Juninho Pernambucano

Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Júnior (born 30 January 1975), commonly known as Juninho or Juninho Pernambucano,[note 1] is a Brazilian former footballer, who is currently sporting director of Olympique Lyonnais. Noted for his bending free kicks, he is widely considered to be the greatest free kick-taker of all time and holds the record for the highest number of goals scored through free kicks with 75.[4][5][6]

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Ribeiro and the second or paternal family name is Reis.
Juninho Pernambucano
Juninho during his time with Lyon in 2006
Personal information
Full name Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr.
Date of birth (1975-01-30) 30 January 1975
Place of birth Recife, Brazil
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1991–1992 Sport do Recife
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1995 Sport do Recife 24 (3)
1995–2001 Vasco da Gama 191 (37)
2001–2009 Lyon 250 (75)
2009–2011 Al-Gharafa 40 (15)
2011–2012 Vasco da Gama 76 (19)
2013 New York Red Bulls 13 (0)
2013 Vasco da Gama 22 (2)
Total 505 (134)
National team
1999–2006 Brazil[2] 40 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Juninho began his professional career in 1993 with Brazilian club Sport do Recife. Two years later he joined Vasco da Gama where he played over 100 matches and won six titles. In 2001, he joined Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais where he played for the next eight years, winning seven consecutive league titles and scoring 100 goals in 350 official appearances for the club.[7] Following his departure from Lyon in 2009, Juninho played in Qatar with Al-Gharafa and in the United States with New York Red Bulls. The latter stint was wedged between two spells back at Vasco, where he ultimately retired in 2013.

Having made his international debut in 1999, Juninho played 40 games for the Brazilian national team and scored six goals. He represented Brazil at the 2001 Copa América and was part of the squad which won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup before retiring from international football after the 2006 World Cup.

From 2013 to 2018, Juninho was a football commentator for Brazilian sports network Rede Globo.

Club career

Early career: Sport Recife

Born in Recife, Juninho started his professional career at Sport Recife and quickly established himself as a rising star in Brazilian football. He won two regional titles with the club.

Vasco da Gama

Juninho Pernambucano joined Vasco da Gama in 1995.[8] He won several trophies during his first stint with the club, including the Brazilian Championship in 1997 and 2000, the Copa Libertadores in 1998, the Copa Mercosur in 2000,[9] as well as the 2000 Brazilian Silver Ball award as one of the best Brazilian midfielders of the season.[10] At that time, he was playing with Romário, Edmundo, and Juninho Paulista, and he became a favourite of the Vasco fans.[11] Since that time he has been known as Reizinho de São Januário (The Little King of São Januário),[4] a reference to Vasco da Gama's stadium, as well as Reizinho da Colina (The Little King of the Hill).[8][12]

In 2001, the player won a preliminary injunction against Vasco da Gama, after which he became a free agent.[13] Although he left Vasco for Lyon after a judicial fight, he is still considered a favourite of Vasco fans.[12] Juninho has been cited in a classic chorus sung by the fans remembering his free-kick goal against River Plate[12] at River Plate Stadium, during the 1998 Libertadores which helped the club reach the finals against Barcelona de Guayaquil. Juninho played 295 games for Vasco from 1995–2001.[14]

Olympique Lyonnais
Juninho in 2006

In 2001, Juninho moved abroad to play for French club Olympique Lyonnais. Before his arrival at Lyon, the club had never won the French championship.[15] Starting out in his first season at the club, Olympique Lyonnais won seven league titles in a row;[4][15] along with his former Lyon teammates Grégory Coupet and Sidney Govou, he holds the record for most Ligue 1 titles won (seven), along with Hervé Revelli and Jean-Michel Larqué of Saint-Étienne, as well as Thiago Silva and Marco Verratti of Paris Saint–Germain.[16] At Lyon, Juninho made himself especially noted for his accurate, powerful and varied set pieces. Regarded as one of the world's greatest free kick takers of the present day and possibly one of the greatest of all time, he was a noted passer, having provided many assists, and his leadership abilities prompted Lyon manager Gérard Houllier to name him team captain.

