Tiago Bebe

Position: forward

Portugal

HAN	P	W	D	L	F	A	Diff	Win%
H	3	3	0	0	6	3	+3	100.00
A	4	2	1	1	8	6	+2	50.00
TOTALS	7	5	1	1	14	9	+5	71.43

Name: Tiago Manuel Dias Correia "Bebé"

Birthdate: 12-07-1990

Age: 35

Birthplace: Agualva-Cacém, Portugal

Height: 6' 2" (1.88m)

Weight: 11st 8lbs (73.48kg)

Years at Club: 2010-2014

Signing Info: Transferred from: Vitoria de Guimaraes, 16/08/2010, £7.4m

Previous Clubs: Estrela da Amadora Club, Vitoria de Guimaraes, Rio Ave (loan), Pacos de Ferreira (loan)

Debut: 22/09/2010 v Scunthorpe United (A) 5-2 (Carling Cup 3rd Round)

Farewell: Transferred to SL Benfica, 25/07/2014, £2.25m

Passed Away:

Biography

Bebé is a Portuguese professional footballer best known for his time as a forward at Manchester United, where he was signed under highly unusual circumstances in 2010. Having played only one season of professional football in Portugal before moving to Old Trafford, Bebé's signing raised eyebrows, as he was virtually unknown to most fans and football pundits. Although his time at Manchester United did not meet expectations, Bebé went on to carve out a respectable career in other European leagues, particularly in Spain's La Liga.

Early Life and Rise to Professional Football
Born in Agualva-Cacém, Portugal, a suburb of Lisbon, Bebé had a difficult upbringing and spent part of his youth in an orphanage. His early life was shaped by poverty, and he initially played street football before joining Estrela da Amadora's youth system.

Early Career at Estrela da Amadora and Vitória de Guimarães:
Bebé made his professional debut with Estrela da Amadora in Portugal's third division, but his breakthrough came when he joined Vitória de Guimarães in 2010. After a few impressive performances in pre-season, where he showcased his pace, power, and goal-scoring ability, Bebé attracted attention from top clubs, despite having very limited professional experience.

Transfer to Manchester United (2010)
In a surprising move, Manchester United signed Bebé in August 2010 for a reported fee of £7.4 million, just weeks after he had joined Vitória de Guimarães. The transfer was unusual because Bebé had been scouted only briefly, and even Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary United manager at the time, admitted to having never seen him play in person. The deal was largely brokered by his agent, Jorge Mendes, and it became one of the most unexpected signings in United's history.

Career at Manchester United (2010-2014)
Bebé's time at Manchester United was challenging. He struggled to adapt to the demands of English football and faced criticism for his lack of technical development. Despite showing flashes of potential, his performances were inconsistent, and he failed to establish himself in the first team.

Key Moments at Manchester United:
Debut Season: Bebé made his Manchester United debut in a League Cup match against Scunthorpe United in September 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in a League Cup match against Wolves in October 2010.

Limited Appearances: Over the course of his time at United, Bebé made only 7 appearances for the first team, scoring 2 goals in all competitions. His limited opportunities, combined with his struggles on the pitch, led to him being loaned out multiple times.
Loan Spells and Move Away from Manchester United
After failing to make an impact at Manchester United, Bebé was sent on several loan spells to gain experience. He had stints at Beşiktaş in Turkey, Rio Ave, and Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, but struggled to consistently perform at the level expected of a Manchester United player.

In 2014, Bebé was sold to Benfica, but he did not play a significant role at the club and was subsequently loaned out to various other teams.

Career Resurgence in Spain with Rayo Vallecano
Bebé's career found stability when he joined Rayo Vallecano in Spain's La Liga in 2015. While at Rayo, Bebé became a regular contributor, and his performances improved significantly. He showcased his pace and direct style of play as a winger, providing assists and scoring crucial goals for the club. His time in Spain helped rejuvenate his career, and he became a key player for Rayo, particularly during their promotion campaigns.

