Juninho
Juninho Paulista is a Brazilian attacking midfielder who had three spells at Middlesbrough between 1995 and 2004, and won the World Cup in between. In 2007 Middlesbrough fans voted him the club's greatest ever player.
- Clubs
- São Paulo (1993 to 1995), Middlesbrough (1995 to 1997), Atlético Madrid (1997 to 2002), Middlesbrough (loan, 1999 to 2000), Vasco da Gama and Flamengo (loans), Middlesbrough (2002 to 2004), Celtic (2004 to 2005), Palmeiras, Flamengo, Sydney FC, Ituano
- Premier League
- 125 appearances, 29 goals, all for Middlesbrough
- Honours
- World Cup 2002, League Cup 2004, Premier League Player of the Season 1996/97
- International
- Brazil, 49 caps, 5 goals
- Fantasy price
- £10.5m in 1996/97
Who did he play for?
He won the Intercontinental Cup with São Paulo in 1993. Bryan Robson paid £4.75 million for him on 3 November 1995 and he made his debut against Leeds the next day.
In 1996/97 he scored 12 league goals, was Player of the Month in March and the Premier League's Player of the Season, and was runner-up to Gianfranco Zola as Footballer of the Year. Middlesbrough were docked three points for failing to turn up at Blackburn in December, lost both domestic cup finals and went down.
Atlético Madrid paid £12 million for him in August 1997. He broke his leg in a tackle by Míchel Salgado in February 1998 and missed that summer's World Cup. He came back to Middlesbrough on loan for 1999/2000 and played 28 league games.
He won the Brazilian title on loan at Vasco in 2000 and the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. That August Middlesbrough bought him for £6 million. He played ten league games in 2002/03. In 2003/04 he played 31 and won the League Cup, the club's first major trophy.
After a season at Celtic he went home, played on until 2010, and then ran Ituano as president. He was the Brazilian FA's national team coordinator from 2019 until January 2023.
The moment: Leeds, 11 May 1997
Elland Road, Sunday 11 May 1997, the last day of the season. Middlesbrough needed a win to stay up after the three-point deduction.
Brian Deane headed Leeds in front on 76 minutes. Juninho equalised two minutes later, but a draw wasn't enough. Leeds 1-1 Middlesbrough, and they finished 19th on 39 points, two short of safety. The picture of him in tears, waving to the away end, is the one Boro fans still use.
Six days earlier, at Old Trafford, he had side-footed past Peter Schmeichel in a 3-3 draw, and Alex Ferguson called him the best player he had seen in the league that season.
Why the streets won't forget
Boro fans called him the Little Fella. In the PFA's 2007 centenary poll they voted him the club's all-time favourite player.
He was the league's player of the season in a team that got relegated.
He has said the 2004 League Cup meant more to him than the 2002 World Cup.
Which seasons can you draft him in?
Five, across three spells.
| Season | Club | Price | His real league season | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995/96 | Middlesbrough | £5.5m | 21 games, 2 goals, from November | Leave him out |
| 1996/97 | Middlesbrough | £10.5m | 35 games, 12 goals, 8 assists | Pick him |
| 1999/00 | Middlesbrough | £6.0m | 28 games, 4 goals | Leave him out |
| 2002/03 | Middlesbrough | £6.0m | 10 games, 3 goals | Leave him out |
| 2003/04 | Middlesbrough | £7.0m | 31 games, 8 goals | Worth a look |
In 1996/97 he is the second most expensive midfielder in the game, £1.0m behind David Beckham, with more goals.
Want him in your retro fantasy football team for 1996/97? He'll cost you £10.5m.
Draft a squad from 1996/97