Juninho Pernambucano scored 100 goals while at Lyon.[17] Forty-four of those goals were scored from free-kicks,[17] the last of which was a strike from long distance against Olympique de Marseille.[18] He scored his 100th goal on his very last game for Lyon, through a penalty kick against Caen.[19] Juninho was also a prolific goalscorer in the Champions League, and he matched Sonny Anderson as the club's top goalscorer in European competitions with 16 goals, on a match against Steaua Bucharest in November 2008.[20] He later became Lyon's top goalscorer in the Champions League with 18 goals,[17] while reaching three quarter-finals in the competition.[17]

On 26 May 2009, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas announced in a press conference that the club had accepted Juninho's request to leave Lyon at the end of the season as a free agent, despite the fact that the player still had a year left in his contract.[15][17] During the press conference, Juninho sat next to Aulas and left without saying a word.[21]

Al-Gharafa

On 17 June 2009, Juninho signed a €2.5 million, two-year contract with Qatari club Al-Gharafa.[22] In his first season with the club, Juninho captained the team to their seventh league title and wins in the Qatari Stars Cup and Qatar Crown Prince Cup, completing the treble. He finished the season with Player of the Year honours from the Qatar Football Association. Juninho played 66 games for Al-Gharafa Sports Club and scored 25 goals.

Return to Vasco da Gama

On 27 April 2011, Juninho rejoined his former club Vasco da Gama. He scored his first goal for them in his first game back, via a freekick against Corinthians. He scored another 2 free kicks and a penalty during the course of the Brazilian top flight season. On 28 March 2012, he played and scored a goal for a 4–1 lead in Edmundo's farewell game against Barcelona Sporting Club. Vasco went on to win this game 9-1.[23] Juninho then scored a trademark free kick against Esporte Clube Bahia in the fourth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro; that goal was to be his 16th since returning to Vasco from Al-Gharafa Sports Club.

In July 2012, Juninho extended his contract with Vasco for 6 months. On 18 July 2012, he made his 350th appearance for the club against São Paulo FC. In August 2012 he played against his youth team Sport Club do Recife and scored a free kick goal, which was his fourth goal from free kicks in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2012. Juninho played in 370 official matches for Vasco scoring 88 goals.

New York Red Bulls

On 17 December 2012, Juninho signed for Major League Soccer team New York Red Bulls.[11][24] He made his first appearance for the team on a friendly match against Malmö, in which he was a starter.[25] On 3 March 2013 Juninho made his official debut for Red Bulls, playing the full time in a 3-3 draw against Portland Timbers.[26] On 3 July 2013 NY Red Bulls announced that they reached an agreement with Juninho for the cancelation of his contract.[27] The midfielder featured in 13 games for the New York Red Bulls, providing the team with four assists.[28]

Third stint with Vasco da Gama and retirement

On 11 July 2013, Vasco da Gama announced Juninho's return to the club.[29] The player scored and assisted in his third debut for Vasco, in a 3–1 victory against rivals Fluminense.[30] He scored his first home goal of the season against Criciúma with a 32-metre free kick,[18] also assisting Edmílson for the third goal of the game.[31] He played his third game for Vasco da Gama against another rival team Botafogo, setting up Andre for Vasco's first goal, in a 3–2 defeat. He played his sixth game against Grêmio and made another assist. It was his fourth assist in Campeonato Brasileiro. Juninho made his fifth assist against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista; the game ended in a 1–1 draw. He played his 16th game against Vasco rivals Botafogo and made two assists; the game ended with a 2–2 draw after Botafogo had led 2–0. Juninho played 16 games for Vasco in his third stint with the club, scoring 2 goals and making 7 assists in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

He retired from playing professional football on 2 February 2014.[9] During his years at Vasco da Gama, Juninho won six titles: the Brazilian Championship in 1997 and 2000, the Campeonato Carioca in 1998, the Rio-São Paulo Tournament in 1999, the Copa Libertadores in 1998, and the Copa Mercosur in 2000.[9]

Following his retirement, Juninho worked as a football commentator for Brazilian sports network Rede Globo, a stint that ended up in 2018.[32][33]

International career

On 7 September 1999, Juninho Pernambucano became one of the few footballers to have played two top-level matches in two different countries in the same day. He represented his country in the second half of the friendly match between Brazil and Argentina in Porto Alegre, which Brazil won 4–2, playing about fifteen minutes. In spite of a delayed flight to Montevideo, he managed to arrive in Uruguay in time to feature in the second half of the Copa Mercosur match between Vasco and Nacional. He took part at the 2001 Copa América with Brazil.

