Juninho Paulista

Born in São Paulo, Juninho played youth football for FC Curvados e Orgulhoso, a local club set up in São Paulo, and for Esporte Clube DER, an amateur team based in São Bernardo do Campo (SP), winning two youth municipal championship in a row, as well as futsal at Clube Atlético Juventus.

Ituano FC

Juninho began his senior career with Ituano, a team in Itu, São Paulo, in 1990. In 1993, during a Campeonato Paulista match against reigning champions São Paulo, Juninho scored and was voted man of the match, as Ituano secured an unlikely victory. This caught the attention of São Paulo's head coach Telê Santana, who requested that his team buy the young talent. Juninho went on to be voted "Rookie of the Year" that season.

São Paulo

In 1993, Juninho was transferred to São Paulo, with whom he won a number of trophies, including the 1993 Intercontinental Cup against Italian team Milan and the 1994 Copa CONMEBOL. He made his debut for the Brazil national team ("Seleção") in February 1995, before moving abroad to play in Europe.

Middlesbrough

In October 1995, Juninho signed for English club Middlesbrough for £4.75 million, just months after they had been promoted to the English top-flight FA Premier League. Then aged 22, Juninho had been tracked by numerous European top clubs, and it was a major surprise when he signed for "the Teessiders". Juninho became known as "TLF"—The Little Fella—by Boro fans, after local radio broadcaster Dave Roberts nicknamed the…

A diminutive, skilful and creative playmaker, Juninho typically operated in the space behind the forwards, where he used his passing and ability to evade opponents to create attacking opportunities. Despite his small stature, he was also noted for his tenacity, robust style of play and uncompromising tackling.

Club

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

São Paulo

Supercopa Libertadores: 1993 Intercontinental Cup: 1993 Recopa Sudamericana: 1993, 1994 Copa CONMEBOL: 1994 Vasco da Gama

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2000 Copa Mercosur: 2000 Middlesbrough

Football League Cup: 2003–04 FA Cup runner-up: 1996–97 Flamengo

Campeonato Carioca: 2007 Brazil

FIFA World Cup: 2002 FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997 Individual

Premier League Player of the Month: March 1997 Premier League Player of the Season: 1996–97 Middlesbrough Player of the Year: 1996–97 North-East FWA Player of the Year: 1997 Bola de Prata: 2000, 2005 South American Team of the Year: 2000, 2001