Tiago Cardoso Mendes



D.O.B: 02/05/1981 in Viana do Castelo (Portugal)
Position: Central midfielder
Squad number: -
Nationality: Portuguese
Height: 1.83m (6'0")
Weight: 75kg
Nickname(s): Tiago, Lavatrice, Bradipo

Serie A debut JUVENTUS 5-1 Livorno, 25/8/07

International debut PORTUGAL 2-0 Scotland, 20/11/02

1999-00 Sporting Braga A 18 1
2000-01 Sporting Braga A 27 -
2001-02 Sporting Braga A 17 3
Jan 2002 Benfica A 15 1
2002-03 Benfica A 31 13
2003-04 Benfica A 29 5
2004-05 Chelsea A 34 4
2005-06 Lyon A 29 5
2006-07 Lyon A 27 4
2007-08 Juventus A 19 -
2008-09 Juventus A 15 -
2009-10 Juventus A 8 -
Jan 2010 Atlético Madrid PD 15 2
2010-11 Atlético Madrid PD 27 4

Honours

1 Premier League (2004-05)
2 Le Championnat (2005-06, 2006-07)
1 Community Shield (2005)
1 F.A. Cup (2005)
1 Taça de Portugal (2004)

Tiago Cardoso Mendes was born on the 2nd of May 1980; his mum Julia is a kindergarten teacher, while dad Carlos works as an impresario. His only brother, Duarte, is a student.
He has a wife, Barbara, and two lovely children: Beatriz and Francisco.
In his spare time he spends a lot of time with his family. Little Francisco needs a lot of attention and Tiago often helps his wife Barbara.
When possible, he treats himself to a good movie, like Braveheart, with Mel Gibson, his favourite actor.
He listens to a lot of music: all kinds of stuff, depending on the moment and his mood, but U2 are the one group he couldn't do without. Beautiful Day is the song he listens to more often.

Tiago is learning to appreciate Italian cuisine and is rapidly falling in love with it, but the dish he just can't live without is the Bacalhau à bras (grilled cod) that his wife cooks for him. He doesn't drink wine.

His dress sense is like his personality: unfussy and informal. He favours casual wear, jeans and trainers, and doesn't spend much on accessories.

When he's not playing football, he plays tennis (he admits that he's not very good, but he's just started taking lessons) and is a fan of indoor hockey, a sport in which Portugal has excelled for years. He's also a huge Formula 1 and Motorbike racing fan. His favourite sportsman is undoubtedly Federer, whom he considers the most complete all-rounder of the last 10 years, a true champion.

Tiago began playing football when he was 8, in the Vianense team. He played as forward until the age of 15, when he began to switch to midfield. The best moment of his football career was at the 2004 European Championships.
It all went perfectly well up until the defeat in the final against Greece.

He has a grand dream as a professional, which he's hoping to achieve at Juventus: to win the Champions League.

Time to step up for Tiago perhaps if Zanetti is out for a few weeks, he is in the last chance saloon.

GDS rating so far: 5.78

Juventus midfielder Tiago Mendes has been voted the biggest transfer flop of the season in Serie A by an online poll.

There were high hopes for the Portuguese international when he joined the Old Lady from Lyon last summer, but he failed to settle in his new surroundings.

Tiago was lambasted by Press and fans alike during a disastrous first half of the season, but has regained some form in recent months.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old’s dismal start proved enough to convince voters in the Corriere dello Sport’s survey that he was the worst buy of the campaign.

Lazio’s error-prone goalkeeper Fernando Muslera received the second largest quantity of votes, followed by Cagliari’s misfiring Argentine striker Joaquin Larrivey.

There are also mentions for two of Italy’s most respected hitmen.

Cristiano Lucarelli has failed to meet expectations at struggling Parma and Rolando Bianchi has looked a shadow of the man who inspired Reggina since joining Lazio.

The top 10 flops:

1. Tiago Mendes (Juventus)
2. Fernando Muslera (Lazio)
3. Joaquin Larrivey (Cagliari)
4. Diego Tristan (Livorno)
5. Alvaro Recoba (Torino)
6. Mauro Esposito (Roma)
7. Emerson (Milan)
8. Sergio Almiron (Juventus)
9. Rolando Bianchi (Lazio)
10. Cristiano Lucarelli (Parma)


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He doesn't deserve to be top, but he is a Juve player so gained most votes from Juve fans AND opposition fans. In my opinion Recoba, Emerson, Diego Tristan and the laughable Muslera have been considerably worse, Tiago actually has assists but it hasn't been a good year for him.

Tiago Mendes has threatened to leave Juventus to return to Portugal in January if his first-team demands are not met.