Although Juninho had a period of prolonged domestic success during the 2000s, that contributed to him being considered as one of the best Brazilian players in the world at the time, he was not selected for the Brazilian squad that featured in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and in the 2004 Copa América missing both because of a recurring knee injury. Brazil would win both tournaments. He was however a member of the Brazil squad that won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup Juninho scored against Japan in a group stage match. Following Brazil's defeat to eventual runners-up France in the quarter-finals of the tournament, he announced his international retirement,[34] so as to make way for younger talents coming through the ranks in Brazil, in order to build for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[35]

Director career

Olympique Lyonnais

In May 2019, Juninho was appointed as the director of football of his former club Olympique Lyonnais. His first decision was to name former Brazilian international teammate Sylvinho as the head coach of the French Ligue 1 team.[36]

Style of play
Juninho lining up to take a free kick with Lyon.

Juninho has been described as "one of the world's most feared strikers of a static ball".[37] The method he used for long-range free kicks is frequently "knuckle balling", where the ball has almost no spinning motion during flight.[38] A successful knuckle ball will "move" or "wobble" in the air unpredictably, making it difficult for the goalkeeper to save. He first made his name as a free kick taker in Europe with a long range free kick against Bayern Munich in the 2003–04 Champions League group stage in which the ball dipped viciously at the end of travel that deceived Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, who was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the time.[39]

He has scored from free-kicks beyond 40 metres on four occasions: a 41-metre effort against AC Ajaccio in 2006, a 45-metre goal against Barcelona in 2007, a 48-metre goal against OGC Nice in 2008, and a 40-metre strike against Marseille in 2009, this being his final free kick goal for Lyon. Even before Lyon, he displayed his talent at Vasco da Gama, scoring several free kick goals for the club. Juninho has also scored memorable free kick goals for Brazil, the most famous being a curling shot from 27 metres against Greece in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil would go on to win the match 3–0. Also, Juninho scored two memorable free kicks against Nice in the 2008–09 season as Lyon were losing 2–0. Juninho rapidly pulled back his team by scoring one free kick that bounced past the goalkeeper and in the top corner and one from 48 yards away. Lyon went on to win that game as well with a converted penalty by Karim Benzema. Juninho's style of freekick taking has been adapted by several other players, such as Andrea Pirlo,[40][41] Cristiano Ronaldo,[42] Didier Drogba, and Gareth Bale.[43] The knuckle ball free kick technique takes a significant amount of skill to replicate and strike accurately. In total, Juninho scored 75 official goals from direct free kicks throughout his professional football career,[4][5][6] which spanned from 1993 to 2013.[44]

A talented right-footed midfielder, beyond his qualities as a set-piece specialist, Juninho was also known for his skill as an offensive playmaker, and for his ability to produce effective passes, which led him to getting assists on many of his teammates' goals throughout his career.[42] He was also gifted with good technical ability and intelligence, as well as excellent vision and passing range, and powerful and accurate striking ability from distance; furthermore, he drew praise in the media for his tenacity, work-rate, composure under pressure,[45] strong character, and leadership, which saw him serve as club captain both at Lyon and Al-Gharafa.[42][46] A versatile player, although he usually played as an attacking midfielder, he was also capable of playing as a winger or as a central midfielder.[41]

Honours

Club

Sport do Recife[45]

Vasco da Gama[47]

Lyon[47]

Al-Gharafa[47]

International

Brazil[47][45]

Individual

References

Notes

  1. His nickname comes from a combination of the Brazilian diminutive "Juninho", which is commonly applied to any person with the name "Junior", and "Pernambucano", meaning someone born in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco.[3] He is often referred to as "Pernambucano" in southern France.

