Dorival Júnior

Known only as Júnior during his playing days, he was born in Araraquara, São Paulo, and made his debuts as a senior with hometown's Ferroviária in 1982. Two years later, after a brief stint at Marília, he moved to Guarani.

In 1985, Júnior began playing in the state of Santa Catarina, first for Avaí and later for Joinville. In 1988, he went back to his native state, representing São José, but during the same year he moved to Coritiba.

In 1989 Júnior joined Palmeiras, remaining with the club until 1992. In the following year he was sold to Grêmio, and subsequently joined Juventude in 1994.

Júnior had subsequent spells at Matonense, Botafogo-SP and Criciúma, retiring with the latter in 1999, aged 37.[1]

Dorival started his managerial career in 2002 with his first club Ferroviária,[2] joining Figueirense in 2003 and winning the Campeonato Catarinense in the following year. In 2005, he was appointed Fortaleza manager, again being crowned champions of the state league.

In the same year, Dorival managed Criciúma and Juventude. In 2006, he won the Campeonato Pernambucano with Sport Recife and also managed Avaí in the same year.

On 8 May 2007, after impressing with São Caetano during that year's Campeonato Paulista, Dorival was named Cruzeiro manager.[3]

On 3 December, despite finishing fifth, Júnior was fired[4] and subsequently joined Coritiba. After not renewing contract with the latter, he was appointed at the helm of Vasco da Gama, and was promoted from 2009 Série B.

On 5 December 2009 Dorival was named manager of Santos.[5] After notably winning the 2010 Campeonato Paulista with an extremely offensive football, with Neymar, Paulo Henrique Ganso and Robinho as its key units, he was dismissed on 21 September, after an altercation with Neymar.[6]

Dorival subsequently managed Atlético Mineiro,[7] Internacional, Flamengo,[8] Vasco da Gama, Fluminense and Palmeiras, without the same success. On 9 July 2015 he returned to Santos, replacing Marcelo Fernandes.[9]

Dorival finished second in both 2015 Copa do Brasil and 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, aside from winning the 2016 Campeonato Paulista. On 4 June 2017, after a 1–0 away defeat to rivals Corinthians and with the club in a poor form overall (only three points out of twelve), he was sacked.[10]

On 5 July 2017, Júnior took over São Paulo, signing a contract until the end of 2018.[11] He was sacked the following 9 March.[12]

Dorival returned to Flamengo on 28 September 2018,[13] being in charge until the end of the season. On 27 December of the following year, he was appointed manager of fellow top tier side Athletico Paranaense.[14]

Dorival is the nephew of the former Brazilian player Dudu.[15] His son, Lucas Silvestre, is also his assistant since 2010.

• Dorival Júnior coach profile at Soccerway
• Terceiro Tempo profile (in Portuguese)
• Grande Área profile (in Portuguese)