Sporting CP Born in
Barcelos, Viana started his professional career at
Sporting CP. There, he won the Young
European Footballer of the Year award after an excellent
debut season in the
Primeira Liga.
Newcastle United On 20 June 2002, 19-year-old Viana was signed by
Newcastle United from the
Premier League for
€12 million (£8.5 million), Viana joined former Sporting manager
Bobby Robson at his new team, and was mentored by veteran
Gary Speed. He scored four goals in all competitions during his spell at
St James' Park, against
Željezničar Sarajevo and
Feyenoord in the
UEFA Champions League and
Birmingham City and
West Bromwich Albion in
the league. Viana was unable to cement a starting position, as Speed – for whom Robson saw the Portuguese as a future replacement – was not declining with age, while
Kieron Dyer, Jenas and
Laurent Robert were also in form. He found his old form and enjoyed a successful spell, even helping the
Lions to
the final of the
UEFA Cup.
Valencia Viana moved to
Valencia at the start of
2005–06, again on loan. In March 2006, reports stated that he had been signed on a permanent deal for
£1.5 million. During his first season he struggled to claim a first-team spot, facing tough competition from the likes of
David Albelda and
Rubén Baraja, manager
Quique Sánchez Flores' preferred duo; still, he featured in 19 league games, and displayed some flashes of talent that allowed him to preserve his place in the
Portugal national squad. In a bid to secure first-team football, Viana decided to join fellow
La Liga side
Osasuna on loan, on 13 July 2007. However, a serious injury during pre-season forced him out for four months. After recovering, he played all of the last three matches, helping to a narrow
escape from relegation. In the
2008–09 campaign, Viana took no part in manager
Unai Emery's plans, being restricted to four
UEFA Cup matches and two
appearances in the
Copa del Rey.
Braga in October 2012 On 31 July 2009, Viana was loaned to
Braga for
one season, thus returning to Portugal after three years. As they led the league in its early stages, he scored his first goals upon returning to his country, hitting twice in a 3–1 home win over
Belenenses on 30 August. On 31 October, he again found the net, from a
free kick against
Benfica in a 2–0 home victory where he received
player of the match accolades. The
Minho side eventually finished in a best-ever second place, losing the title to precisely this team in the last matchday, with the player making 28 appearances (six as a reserve, he lost his importance after the return of Uruguayan
Luis Aguiar on loan). Viana regained his starting position in
2010–11 under the same manager,
Domingos Paciência, as Aguiar eventually left the club. On 6 March 2011, again from a direct free kick and against Benfica, he equalised for the hosts in an eventual 2–1 home win. He added nine games (all starts) in Braga's
UEFA Europa League runner-up run. On 27 November 2011, in a game against
Porto, Viana displayed a white T-shirt with the words 'Gary Rest In Peace', in a tribute to Speed who had committed suicide earlier that day.
Al Ahli and Al Wasl On 5 June 2013,
Al Ahli from
Dubai announced the signing of Viana effective as of 1 July, when his contract with Braga expired. He made his debut on 30 August in
the year's
Arabian Gulf Super Cup at the
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, a
penalty shootout victory after a goalless draw against
Al Ain; his performance was described as "quiet" by
The National, who attributed it to his unfamiliarity with the heat of the Middle Eastern summer. He totalled 39 appearances and three goals across his
first season, helping the team conquer a domestic
treble after adding the
UAE Pro League and the
UAE League Cup. Viana agreed to a deal with
Al Wasl of the same city and league, but the transfer was one of several declared void by the
UAE Football Association for missing the 3 October 2014 deadline. It was completed the following 19 January. He retired on 13 October 2016, aged 33. ==International career==