Vitorino Antunes

Football player infobox
playername = Vitorino Antunes
fullname = Vitorino Gabriel Pacheco Antunes
height = height|m=1.76|cm=
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|4|1
cityofbirth = Freamunde
countryofbirth = Portugal
currentclub = US Lecce
clubnumber = 30
position = Left defender
years = 2004-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-
2008-2009
clubs = SC Freamunde
Paços de Ferreira
→AS Roma (loan)
AS Roma
→US Lecce (loan)
caps(goals) = 44 (0)
25 (3)
5 (0)

nationalyears = 2005-2006
2006-
2007-
nationalteam = Portugal U19
Portugal U21 Portugal
nationalcaps(goals) = 5 (2)
? (?) 3 (0)
pcupdate = September 1, 2008
ntupdate = September 19, 2008

Vitorino Gabriel Pacheco Antunes (born April 1, 1987 in Freamunde) is a Portuguese international footballer, who plays in the left-back position for U.S. Lecce, on loan from A.S. Roma, in the Italian Serie A. He possesses a tremendous left-foot strike, which makes him a good asset in offensive set-pieces.

Club career

Antunes joined "Portuguese Liga" club F.C. Paços de Ferreira in 2006-07, on a free transfer from Portuguese Second Division Sport Clube Freamunde, where he started playing professional football. After a season of excellent displays, he was linked with moves to F.C. Porto, S.L. Benfica, Sporting C.P., Atlético de Madrid, AJ Auxerre, Aston Villa and R.S.C. Anderlecht. [ [http://www.portugoal.net/PFerreira/AntunesChase.htm Antunes chase] ] On August 29, 2007, just two days before the close of the transfer window, Italian giants A.S. Roma bought Antunes on a loan deal, with the option to buy him permanently until April 15, 2008. [http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/24541/«La+Roma+ha+riscattato+Antunes» Roma rescues Antunes] it icon]

Antunes made his official Roma debut on December 12, 2007 during the UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United and was chosen as the man of the match, in a poll conducted by the club's web. [ [http://www.asroma.it/risultatoPoll.aspx?Poll=367 UEFA CL: Roma-Manchester United man-of-the-match] it icon]

On January 20, 2008, he played his first league match, subbing in in a 2-0 home win over Catania Calcio, a team he also played against, as a starter, in an Italian Cup semi-final match in April 2008, which ended with another home success (1-0). He was, however, virtually absent in the league, barred by Italian internationals Max Tonetto and Marco Cassetti (5 appearances, 64 minutes played). On April 2, 2008, Roma exercised their right to full ownership, paying Paços de Ferreira the sum of €1.2 million. After signing, Antunes was immediately loaned to promoted U.S. Lecce for 2008-09. [ [http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=114172 Antunes to Lecce] it icon]

References

External links

* [http://www.asroma.it/LaSquadraDoc.aspx?Numero=8072 AS Roma profile] it icon
* [http://en.worldsoccerstats.com/player/5661 Stats at WorldSoccerStats.com]
* [http://www.zerozero.eu/uk/jogador.php?id=29102 Stats and profile at zerozero.pt]