Playing Style: Powerful and Direct
Bebé is known for his athleticism, pace, and direct running. While his technical abilities have often been questioned, he possesses a strong physical presence and a powerful shot. As a winger or forward, Bebé is most effective when running at defenders, using his speed to get behind defenses and create opportunities for his team.

Legacy
Bebé is remembered for being one of the most unconventional signings in Manchester United's history. Despite his struggles at Old Trafford, he demonstrated resilience by continuing his career across Europe, eventually finding success in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano. His story is one of perseverance, as he overcame significant personal and professional challenges to forge a respectable career in football.

Summary
Bebé is a Portuguese forward who was signed by Manchester United in a highly unexpected move in 2010. Despite his limited impact at United, he continued his career across several leagues, eventually finding success in Spain with Rayo Vallecano. Known for his pace and powerful style of play, Bebé's journey from street football in Portugal to the biggest stage in England is a testament to his perseverance and resilience.



		League		League Cup		FA Cup		Charity Shield		European Cup		Europa League		Super Cup		Cup Winners Cup		Inter-cont Cup		World Clubs Cup

No	Season																					Season Goals	Season Apps
1.	2010-2011	0	2	1	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	7
TOTALS		0	2	1	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	7

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

No	Opponent

1.	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1	1
2.	Bursaspor	1	1

No	Opponent

1.	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2	1
2.	Scunthorpe United	1	0
3.	Sunderland	1	0
4.	Bursaspor	1	1
5.	West Ham United	1	0
6.	Crawley Town	1	0

No	Opponent Manager	No

1.	McCarthy, Mick	2
2.	Baraclough, Ian	1
3.	Bruce, Steve	1
4.	Saglam, Ertugrul	1
5.	Grant, Avram	1
6.	Evans, Steve	1

No	MUFC Managers	Count

Ferguson, Alex

No	Stadium	Count

1.	Old Trafford	3
2.	Boleyn Ground	1
3.	Bursa Ataturk Stadium	1
4.	Glanford Park	1
5.	Stadium of Light, Sunderland	1

No	Competition	Count

1.	League Cup	3
2.	Premiership	2
3.	European Cup	1
4.	FA Cup	1

No	Opponent	Count

1.	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2
2.	Scunthorpe United	1
3.	Sunderland	1
4.	Bursaspor	1
5.	West Ham United	1
6.	Crawley Town	1

No	Opponent Nationality	Count

1.	England	6
2.	Turkey	1

Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000

Date

Opponent

Competition

Own Goals

Player has never scored an own goal against the club.

No	Date	Opponent	WDL	F-A	Competition

Player never featured in a Cup Final.

No	Date	Opponents	Competition	Penaltys

Player has never scored a penalty for the club.

No	Date	Opponent	Competition	Goals

Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.

No	Date	Opponent	Competition

Player has never been sent off during a match.

All Matches played

No	Date	Comp	Opponent	WDL	F-A	HAN		Scorers	Opponent scorers
1.	22-09-2010	LC	Scunthorpe United	W	5-2	A	0	Darron Gibson 23', Chris Smalling 36', Michael Owen 49', 71', Ji-Sung Park 54'	Josh Wright 19', Martin Woolford 90'+1
2.	02-10-2010	PL	Sunderland	D	0-0	A	0
3.	26-10-2010	LC	Wolves	W	3-2	H	1	Tiago Bebe 56 ', Ji-Sung Park 70', Javier Hernandez 90'	George Elokobi 60', Kevin Foley 76'
4.	02-11-2010	EC/UCL	Bursaspor	W	3-0	A	1	Darren Fletcher 48', Gabriel Obertan 73', Tiago Bebe 77'
5.	06-11-2010	PL	Wolves	W	2-1	H	0	Ji-Sung Park 45', 90'+3	*Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 66'
6.	30-11-2010	LC	West Ham United	L	0-4	A	0		*Jonathan Spector 22', 37', Carlton Cole 56', 66'
7.	19-02-2011	FAC	Crawley Town	W	1-0	H	0	Wesley Brown 28'

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