Léo Júnior facts for kids
Júnior in 1983
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior | ||
| Date of birth | 29 June 1954 | ||
| Place of birth | João Pessoa, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.72 m | ||
| Playing position | Left back, midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1973–1974 | Flamengo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1974–1984 | Flamengo | 192 | (7) |
| 1984–1987 | Torino | 86 | (12) |
| 1987–1989 | Pescara | 62 | (6) |
| 1989–1993 | Flamengo | 70 | (10) |
| Total | 410 | (35) | |
| National team | |||
| 1979–1992 | Brazil | 74 | (6) |
| 1993–2001 | Brazil (beach) | ? | (201) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1993–1994 | Flamengo | ||
| 1997 | Flamengo | ||
| 2003 | Corinthians | ||
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Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior (born 29 June 1954), known as Léo Júnior or just Júnior, is a famous Brazilian football expert and former player. He played as a left back (a defender on the left side) or a midfielder (a player in the middle of the field).
People sometimes called him "capacete," which means "helmet" in Portuguese. This was because of his unique afro hairstyle.
In 2004, the legendary footballer Pelé named Júnior as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers. Today, Júnior works as a television expert for Rede Globo, sharing his knowledge about the sport.
Contents
Júnior's Football Journey
Playing for Clubs
Júnior played for Flamengo, a big Brazilian team, for many years. He was with them in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. During this time, he helped Flamengo win four Brazilian Championships (in 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1992). He also won the important 1981 Copa Libertadores and the 1981 Intercontinental Cup. He played an amazing 857 matches for Flamengo, more than any other player in the club's history!
In 1984, Júnior moved to Italy to play for Torino. He wanted to play as a midfielder because it was less tiring, hoping to play longer. Even though he was 30 years old, he quickly became a key player in the midfield.
During his time in Italy, Júnior faced some challenges. However, the fans of Torino showed great support for him. At the end of his first season, he was named Serie A's player of the year, which is a huge honor! Fans also affectionately called him "papà Júnior" because he seemed like a wise, older player. He stayed with Torino until 1987.
After Torino, he played for another Italian club, Pescara, from 1987 to 1989. In 1991, he briefly returned to Torino on loan from Flamengo and helped them win the Mitropa Cup tournament.
Playing for Brazil
Júnior also played for the Brazilian national team. He played in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
He played 74 matches for Brazil between 1979 and 1992, scoring six goals. He was part of the Brazilian team in two World Cups: in 1982 and 1986.
After his football career, Júnior became a star in beach soccer. He played for the Brazilian beach soccer team from 1993 to 2001. He scored an incredible 201 goals during these years, including 71 goals in the World Championships. He won many awards, including top scorer and best player. In 2019, he received the "Best Legend" award at the Beach Soccer Stars event.
Júnior as a Coach
After his playing career, Júnior became a coach. He coached Flamengo from 1993 to 1994, and again in 1997. He also briefly coached Corinthians in 2003.
How Júnior Played
Júnior was known for being a very skilled and versatile player. He could play in many different positions, including left back, left midfielder, and even central midfielder. He was good with both feet and could play on the right side too.
He was great at setting up attacks and also good at defending. People admired his elegant style, his leadership on the field, and his smart decisions. He was also excellent at sending precise crosses to his teammates and could score goals from free kicks and penalty kicks.
Júnior's Achievements
Football Honours
Flamengo
- Intercontinental Cup: 1981
- Libertadores Cup: 1981
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1992
- Brazil Cup: 1990
- Campeonato Carioca: 1974, 1978, 1979 (Special), 1979, 1981, 1991
Torino
- Mitropa Cup: 1991
- Serie A runner-up: 1984–85
Brazil
- FIFA World Cup: Reached round 2 (fifth place) in 1982; quarter-finals (fifth place) in 1986
- Copa América runner-up: 1983
Individual Awards
- Bola de Prata Brazilian Championship All-Star Team: 1980, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992
- Bronze ball South American Player of the Year: 1981
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1982
- FIFA XI: 1982
- Serie A Team of The Year: 1985, 1988
- Serie A player of the year: 1985
- Bola de Ouro Brazilian Footballer of the Year: 1992
- South American Team of the Year: 1992
- FIFA 100: 2004 (named one of the greatest living footballers)
- Most appearances in Flamengo's History – 857 apps
Beach Soccer Honours
Brazil
- Beach Soccer World Championship: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Copa América: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Individual Awards
- Beach Soccer World Championship top scorer: 1997 (11 goals), 1998 (14 goals), 1999 (10 goals), 2000 (13 goals)
- Beach Soccer World Championship Best Player: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
- Beach Soccer Stars Legend Award: 2019
See also
In Spanish: Léo Júnior para niños
