Juninho Paulista facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Osvaldo Giroldo Júnior | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 February 1973 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Brazil (staff) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1992 | Ituano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | São Paulo | 44 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Middlesbrough | 57 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2002 | Atlético Madrid | 55 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | → Middlesbrough (loan) | 28 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | → Vasco da Gama (loan) | 47 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | → Flamengo (loan) | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Middlesbrough | 35 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Celtic | 14 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Palmeiras | 63 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Flamengo | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Sydney FC | 14 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Ituano | 2 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 359 | (79) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2003 | Brazil | 49 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Osvaldo Giroldo Júnior (born February 22, 1973), known as Juninho or Juninho Paulista, is a Brazilian former footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder. Today, he works as the national team co-ordinator for the Brazil national football team.
During his career, Juninho played for several Brazilian clubs. These include São Paulo, Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras, and Flamengo. He also played for clubs in other countries. He was with Middlesbrough in England, Atlético Madrid in Spain, Celtic in Scotland, and Sydney FC in Australia.
Juninho played 49 international matches for the Brazil national team between 1995 and 2003. He helped Brazil win the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics football tournament.
Juninho's Football Journey
Juninho was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He started playing youth football for local clubs. He also played futsal, which is a type of indoor football.
Starting with Ituano FC
Juninho began his professional career with Ituano in 1990. This team is from Itu, São Paulo. In 1993, he played against the champions, São Paulo. Juninho scored a goal and was named the best player of the match. Ituano won the game, which was a big surprise. This caught the eye of São Paulo's coach, Telê Santana. Juninho was later voted "Rookie of the Year" for that season.
Playing for São Paulo FC
In 1993, Juninho joined São Paulo. With this team, he won several important trophies. They won the 1993 Intercontinental Cup against the Italian team Milan. They also won the 1994 Copa CONMEBOL. He played his first game for the Brazil national team in February 1995. Soon after, he moved to Europe to play.
Time at Middlesbrough FC
In October 1995, Juninho signed with the English club Middlesbrough. He was 22 years old. Many top European clubs wanted him, so it was a big surprise when he chose Middlesbrough. Fans called him "The Little Fella" because he was only 1.65 meters tall.
He played his first game for Middlesbrough on November 4, 1995. He helped the team reach the finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1997. However, they lost both finals. At the end of the 1997 season, Middlesbrough was moved down to a lower league. Juninho was very sad about this. Even so, he was voted the second-best player in the league that year. He scored 17 goals in 74 games during his first time at Middlesbrough.
Moving to Atlético Madrid
Juninho then moved to Atlético Madrid in Spain. He started well, but injuries caused many problems. On February 1, 1998, he broke his leg during a game. This injury kept him from playing for six months. It also meant he missed the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
He later returned to Middlesbrough on loan for the 1999–2000 season. He scored four goals in 24 games. After that, he went back to Atlético Madrid. The team had moved down to a lower league. Juninho was then loaned to the Brazilian team Vasco da Gama. There, he played with another player also named Juninho. To tell them apart, he was called "Juninho Paulista" because he was from São Paulo. He won the 2000 Brazilian league championship and the Copa Mercosur trophy with Vasco da Gama. He also had a short loan spell with Flamengo.
Third Time at Middlesbrough
Juninho came back to Middlesbrough for his third time in 2002. He stayed for two years. He helped the club win the 2003–04 Football League Cup. This was the team's first major trophy ever! In 2007, Middlesbrough fans voted him the club's greatest player. Fans loved him so much that they would bow to him during matches.
Even though he scored more goals this time, his leg injury from Atlético Madrid meant he was not quite as amazing as before. Still, he remained a legend for Middlesbrough fans. A book about his special connection with the fans, The Little Fella: How Middlesbrough Fell in Love With Juninho, was released in 2021.
Playing for Celtic FC
In 2004, Juninho moved to the Scottish club Celtic. He found it hard to get into the main team. He felt the coach, Martin O'Neill, did not play him enough. He often played in a different position than he was used to. Juninho scored only one goal for Celtic.
Back to Brazil
Juninho returned to Brazil in 2005 to play for Palmeiras. In 2007, he went back to his old team Flamengo. However, he did not play much. His contract ended after he had an argument with the coach during a game.
Time in Australia with Sydney FC
Juninho decided to join Sydney FC in Australia in 2007. He was a special "marquee player" for the club. He had a shoulder injury early on, which caused him pain. He often needed painkillers to play. Despite this, he had some strong performances. Sydney FC did not offer him a new contract. In April 2008, Juninho announced he was retiring from professional football.
Returning to Play Briefly
In January 2010, Juninho came out of retirement. He became a player-president for the Brazilian club Ituano. On the last day of the season, he scored a goal that saved his team from moving down to a lower league. He also played in his own special farewell game for Middlesbrough.
Juninho's Career Achievements
Juninho won many awards and trophies during his football career.
Club Trophies
- São Paulo
- Supercopa Libertadores: 1993
- Intercontinental Cup: 1993
- Recopa Sudamericana: 1993, 1994
- Copa CONMEBOL: 1994
- Vasco da Gama
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2000
- Copa Mercosur: 2000
- Middlesbrough
- Football League Cup: 2003–04
- Flamengo
- Campeonato Carioca: 2007
International Trophies with Brazil
- Brazil
- FIFA World Cup: 2002
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997
Individual Awards
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 1997
- Premier League Player of the Season: 1996–97
- Middlesbrough Player of the Year: 1996–97
- North-East FWA Player of the Year: 1997
- Bola de Prata: 2000, 2005 (This award is for the best players in the Brazilian league)
- South American Team of the Year: 2000, 2001
See also
In Spanish: Juninho Paulista para niños
