Manoel (footballer, born 1978)

Manoel Lourenço da Silva Filho, known simply as Manoel, is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as a centre forward.

Football career

Born in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Manoel started his professional career with Sport Club Internacional. In January 1999 he moved abroad and signed for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, but returned shortly after to his country.
Manoel would spend the following seven years in Portugal, playing for Vitória de Guimarães, Gil Vicente FC and Moreirense FC. In the 2005 summer he joined Sporting Clube de Portugal, but was immediately loaned to Vitória Guimarães and never appeared officially for the Lions; during his spell with the Minho side he failed to find the net in the league, in an eventual relegation-ending campaign.
After starting 2006–07 with C.F. Os Belenenses, also in the top flight, Manoel left Portugal and returned to his country, with lowly Clube de Regatas Brasil. In the following years he moved teams – and continents – constantly, playing for teams in Bulgaria, China and Bahrain.