WHATEVER HAPPENED TO…JUNINHO?

Only four days after joining from Middlesbrough, Brazil’s World Cup winner Juninho made his Celtic debut on August 29, 2004, to a standing ovation.

In the opening Glasgow derby of the season at Parkhead,

the 31-year-old winger stole the show as he blasted a long-range drive past Rangers custodian Stefan Klos for the late winner.

After a year, Juninho was on his way out.

That was the best the lad would get on his debut,

playing for 87 minutes before manager Martin O’Neill took him off with

the Hoops supporters erupting in cheers to recognise the cunning little South American.

Juninho struggled to make an impression when he was given

the chance because he was unable to adjust to Celtic’s standards.

On October 16 in Glasgow’s east end, he scored the team’s lone goal in a 3-0 victory over Hearts.

Only 14 starts were made by him for O’Neill’s team.

Eight months after joining Paradise,

Juninho was released from his contract at the beginning of the year

since it was clear he had diminished to a little part player.

He played for Pameiras when he returned to Brazil,

and he also briefly played for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League.

The next year, he declared his retirement after joining in the summer of 2007.

“It was a shame it didn’t work for me there, because Celtic is such a great club,” stated Juninho in 2018.

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