A Spanish title winner in 2011/12 with Real Madrid CF, Fábio Coentrão was recruited at considerable cost by compatriot José Mourinho last summer following two impressive seasons with SL Benfica. An adventurous left-back who can also play in midfield, he was a revelation for Portugal at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

• Coentrão joined home-town club Rio Ave FC as a teenager, breaking through as a first-team regular in Portugal's second tier during the 2006/07 season and earning a move to Benfica.

• Struggled to impose himself at the Lisbon club and was farmed out on loan to CD Nacional and Real Zaragoza before an impressive return spell at Rio Ave in 2008/09, highlighted by a spectacular goal against FC Porto, which led to his return to Benfica.

• Came of age in 2009/10 under Jorge Jesus as Benfica scooped the Liga title for the first time in six years; also won the League Cup and made 45 club appearances in total during the campaign, scoring three goals.

• Capped for the first time by Portugal in the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off first leg against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was selected for the finals in South Africa and started all four matches, doubling his number of caps in the process.

• Scored his first goals for the Eagles in both the Liga and the UEFA Champions League during the 2010/11 campaign, including a decisive double against Olympique Lyonnais on matchday four.