In the past few weeks the former Lyon ace finally earned a space in the Bianconeri midfield, starting to justify his hefty transfer fee.

However, his latest comments will come as a real shock to both the club and fans after the situation seemed to be resolved.

“I am not playing a lot and that is why I would like to go back to Portugal,” he revealed to Portuguese TV Antena1.

“If from now until January things don't change then I will look for the best option available.”

Tiago, aged 27, has been requested by several clubs in the past including the likes of Atletico Madrid and Everton, but has always turned down any offer.

“Benfica are my team but since I am a professional I cannot say that they are the only team I would play for in my homeland.”

An interesting option for both the former Chelsea man and Juventus would be a switch with Porto defender Bruno Alves, who has been linked to the Old Lady in the past.

Despite his comments, Tiago has been praised by President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli recently and is set to start alongside Momo Sissoko on Wednesday night against Real Madrid.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov3x.html

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Stupid git, he is playing at the moment.

Finally looks like a €10m player.

Tiago has been called into the Portugal squad for their friendly with Brasil, his first call up in 15 months.

he frriggin trapped his owner while he was taking a shit

Apparently Marseille want Tiago, I think it would be a good move for all concerned. However Secco said yesterday that they were not actively looking to sell Tiago as he could thrive in the new system.

I think Ferrara also wants to keep Poulsen as the alternative to Sissoko though, so if Marseille offer a good fee then he could be sold as we already have four pure central midfielders and D'Agostino is arriving.

“I have a contract that ties me to Juventus until 2012, but in football you never know,” he told Portuguese media Maisfutbol.

“French football does not receive much publicity, but I was happy there. Obviously the Premier League is right up there, but Italian football is very tactical and does not suit my characteristics.

“A return to Portugal would also be a nice option, as I have never won the title in my homeland and given the opportunity I’d like to achieve that dream.”

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I think in a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3 he might do better, but I think he will be sold this summer.

2008-09 Serie A stats

Games / Minutes: 15 / 937
Goals: 0
Shots / off target / saved: 13 / 0 / 5
Assists / Completed: 12 / 0
Crosses / Successful: 18 / 4
Passes / Successful: 477 / 402
Interceptions / Successful: 11 / 7
Tackles / Won: 18 / 7
Balls stolen: 43
Challenges / Won: 31 / 28
Offsides: 1
Fouls: 36
Fouls suffered: 19
Cautions: 3
Expulsions: 1

Juve block Tiago exit

Juventus have shocked their own fans and Italian football in general by insisting that Tiago Mendes is not for sale.

The Portuguese international was seen by many as surplus to requirements after two difficult seasons in Turin.

Signed in the summer of 2007 on the club’s return from Serie B, the former Lyon and Chelsea star has failed to live up to his £11m price tag.

After failing to find him a new home last summer, Juve were thought to have put him on the market again given that they are expected to sign Felipe Melo from Fiorentina.

However, sporting director Alessio Secco has made it absolutely clear that the potentially classy playmaker is going nowhere.

“We’ve had a number of offers for him, but he is not for sale,” stated the constantly questioned Juve official.

“He’s not going anywhere because we are counting on him for the new season. Coach Ciro Ferrara sees him as an important figure in a three-man midfield.”

While Tiago is untouchable, it is no secret that the club are trying to offload Danish international Christian Poulsen.

The latter struggled to make an impact during his first season in Italy and Juve are looking to recoup the £7m which they spent on him a year ago.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul13b.html

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It could work, but this is his last season to make an impact.

Tiago: Ferrara sets me free

Tiago Mendes tells Juventus fans they will finally see “the real me” under Ciro Ferrara’s diamond midfield system.

The former Chelsea man was drafted in as Claudio Ranieri’s biggest signing two years ago, but struggled to make an impact in the 4-4-2 line-up.

“I am much happier in a three-man midfield,” he told the Corriere dello Sport. “It means working harder, but also having more freedom.

“Now I can push forward, try to slot in to attacking moves, the things I always used to do and really enjoyed.”

Tiago got his first taste of the new Juve when he played in Wednesday’s 4-1 friendly win over Cisco Roma.

“There is a renewed sense of enthusiasm. We are a good squad and Ferrara wants us to play the ball. This will be a more entertaining Juventus,” continued the Portugal international.

“The Coach wants to win and proved he feels like one of us. He helped me a great deal personally and it was important to know he had faith in me.”

Ferrara did warn Tiago was “struggling in training,” but the midfielder assures it is only temporary.

“I have never worked so hard in my life! Certainly I feel tired and have some physical problems, but I am convinced in the end we will have a great season together.”

