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 (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | 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) | |
| International career | |||
| 1979–1992 | Brazil | 74 | (6) |
| 1993–2001 | Brazil (beach) | ? | (201) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1993–1994 | Flamengo | ||
| 1997 | Flamengo | ||
| 2003 | Corinthians | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior, known to many as Léo Júnior or just Júnior, is a famous Brazilian footballer who used to play as a left back or midfielder. He was born on June 29, 1954.
People sometimes called him "Capacete," which means "helmet" in Portuguese. This was because of his cool afro hairstyle.
In March 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 football knowledge.
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Júnior's Club Football Career
Léo Júnior played for the Brazilian club Flamengo for many years. He was with them in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. During this time, he helped Flamengo win many important titles.
Winning Big with Flamengo
Júnior and Flamengo won the Brazilian Championship four times (in 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1992). They also won the 1981 Copa Libertadores, which is a huge South American club competition. After that, they won the 1981 Intercontinental Cup, proving they were one of the best teams in the world. Júnior played an amazing 857 matches for Flamengo, which is more than any other player in the club's history!
Playing in Italy: Torino and Pescara
In June 1984, Júnior moved to Italy to play for Torino. He wanted to play as a midfielder, not a defender, because he thought it would help him play longer. Even though he was 30 years old, he quickly became a key player in Torino's midfield.
During his time in Italy, Júnior faced some difficult moments. However, the Torino fans showed great support for him. At the end of his first season, Torino finished second in the league, and Júnior was named the best player in Serie A, Italy's top football league.
He stayed with Torino until 1987. After that, he played for another Italian club, Pescara, from 1987 to 1989.
In 1991, Júnior briefly returned to Torino on loan from Flamengo. He helped them win the Mitropa Cup, another European football tournament.
Júnior's International Career with Brazil
Léo 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.
Beach Soccer Star
After his career in regular football, Júnior became a star in beach soccer. He played for the Brazilian national beach soccer team from 1993 to 2001. He won many Beach Soccer World Championships with Brazil.
Júnior was also a top scorer and best player in many beach soccer tournaments. He scored an incredible 201 goals for Brazil in beach soccer, including 71 goals in World Championships. He later helped develop the sport. In 2019, he received the "Best Legend" award at the Beach Soccer Stars event.
Júnior's Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Léo Júnior became a coach. He coached his old club, Flamengo, from 1993 to 1994, and again in 1997. He also coached Corinthians for a short time in 2003.
How Júnior Played Football
Júnior was known for being a very skilled and smart player. He was good at teamwork and could play in different positions. He often played as a left back or on the left side of the midfield for Brazil. For his clubs, he often played as a central midfielder or a deep-lying playmaker, which means he helped start attacks from further back on the field.
He was good with both feet and could even play on the right side. Júnior was great at setting up goals for his teammates with accurate crosses. He was also good at taking free kicks and penalty kicks. People admired his elegance, leadership, and how well he understood the game.
Júnior's Life Outside Football
Júnior is married to Eloisa, and they have three children: Viviana, Carolina, and Rodrigo. His eldest son, Rodrigo, also became a professional footballer. Viviana is a choreographer and dance teacher, and Carolina works as a stylist for a TV channel.
In 1982, Júnior even recorded a music album called "Voa Canarinho." It was very popular, selling over 726,000 copies!
When he was younger, Júnior passed the entrance exam for veterinary science at university, but he chose to follow his dream of playing football instead.
Honours and Awards
Júnior won many awards and championships during his amazing career in both football and beach soccer.
Football Achievements
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
- Serie A runner-up: 1984–85
Brazil National Team
- FIFA World Cup: Reached the second round (fifth place) in 1982; reached the 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 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 by Pelé)
- Most appearances in Flamengo's History – 857 matches
Beach Soccer Achievements
Brazil National Beach Soccer Team
- Beach Soccer World Championship: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Copa América: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Individual Beach Soccer Awards
- Beach Soccer World Championship top scorer: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Beach Soccer World Championship Best Player: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
- Beach Soccer Stars Legend Award: 2019
See also
In Spanish: Léo Júnior para niños
