202
2005–0632020—60400
2006–0720340——243
2007–0828330—60373
Turkey League Türkiye Kupası League Cup Europe Total
2008–09GalatasaraySüper Lig21060—100370
Russia League Russian Cup League Cup Europe Total
2009ZenitRussian Premier League22120—20261
201011030—50190
2011–121030—4080
Spain League Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
2011–12ZaragozaLa Liga12000—00120
Total Portugal 76490—20874
Germany 17311150—29221713
Turkey 21060—100370
Russia 34180—110531
Spain 12000—00120
Career total 30516380—50240318

International

[40]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 200020
200150
200240
200370
200410
200572
2006100
200780
2008100
Total542

International goals
Fernando Meira: International goals
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition

[41][40]

14 June 2005Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal Slovakia1–02–02006 World Cup qualification
217 August 2005Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada), Ponta Delgada, Portugal Egypt1–02–0Friendly

Honours

Club

Stuttgart

Galatasaray

Zenit

Orders

References
  1. "Fernando Meira". Eurosport. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. Pinheiro, Susana (22 June 2006). "Fernando Meira". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  3. "Fernando Meira". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  4. Simões de Abreu, Alexandra (9 July 2017). "Fernando Meira: "O diretor do Zenit foi comigo a um stand e mandou-me escolher o carro. Comecei a rir e saí ao volante de um X6"" [Fernando Meira: “The director of Zenit went with me to a dealership and told me to choose a car. I started laughing and left behind the wheel of a X6”]. Expresso (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. "Fernando Meira: "É boa oportunidade para provar o que valho"" [Fernando Meira: "It's a good opportunity to prove my worth"]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 January 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. "Bundesliga reaches cash crossroads". ESPN Soccernet. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  7. "Fernando Meira: "Era altura de buscar algo novo"" [Fernando Meira: "It was time to search for something new"]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 January 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. "Fernando Meira: "Trabalho com o objectivo de ir ao Mundial"" [Fernando Meira: "I work to go to the World Cup"]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 January 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  9. Linnenbrügger, Matthias (27 January 2002). "HSV im Abstiegskampf" [HSV in relegation battle]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  10. "Fernando Meira faz "penalty" e empata de cabeça" [Fernando Meira concedes penalty and draws with his head]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 February 2002. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  11. "Fernando Meira marca golo" [Fernando Meira scores goal]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 April 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. "Celtic kill off Stuttgart". BBC Sport. 27 February 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  13. "Amanatidis inspires Stuttgart win". UEFA. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  14. "Don't look back". Bundesliga. 2 August 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  15. Schlütter, Klaus (16 July 2008). "Wechselwünsche nerven Trainer Armin Veh" [Coach Armin Veh walks on egg shells]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  16. "VfB Stuttgart crowned Bundesliga champions". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 19 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2009.
  17. Winkelhagen, André (17 January 2019). "VfB Stuttgart: Wenig Erfolg mit Rekordtransfers" [VfB Stuttgart: Little success with record transfers] (in German). bwin. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  18. "Meira departs going". VfB Stuttgart. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  19. "Fernando Meira Galatasaray'da!" [Fernando Meira signs with Galatasaray!] (in Turkish). Galatasaray SK. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  20. "Portugal defender Fernando Meira leaves Stuttgart for Galatasaray". International Herald Tribune. 23 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  21. "Galatasaray won the Super Cup!". Galatasaray SK. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  22. "Meira headed for Zenit?". PortuGOAL. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  23. "Zenit's Meira interest confirmed". PortuGOAL. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
  24. "Zenit take Meira off Galatasaray's hands". UEFA. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  25. "Fernando Meira chose shirt No 3". FC Zenit. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  26. "El Zaragoza anuncia el fichaje de Fernando Meira" [Zaragoza announce signing of Fernando Meira]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 15 August 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  27. "Ronaldo gets Madrid show underway". ESPN Soccernet. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  28. Castarlenas Vaquero, Francisco Javier (27 September 2011). "Aguirre encuentra el equilibrio con Ponzio y Meira" [Aguirre finds the balance with Ponzio and Meira] (in Spanish). Aragón Digital. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  29. "Aguirre probó ayer con Juan Carlos y Lafita en las bandas" [Aguirre tested Juan Carlos and Lafita on the wings yesterday]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 13 October 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  30. Gaudioso, Sonia (1 February 2012). "Fernando Meira deja el Real Zaragoza" [Fernando Meira leaves Real Zaragoza]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  31. Queiroz, Manuel (12 October 2000). "Um "matador" chamado Pauleta" [A "killer" called Pauleta]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  32. Fernando Meira – FIFA competition record
  33. "Euro2008 – Nuno Gomes iguala cinco presenças de Figo" [Euro2008 – Nuno Gomes equals Figo's five presences] (in Portuguese). Bom Dia. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  34. McNulty, Phil (7 June 2008). "Portugal 2–0 Turkey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  35. Hughes, Ian (11 June 2008). "Czech Republic 1–3 Portugal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  36. Chowdhury, Saj (15 June 2008). "Turkey 3–2 Czech R & Switzerland 2–0 Portugal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  37. "Fernando Meira". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  38. "Fernando Meira". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  39. Fernando Meira at ESPN FC
  40. "Fernando Meira". European Football. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  41. Costa, Onofre (18 August 2005). "Postiga on target for Portugal". UEFA. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  42. "Stuttgart 2–0 Lille (aggregate: 2–1)". UEFA. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  43. "Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança" [National team honoured by Duke of Bragança] (in Portuguese). Cristiano Ronaldo News. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2006.
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