Citations

  1. "Juninho" (in Portuguese). PSBI BIAK. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  2. "Appearances for Brazil National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  3. Dart, James (18 May 2005). "What's in a Brazilian name?". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  4. "From Ligue 1 to superstardom: Juninho Pernambucano". Goal.com. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  5. Rodier, Philippe (23 July 2015). "Qui Est le Meilleur Tireur de Coups-Francs de L'histoire?" (in French). Onze Mondial. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  6. Atkins, Christopher (27 March 2013). "Why Juninho Pernambucano Is the Greatest Free-Kick Taker of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. R.B (25 May 2009). "Juninho... ses chiffres lyonnais" (in French). Olympique Lyonnais. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  8. Lavinas, Thiago (22 February 2006). "Raio-X de Juninho Pernambucano" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  9. Ribeiro, Luiz Gabriel (3 February 2014). "Juninho chora no adeus e diz que já estuda convite da Globo para Copa" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte.
  10. "Bola de Prata Placar 2000" (in Portuguese). Veja. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  11. "'Joo-neen-yoh': New York RB anuncia acerto com Juninho Pernambucano" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  12. "Juninho quer homenagear o Vasco" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 10 October 2007.
  13. "Juninho Pernambucano obtém passe livre na Justiça" (in Portuguese). Folha de São Paulo. 12 March 2001. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  14. Cavalieri, Rafael (27 April 2011). "Com 'salário mínimo', Juninho está oficialmente de volta ao Vasco" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  15. "Heptacampeão francês, meia Juninho Pernambucano deixa o Lyon" (in Portuguese). Folha de São Paulo. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  16. "Thiago Silva and Verratti in seventh heaven". Ligue 1. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. "Legend Juninho leaving Lyon". Fifa.com. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  18. Anka, Carl (19 March 2019). "Noughty Boys: No one hit a free-kick quite like Juninho Pernambucano". BBC. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  19. "Tearful Juninho leaves Lyon". The Guardian. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  20. "L'OL fait le métier" (in French). Olympique Lyonnais. 5 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  21. "Juninho bids emotional goodbye to Lyon". Uefa.com. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  22. "Soccer-Brazil's Juninho joins Qatari champions Al Gharafa". Reuters. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  23. "Edmundo marca duas vezes, ouve gritos de 'fica', e Vasco goleia: 9 a 1" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  24. "Red Bulls Sign Brazilian Star Midfielder Juninho". New York Red Bulls. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  25. "Juninho é titular, mas joga apenas 36 minutos em estreia pelo New York RB" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  26. "Juninho Pernambucano ajuda New York a conseguir empate fora de casa" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  27. "Red Bulls Reach Mutual Agreement to Cancel Contract for Midfielder Juninho". New York Red Bulls. 3 July 2013.
  28. Bell, Jack (3 July 2013). "Red Bulls and Juninho Part Ways". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  29. Casado, André; Zarko, Raphael (11 July 2013). "O Reizinho voltou: Juninho acerta com Vasco até o fim da temporada" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  30. "Juninho reina na volta ao Maracanã, Vasco derrota o Flu e sobe na tabela" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  31. Leme, Tiago (27 July 2013). "No retorno a São Januário, Juninho decide outra vez, e Vasco 'retrô' vence o Criciúma" (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  32. "Comentarista da Globo, Juninho Pernambucano "corneta" prêmio da ESPN" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 8 December 2014.
  33. "Juninho Pernambucano deixa a Globo após crítica a jornalistas" (in Portuguese). Veja. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  34. Tozzi, Daniel; Medice, João Henrique (1 July 2006). "Decepcionado, Juninho se despede da seleção brasileira" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  35. "Juninho quits international scene". BBC Sport. 2 July 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  36. White, Adam; Devin, Eric (20 May 2019). "Lyon are taking a big gamble on Juninho and Sylvinho". theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  37. "Who is the free-kick master?". FIFA.com. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  38. Lawrence, Amy (26 February 2006). "Juninho still knuckling down and shining brightly in Europe". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  39. Doyle, Paul (31 October 2014). "Golden goal: Juninho Pernambucano for Lyon v Bayern Munich (2003)". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  40. Stycer, Mauricio (11 June 2014). "Mestre de Pirlo, Juninho Pernambucano ensinou italiano a bater falta" (in Portuguese). UOL.
  41. Coghi, Alberto (1 February 2014). "Juninho Pernambucano, il "maestro" di Pirlo". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  42. Bairner, Robin (22 December 2008). "Countdown to the greatest player of 2008 : Juninho Pernambucano (47)". Goal.com.
  43. San Martín, Pedro P. (14 September 2013). "Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball". as.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  44. Muhammad Butt (12 September 2018). "10 players that have somehow scored more free-kicks than Lionel Messi… so far". www.squawka.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  45. "Juninho: a cool head and a hot shot". FIFA.com. 23 February 2006. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018.
  46. "Juninho: I've made history at two clubs". FIFA.com. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  47. "Juninho Pernambucano – PRIZE LIST". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  48. "Red Bulls sign Juninho". Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  49. "NY Red Bulls sign Juninho Pernambucano, former Brazilian international and free kick specialist". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
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