Maksim Manko ( Fc Santos de Guapiles)

Has signed last month with the Costarican first division team. Previously he played in Argentina. He already scored 2 goals in Costa Rica as a midfielder. We also have to keep in mind that Costa Rica could be new zealand opponent for the last stage of WC qualification.

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/maksim-manko/transfers/spieler_166917.html

Played 84 minutes last weekend in a 3-1 win

3-Santos: 19-Víctor Madrigal, 16-Juan Diego Madrigal, 6-Mathías Callero, 2-Eduardo Touborne, 29-Javier Loaiza (Kenneth Dixon 85'), 5-Heyreel Saravia, 24-Roberto Porras (Argenis Fernández 61'), 31-Mario Víquez, 17-Osvaldo Rodríguez, 9-Carlos Ramírez, 27-Maksim Manko (Robson Da Silva 84'). DT: César Eduardo Méndez

Anybody has seen manko playing in new zealand for waitakere? So far he qlready played 8 games in the costarican first league and he is a central midfielder where the Aw s need some new blood

Never heard of him... did he stand out in the NZFC.

Also, how good is that league?

He has mainly played NRFL and been a useful player at that level. This year was his first season in ASB Premiership. Hardly got any game time. If he played anywhere else, no doubt he would get significant game time. Take from that what you will.

Maks actually played for Waikato back in 2010 and was pretty much a starter.  Then he had a stint in Argentina, but I don't know who with.  Marshall knew he was heading off to Costa Rica, so maybe that's why he only played him pretty much off the bench.  I think he's a player that could kick on some more in the right environment and with 100% focus and effort - he was doing an Engineering degree when he was in Auckland so that would have been a bit of a distraction.

Yeah like most players - not much time with Auckland/Waitak, heaps with Waikato. He actually played right back for us if I remember correctly, very versatile but we probably didn't see the best of him at Waikato, maybe playing out of position was a factor.

Definitely not close to All Whites material in response to the earlier poster.

yeah hes in the dominque jourdain category

Not quite, he's actually playing : )

Maksim Manko was part of the club's lineup 21 times. He was 12 times in the starting team, got substituted in 7 times and stayed on the bench 2 times..

Has a much cooler name than your Michael McGlinchey's and Dan Keat's so therefore must be a better player. Does he have cool Fellaini-esque looking hair too?

I realy don`t understend why you don`t give him chance. Him and fev others player (Henderson, Appiah-Kubi, Vincent, Graham ...) They play regular in the haighst level in their countries. Couple o your player don`t play regular, play on second level or simply don`t play!

IFFHS strongest national league:

1. Spine

2. Brasil

3. Germany

4 Italy

5. England

17. Greece

24. Scotland

27. Japan

33. Sweden

37. USA

49. Thailand

42. Australia

57. Finland

61. Costa Rica

70. China

86. India

90. Singapore

98. Hong Kong

106. New Zealand

114. Wels

A national team FIFA ranking is not really an indicator of the quality of their domestic league...

Im duly informed he's signed for Bay Olympic.

Seen him play a bit in NRFL. Good player there, but not a huge standout. Not international quality.

I think it's a little unfair he's been dismissed so quickly as a prospect. The guy is making a go of it overseas and getting game time. Lets see how good he is now then judge, he may of developed significantly since he left. 

I've got a 100% no on that.

So we should judge all players based on who they are two years ago. Hmm wonder what Grosso would say about that or Coleman, players who came from nothing leagues to have great careers or even Smeltz who was struggling in the UK. 

Now I'm not saying this kid is anything like them, but atleast see how he stands out in the Bay team. Also Nz has a history not always picking the best players in age group teams.

1 year full time training and playing may have made a big difference.

Smeltz? Smeltz was at least playing for the AWs. Hardly the same comparison. 

This guy just posted on the transfer speculation thread asking for a trial at the phoenix...

Smeltz only played for the All Whites because of injuries and he just so happened to be in the right place (UK) at the right time.

Afterall most people argue there is little or no difference between conference and our national league...so he can't of been that good.

Prior to that Wales games he was on no one's radar. All that game proved is, sometimes it just takes one moment to start a career.

 Re: the earlier comment on Smeltz - he was in All Whites squads from 2002, played at the 2003 Confederations Cup, was trialling at pro clubs in UK during 2004-05, was in the squad to face the Socceroos at Craven Cottage, and had a brief spell in the Football League with Mansfield... granted, he wasn't knocking on the door of the Premier League, but to say he "wasn't on the radar" prior to the Wales friendly is perhaps a little inaccurate... that said, totally agree that the game in Wrexham changed his entire career...