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul16m.html

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This is his last chance, I think he will do better in a midfield three.

Tiago 'reborn' under Ferrara

Tiago Mendes has credited Ciro Ferrara with finally helping him make his mark at Juventus and in Serie A.

The former Chelsea and Lyon midfielder had been an unmitigated flop in his first two seasons, but seems to be finding his feet since Claudio Ranieri’s dismissal.

“My rebirth is down to feeling the faith that the Coach has in me and the new system that allows me to perform to my best,” he told Tuttosport.

“In France I had always played in a three-man midfield, so my difficulties in the past at Juve were always down to the tactics, certainly not to problems I had settling into Italian football.

“Before, with Ranieri, I was forced to work in a mainly defensive manner, whereas now I am free to seek out the ball and introduce attacking moves.”

Ferrara’s new 4-3-1-2 system has earned rave reviews and will be in action again for tonight’s Peace Cup Final against Aston Villa, kick-off at 21.00 UK time.

Juve reached this stage by defeating Real Madrid 2-1, a game where Tiago hit the woodwork late on.

“I am happy with the way things are going, so you see me smiling more,” added Tiago. “I am in good shape and I feel satisfied with my work and that of the team.”

http://www.football-italia.net/aug2i.html

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He has certainly been one of the best players in pre-season so far, there is real competition for places in there now.

Joins Atletico Madrid on loan.

I feel bad for Tiago. I feel he is a good player but he has never been used in his natural position and was never molded into a different player. He could of been so much more.

Loans are not really good for us, only positive is he is off the wage bill.

Official: Tiago leaves for Atletico

Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Juventus to loan Tiago until the end of the season.

Negotiations have been taking place since last week and looked to have stalled when the Portuguese midfielder balked at taking a pay cut.

Any creases have now been ironed out and Atletico will formally unveil the 28-year-old former Chelsea and Lyon star on Monday morning.

Included in the deal is a right-to-buy, which Atletico are expected to exercise at the end of the current campaign.

The move frees up some capital for Juventus and allows them to move to replace Tiago before the January transfer window closes.

The Bianconeri have recently been linked with Lazio's Cristian Ledesma, Genoa's Alberto Zapater and Atalanta's Tiberio Guarente.

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Yeah, bye

I don't think we will see him again.

I think he's always been a player with great ability and a lot of potential to improve but he has a total lack of consistency which has stopped him from reaching his full potential.

He is just the 'ballerina' at Juventus, he prances about and generally doesn't do a lot. Or when he gets a chance he misses, defensively he is pretty poor but ok tactically. He won't be a great miss, Marrone is a better option than him lol.

Looks like he is going to join Atletico again on loan, I think this is the last year of his contract so basically we are getting €0.5m for the loan and they are paying his €2.6m wages, so we have taken €6.2m from Atletico for him overall, but it doesn't even recoup the €10m we paid for him.

Hate to drop the "you win some, you lose some" line but it's true. At least you got something for him and it hasn't been a total loss and he isn't going for free.

http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/index.php

Official. He actually has another two years on his contract

Good enough... You will have a chance to see him dance his ballet again, Jay

He seems to be better at the flamenco than Italian ballet

Good move for Tiago...

Not bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2DRihDboH4

Nice shot from Ballerina, wonder how he is doing in Spain, probably suits him more.

How is Tiaga doing in Spain, anyone know, Juan?

He has been doing well for Atlético, although he is currently injured.

I think the move will be made permanent this summer, assuming he is fit and back in the side.

Looks like we will release ballerina this summer rather than sell him, just to get him off the wage bill.

Fricking Secco!!!

Contract rescinded, bye.

Another Secco master flop, €13m for this little ballerina.

Haven't really followed him since he left Chelsea. Just did some reading up on him and apart from being a complete prat, Locking Gigili in the toilet seems he was never really given a chance to prove himself

Obviously I never saw him play but Diego and Melo signed and he seemed to just drop down the pecking order and set the pet lip up

Seems to have done well at Atletico Madrid keeping Raul Garcia out the team so the talents there. Maybe Serie A just wasn't for him?

Might be Serie A, but he also played like a coward, wasn't strong enough to wear the shirt. A bit like Aquilani really, he has talent but went hiding. Spanish football obviously suits his pass - pass game better but he might also have played well at a smaller Serie A side.

When he came to the club Juve were considerably better in 3rd and 2nd so he fell out of favour with his weak play, then he basically signed his exit when he locked Cobolli in the toilet ().

Juve made a €2.8m 'negative impact' on him for 2010/11, that's basically his contract value for the last year.

Very well Juve decide to make him leave