Silvestre Varela

Profile Football Stars | Silvestre Varela | In 2007-08 Varela, alongside two former Sporting players, Beto and Carlos Martins, Recreativo de Huelva played for in Spain (Varela on loan again).  Before the season was over, in March 2009, courtesy of his solid performances at Estrela, only relegated from the top division off the field, Varela signed a four-year agreement with champions FC Porto, on a free transfer, starting in July.

In his first season at Porto, Varela ranked second in overall goals in the team, only behind Colombian striker Radamel Falcao. On 16 February 2012, in a rare start, he put Porto ahead against Manchester City in the season's UEFA Europa League round-of-32, in an eventual 1-2 home loss.

Porto courtesy of his performances, gained his first full Varela cap for Portugal on 3 March 2010, Appearing in the second half of the 2-0 friendly win with China, in a match played in Coimbra. Varela was selected by manager Paulo Bento for the 23-man squad competed in the UEFA That Euro 2012.

Personal information
Full name Silvestre Varela Manuel Gonçalves
Date of birth February 2, 1985 (age 27)
Place of birth Almada, Portugal
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Winger

Club information
Current club Porto
Number 17

Youth career
2000-2002 Pescadores
2002-2004 Sporting CP

Senior career
years Team
2004-2008 Sporting CP 2 (0)
2004-2005 Casa Pia (loan) 36 (11)
Vitória Setúbal 2006-2007 (loan) 45 (4)
2007-2008 Recreativo (loan) 22 (0)
Estrela Amadora 2008-2009 28 (5)
2009-Porto 65 (21)

National team
2005-2007 Portugal U21 26 (6)
2010 - Portugal 8 (2)

Honours

Club
Porto
     UEFA Europa League: 2010-11
     Portuguese League: 2010-11, 2011-12
     Portuguese Cup: 2009-10, 2010-11
     Portuguese Supercup: 2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Super Cup: Runner-up 2011

     Portuguese League Cup: Runner-up 2009-10

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Mario Mandzukic

Profile Football Stars | Mario Mandzukic | The summer of 2007 he was bought by the Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb for € 1.3 million as a replacement for Their star striker Eduardo da Silva. He finished his first season at Dinamo with 12 goals and 11 assists throughout 29 matches, but also had a bad discipline record, collecting eight yellow cards. In the 2008-09 Mandžukić Prva HNL league's top goalscorer was, bagging 16 goals in 28 appearances. After the 2008-09 season had finished he was linked with German side Werder Bremen, but the € 12m offer was rejected by Dinamo Zagreb who board were of opinion That Mandžukić's price was at least € 15m.

On 17 September 2009, after Dinamo lost 2-0 at home to Anderlecht in the Europa League, Mandžukić was controversially fined € 100k after being Accused for poor performance. On 20 September, Mandžukić captained Dinamo to a 6-0 victory against Rijeka in Prva HNL. In a post-match interview Mandžukić rejected any speculations about him leaving the club after the fine, stating That it was his childhood dream to captain Dinamo side and that 'he tends to give his best in any match he plays for the club.

On 14 July 2010 signed for VFL Wolfsburg Mandžukić for a fee believed to be around € 8 million. According to Kicker, Mandžukić is available for transfer at a fair price, though as he still has two years left on his contract, is not available on a free transfer.

After putting together a string of solid performances in the 2007-08 Prva HNL, as well as in Dinamo's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup matches, he earned a call-up to the Croatian national team, for the which he debuted in a game against Macedonian on 17 November 2007. On 10 September 2008, he scored his first ever goal for Croatia in a 4-1 loss against England. He scored twice in Croatia's opening game of Euro 2012 against Republic of Ireland.

Personal information
Full name Mario Mandžukić
Date of birth 21 May 1986 (age 26)
Place of birth Slavonski Brod, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger

Club information
Current club VFL Wolfsburg
Number 18

Youth career
1992-1996 TSF Ditzingen
1996-2003 Marsonia
Zeljeznicar Slavonski Brod 2003-2004

Senior career
years Team
2004-2005 Marsonia 23 (14)
NK Zagreb 2005-2007 51 (14)
Dinamo Zagreb 2007-2010 81 (42)
2010-VfL Wolfsburg 56 (20)

National team
Croatia 2005-2007 U21 7 (1)
2007-Croatia 31 (8)

Honours

Club
     Dinamo Zagreb Croatia
         Croatian champions: 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10
         Croatian Cup: 2008, 2009 

Individual
         Prva HNL top goalscorer: 2008-09
         Prva HNL best player: 2008-09

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