Juninho Paulista is regarded as one of Middlesbrough’s greatest-ever players.
Juninho Paulista, or more simply known as ‘Juninho’, enjoyed a very fruitful spell at Middlesbrough, becoming a cult hero during his time on Teesside.
His majestic displays during the late 1990s and early 2000s are still talked about to this very day, with the Brazilian regarded by many as a Middlesbrough legend.
Here is absolutely everything you need to know about Boro’s Brazilian magician.
How old is Juninho Paulista?
Juninho Paulista is currently 51-years-old at the time of writing, having been born on February 22nd, 1973.
Where is Juninho Paulista from?
Juninho was born in Sau Paulo, Brazil. He would eventually go on to play for his hometown club before earning himself a move to Middlesbrough.
Juninho Paulista height
Nicknamed “The Little Fella” by Boro supporters, Juninho is quite small in terms of professional footballers standing at approximately 5ft 5 inches tall (1.65m).
When did Juninho Paulista play for Middlesbrough?
Juninho joined Middlesbrough from Sau Paulo in 1995 for £4.75m. The Brazilian’s Boro move surprised many with Brian Robson’s side managing to fight off the interest of numerous top European clubs to land the midfielder’s signature.
He would wow fans on Teesside for two years before moving to Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid in 1997. Juninho however would return to Boro only two years later, joining on a one-year loan deal.
In 2002, “The Little Fella” would return to Middlesbrough for the third and final time, linking back up with his old side following World Cup success with Brazil. He would remain at the Riverside for another two years before moving north of the border in a move to Scottish giants Celtic.
Did Juninho Paulista win any trophies with Middlesbrough?
Juninho played a huge role in Middlesbrough’s League Cup win in 2004 – lining up alongside the likes of Gareth Southgate and Gaizka Mendieta in the final.
The Boro beat the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal on route to the final, eventually being crowned champions following their 2-1 win against Bolton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium – MIddlesbrough’s first and so far only major honour.
The Brazilian also led Middlesbrough to two finals during his first Boro spell, losing out in both the League Cup and FA Cup final in 1997.
Juninho Paulista’s Brazil career
Juninho also enjoyed success on the international stage with Brazil, earning himself 52 caps for the Selecao.
The Boro legend was part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph alongside the likes of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho – also winning a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics.
What does Juninho Paulista do now?
Following his retirement from playing in 2010, Juninho moved up to boardroom level becoming club president of Brazilian outfit Ituano.
After nearly ten years in that job, he would eventually leave in 2019 to become team coordinator for the Brazilian national team.
In January 2023, Juninho would leave his role within the Selecao set up and is yet to find a new job since.