Carlos Tevez

Position: Striker
Joined United: 10 Aug 2007
Transfer Fee: Undisclosed
Previous Clubs: West Ham
United Debut: 15 Aug 2007 v Portsmouth (A)
International Argentina

Titles
* 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Corinthians)
* 2004 – Olympic gold medal (Argentina)
* 2004 – Pre-Olympics (Argentina)
* 2004 – Copa Sudamericana (Boca Juniors)
* 2003 – Intercontinental Cup (Boca Juniors)
* 2003 – Argentine Apertura (Boca Juniors)
* 2003 – Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
* 2003 – South American under-20 Championship (Argentina)

Personal awards

* 2007 – West Ham United Hammer of the Year
* 2007 – Hammers News Player of the Year
* 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player by CBF (Brazilian Soccer Confederation)
* 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player (Brazilian Placar magazine)
* 2004 – Olimpia de Oro award for Argentine most important Sportperson of the year (Shared with Basketball player Manu Ginobili) (Clarín newspaper)
* 2004 – Olympic Golden Boot (8 goals in 6 matches)
* 2003, 2004 and 2005 – South American Player of the Year (Uruguayan newspaper El País)

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Fergie's fight for Super Men

Manchester United and Liverpool are set to fight it out for £6.5million-rated Monaco strike star Jeremy Menez. SunSport can reveal that both Premier League giants have sent scouts to watch the gifted Frenchman.
Menez, 20, has notched three goals in nine appearances for Monaco this season. And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and his United counterpart Alex Ferguson are both keen on landing the hitman.
Menez is a France Under-21 international and has already been tipped for greatness, with some pundits comparing his play-making skills with those of French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun Read more...

Wes out of England's squad

United defender Wes Brown will miss England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia on Saturday with a knee injury.

The versatile defender sat out United's wins over Roma and Wigan after sustaining the knock at Birmingham, but still joined up with Steve McClaren's side, however, with a view to playing at Wembley.

Brown missed training yesterday, before withdrawing from the squad entirely in order to continue his rehabilitation in Manchester. It is as yet unknown whether or not he will be available for England's second qualifier in Russia next Wednesday.

His withdrawal leaves England facing a shortage of fit defenders for the double-header, with Sol Campbell already out and John Terry currently nursing a broken cheekbone. Read more...

Reds duo 'best in Europe'

John O'Shea feels that, in Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, United are blessed with Europe's finest central defensive partnership.

The Reds' defence has made a rock-solid start to the season, conceding just two goals in eight Premier League games, and O'Shea feels Vidic and Ferdinand have been central to that record.

"It's a pretty happy camp at the moment, especially with the defensive situation with the clean sheets," O'Shea is quoted as telling the Manchester Evening News.

"Rio and Nemanja are definitely a major factor to it - you cannot ask for two better central defenders in Europe, in my opinion. I hope they will stay clear of injury because they have been a major influence on keeping the clean sheets."

The backline's miserly form laid the foundations for a title challenge during a start to the season in which goals have been hard to come by, until last weekend's thumping of Wigan.

And, with skipper Gary Neville set to make his comeback for the Reserves this week, O'Shea feels United's defence can continue to keep opponents at arm's length.

"For a defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a couple of goals," he said. "We hope we can keep it going. With the attacking quality we have, we know if we keep a clean sheet then nine times out of 10 we are going to win the game." Read more...

Simpson ready-made for Reds

The coach that helped guide Gary Neville through United's youth ranks says the Reds have a long-term successor for the club skipper.

Danny Simpson was impressive against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, complimenting a solid defensive display with an assist for Wayne Rooney, who capped off a 4-0 victory. The 20-year-old right-back clearly has a promising future. However, Eric Harrison, who coached the famed class of '92, says Neville will take some displacing.

"If Gary stays clear of injuries then I see him playing past his mid-30s," Harrison told the Manchester Evening News. "It's going to be a big battle for Danny, but at least the manager knows he has someone there with the potential and character to challenge Gary."

In years to come, Harrison believes Simpson has the attributes to make the grade at Old Trafford. "He is very similar to Gary in attitude," added Eric. "Gary wasn't as naturally talented or technically gifted as his contemporaries like David Beckham and Paul Scholes, but he was captain at 16 because he was made of the right stuff. He worked tirelessly on his game, grafting to become better technically and he succeeded by hard work.

"Danny is the same. He was a decent player as a young kid but not technically the best. But he listens, learns and it sinks in with him. His improvement has been tremendous. I don't know whether the coaches at United had question marks over him but when you see a young player work hard, take things on board and progress like Danny has you tick his box." Read more...

Trio nominated for FIFA award

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have made FIFA's shortlist for the World Player of the Year award.

AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka is being touted as the favourite to win the prestigious accolade, although he faces stiff competition, particularly from the likes of United's very own Cristiano Ronaldo, who was instrumental in the Reds' title success last season.

The successor to last year's winner, Italy's inspirational defender Fabio Cannavaro, will be announced at the FIFA World Player Gala 2007 on 17 December in Zurich.

World Player of the Year shortlist: Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep), Ronaldo (United, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (Milan, Italy), Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (United, England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (United, Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Inter Milan, France). Read more...