Sylvinho facts for kids
Sylvinho in 2019
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 April 1974 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left-back | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Albania (manager) |
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| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1994 | Corinthians | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1994–1999 | Corinthians | 177 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Arsenal | 55 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Celta | 84 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | Barcelona | 89 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Manchester City | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 415 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Brazil | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Lyon | |||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Corinthians | |||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Albania | |||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior (born 12 April 1974), known as Sylvinho, is a Brazilian football manager and former player. He is currently the coach for the Albania national football team.
Sylvinho used to play as a left-back. He started his career at Corinthians in Brazil. Later, he played for big European clubs like Arsenal, Celta Vigo, and Barcelona. With Barcelona, he won the UEFA Champions League twice. He finished his playing career at Manchester City.
After retiring as a player, Sylvinho became a coach. He managed Lyon in France and his old club Corinthians in Brazil. Since 2023, he has been coaching the Albanian national team, leading them to qualify for UEFA Euro 2024.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting at Corinthians
Sylvinho began his football journey in São Paulo, Brazil, joining Corinthians in 1994. He quickly became a key player for the team. With Corinthians, he won several important titles. These included the Copa do Brasil in 1995 and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazil's top league) in 1998. He also helped Corinthians win the Campeonato Paulista three times: in 1995, 1997, and 1999.
Time with Arsenal
In 1999, Sylvinho made history by becoming the first Brazilian player to sign for the English club Arsenal. He quickly became the first-choice left-back, taking over from a popular player named Nigel Winterburn. During his time at Arsenal, he scored goals against teams like Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea. He also scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League for Arsenal. In the 2000–01 season, Sylvinho was recognized for his great play and was named in the PFA Team of the Year, which honors the best players in English football.
Moving to Celta Vigo
In 2001, Sylvinho moved to Celta Vigo in Spain. He played there for three years and was very popular with the fans. He helped Celta Vigo achieve a big goal: qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history during the 2003–04 season. This was a huge achievement for the club.
Success at Barcelona
In 2004, Sylvinho joined Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in the world. This was a very successful period for him. With Barcelona, he won the Spanish league title, La Liga, three times (in 2005, 2006, and 2009). He also won the Copa del Rey in 2009 and the Supercopa de España twice.
His biggest achievements with Barcelona were winning the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and 2009. In the 2009 final, he played the entire match as Barcelona beat Manchester United 2–0. This was his last game for the club.
Final Season at Manchester City
After leaving Barcelona, Sylvinho returned to England to play for Manchester City in 2009. He signed a one-year contract with the club. He made his debut in the League Cup and later played in the Premier League. He scored his first goal for Manchester City in an FA Cup match in January 2010 with a fantastic long-range shot. After the 2009–10 season, his contract ended, and he left the club.
International Career
Sylvinho played for the Brazil national team. He first joined the squad in 1997. In 1998, he was part of the Brazil team that finished third in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, earning a bronze medal. He made his official debut for Brazil in a friendly match against Wales in May 2000. He played a total of 6 international matches for Brazil, often as a backup to the famous left-back Roberto Carlos. His last game for Brazil was in March 2001.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player in 2011, Sylvinho decided to become a coach. He started as an assistant manager for several Brazilian clubs, including his former team Corinthians. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Brazil national team alongside manager Tite.
Managing Lyon
In May 2019, Sylvinho became the head coach of the French club Lyon. He had a strong start, winning his first two league games. However, after a series of tough matches, he was sacked in October 2019.
Return to Corinthians
In May 2021, Sylvinho returned to Corinthians, this time as their new manager. He signed a contract until the end of 2022. However, his second stint at the club was short. He was sacked in February 2022, after only three matches into the new season.
Coaching Albania
On 2 January 2023, the Albanian Football Association announced that Sylvinho would be the new head coach of the Albania national team. He signed an 18-month contract with the goal of helping Albania qualify for UEFA Euro 2024. Sylvinho moved to Tirana, Albania's capital, to focus on his new role.
He worked closely with his assistant coaches, including former player Pablo Zabaleta. Sylvinho's team became known for its attacking style and scoring impressive long-distance goals. After an initial loss, he guided Albania to qualify for the Euro 2024 finals with a 1–1 draw against Moldova on 17 November 2023. Albania won their qualification group, finishing ahead of the Czech Republic.
For his success, Sylvinho received the Golden Decoration of the Eagle from the Prime Minister of Albania in November 2023. He also became an Albanian citizen in December 2023.
Playing Style
Sylvinho was known as a quick, reliable, and skilled left back. He was especially good at making "overlapping runs" (running past his teammates on the wing) and delivering accurate crosses with his left foot. He also had good tactical awareness and was strong in defense. Sometimes, he could even play in other positions like a midfielder or a winger.
Honours
Corinthians
- Campeonato Paulista: 1995, 1997, 1999
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1998
- Copa do Brasil: 1995
Arsenal
- FA Charity Shield: 1999
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
- Copa del Rey: 2008–09
- Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006
- UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09
Brazil
- CONCACAF Gold Cup third place: 1998
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 Premier League
See also
In Spanish: Sylvinho para niños
