Manuel José Azevedo Vieira (born 4 February 1981), known as Manuel José, is a Portuguese former professional footballer. Mainly a right midfielder, he could also play as an attacking right-back.

Club career

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Manuel José unsuccessfully graduated from FC Porto's academy, going on to serve a number of loans before being released in June 2005. He made his Primeira Liga debut with Académica de Coimbra, where he played from January to June 2003. After a solid season with Porto's neighbours Boavista FC, Manuel José joined Romania's CFR Cluj Portuguese contingent in June 2006, for €300,000. In his first year in Liga I he was a regular and the team player with the most assists, totalling 11; however, with the arrival of Ioan Andone as head coach in summer 2007, he lost his place in the starting XI and failed to regain that position. On 5 February 2009, Manuel José terminated his contract with Cluj. He returned to Portugal in July, signing with F.C. Paços de Ferreira. He scored a career-best eight goals in the 2012–13 campaign – in only 19 starts – being essential as the club finished third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.

Honours

Porto Vitória Setúbal Cluj