Home  »  A-League

Juninho joins Sydney FC

3 August 2007 | 16:01 - PA Sport

Brazilian star Juninho has agreed to a one-year deal to join Sydney FC as their marquee player for the 2007-08 A-League season.

 

The 34-year-old, a member of Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning squad, has agreed to join Sydney after previous stints with the likes of Scottish giant Celtic, English Premiership outfit Middlesbrough and Brazilian side Flamengo.

Juninho admitted that it was Sydney's genuine interest in him, which made him choose the A-League club ahead of several other sides who had made offers to him.

The Brazilian also dismissed suggestions that he would be troubled by the pressure of following in the footsteps of other international stars at the club such as Dwight Yorke and Benito Carbone.

"Always in my career, I've had pressure," Juninho said. "Once you play in the national team, you have to win all games."

Sydney FC coach Branko Culina was thrilled with the lucrative signing of a recognised international - who was always the club's priorty despite it being linked to numerous other high profile players.

"I'm delighted. Not too many players who have played in the A-League have played in a World Cup final," said Culina.

"He will make an enormous contribution and he will fit like a glove."

When asked which position Juninho would play on once the season kicked off, Culina quipped: "Wherever he wants to play."

The diminutive midfielder forged his reputation as an immensely skilled playmaker for Boro in the late 1990s.

After spells at Atletico Madrid and Vasco Da Gama, he returned to Teeside in 2002, scoring 11 goals in 41 matches.

Since leaving Boro for the second time, he had a spell at Celtic before returning home to play for Palmeiras and Flamengo.

He was a late substitute in Brazil's 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama.

"Juninho is a true superstar of the world game, a household name to football fans around the globe. We're thrilled to welcome him aboard can't wait to see him run out in a Sydney FC shirt," Sydney FC CEO George Perry enthused.

Meanwhile, Culina revealed that Sheffield United bound David Carney's replacement is likely to come from abroad.

Juninho Profile:

Full name: Oswaldo Giroldo Junior

Birth: 22/2/1973 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Height: 165cm (5ft 5in)

Squad number: 22

Previous clubs: Sao Paulo, Middlesbrough, Atletico Madrid, Vasco da Gama, Flamengo, Celtic, Palmeiras .

International caps: 50 including 5 goals for Brazil

top