Francisco Ernandi Lima da Silva

Early Life

Francisco Ernandi Lima da Silva, better known as Mirandinha, was born in Chaval, Ceará, Brazil. His early football career began with local clubs, including Ceará and Fortaleza, but he struggled to make a significant impact until he joined Ferroviário Atlético Clube, where he found his footing and began to showcase his talent as a forward.

Career

Mirandinha's professional career took off when he signed with Botafogo F.R. in 1980, where he played until 1982. He later had a brief stint at Associação Portuguesa de Desportos in 1985 before moving to Clube Náutico Capibaribe and then to Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, where he had multiple spells. His career reached a significant milestone in 1987 when he signed with Newcastle United F.C. for £575,000, making him the first Brazilian to play in English football. He made his debut in September 1987 and scored his first goals against Manchester United, proving his worth in a competitive league.

After leaving Newcastle in 1989, Mirandinha returned to Palmeiras and had a short spell with C.F. Os Belenenses in Portugal. He continued to play for S.C. Corinthians Paulista and Fortaleza E.C. before moving to Japan, where he played for Shimizu S-Pulse and Shonan Bellmare. Throughout his career, he earned four caps for the Brazil national team in 1987, scoring once against England in the Rous Cup.

Post-Playing Career

After retiring from professional football, Mirandinha remained involved in the sport. By July 2013, he was serving as a director at Maguary, a club in the Campeonato Cearense. In 2014, he took on the role of manager at the Castelão stadium in Fortaleza, which was a host venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, showcasing his continued commitment to football beyond his playing days.