Juninho (footballer, born January 1989) explained

Juninho
Fullname:Vitor Gomes Pereira Junior
Height:5 ft 7 in
Birth Date:8 January 1989
Birth Place:São José dos Campos, Brazil
Currentclub:LA Galaxy (U19 manager)
Position:Central midfielder
Youthyears1:2004–2008
Youthclubs1:São Paulo
Years1:2008–2013
Clubs1:São Paulo
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Toledo (loan)
Caps2:10
Goals2:2
Years3:2010–2012
Clubs3:LA Galaxy (loan)
Caps3:87
Goals3:13
Years4:2013–2015
Clubs4:LA Galaxy
Caps4:100
Goals4:5
Years5:2016–2019
Clubs5:Tijuana
Caps5:20
Goals5:1
Years6:2017
Clubs6:Chicago Fire (loan)
Caps6:21
Goals6:1
Years7:2019
Clubs7:LA Galaxy
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2019
Clubs8:LA Galaxy II
Caps8:2
Goals8:0
Totalcaps:242
Totalgoals:22
Manageryears1:2020–
Managerclubs1:LA Galaxy (academy coach)

Vítor Gomes Pereira Júnior (born 8 January 1989), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, who is currently the head coach of the LA Galaxy Academy U-19 team playing in the United Premier Soccer League. He is commonly known as Juninho or Vitor Junior, and is the older brother of footballer Ricardo Goulart who plays for Santos.

Career

Juninho grew up in the city of São Paulo and played for the São Paulo youth team, winning the U-17 Paulista Championship side in 2006. He made one appearance for the São Paulo senior side in 2007. He was sent out on loan to Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy in 2010 along with fellow Brazilians from the club Alex Cazumba and Leonardo.[1] He made his debut for the team on 27 March 2010, in Galaxy's opening game of the 2010 MLS season against New England Revolution,[2] and scored his first goal for the Galaxy in a 2-0 win over AC St. Louis in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 game on 29 June 2010.[3] Juninho scored his first goal in a league game against Seattle Sounders FC on 4 July 2010, shooting from over 30 yards out.[4] The goal was named the Goal of the Week for week 13.[5]

Juninho helped Galaxy win the Supporters' Shield in both 2010 and 2011.[6] He was also a key player in the Galaxy's 2011 MLS Cup championship and played the full 90 minutes in the final victory over the Houston Dynamo.[7] At the conclusion of the 2011 MLS season, Juninho left Los Angeles and signed a three-year contract with boyhood club São Paulo.[8] However, in February 2012 Juninho returned to Los Angeles on loan for the 2012 MLS season.[9]

Juninho eventually made his stay at Los Angeles a permanent one when he signed with the club in January 2013 following his release from São Paulo.[10] In his six seasons with LA Galaxy, Juninho made 180 starts and 187 regular season appearances, recording 18 goals and 23 assists along the way. He also recorded an additional 21 appearances, one goal and four assists in postseason play, including scoring the decisive goal in the 2014 Wester Conference Final to send the Galaxy to the MLS Cup.

In December 2015, Juninho was sold to Tijuana of Liga MX, where he signed a three-year deal.[11]

In December 2016, Juninho was loaned from Tijuana to Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. This loan ended following the conclusion of the 2017 season.[12]

On 18 December 2018, Juninho returned to LA Galaxy for a third stint, after acquiring the Right of First Refusal from the Chicago Fire in exchange for $75,000 in General Allocation Money.[13]

On 30 June 2020, Juninho announced his retirement from playing professional football.[14]

Coaching

After retiring, Juninho was hired as a academy coach at LA Galaxy.[15] Juninho was named head coach of the LA Galaxy Academy U-19 squad ahead of their first season playing in the United Premier Soccer League. He had previously coached the Galaxy U-14 team before joining Marcelo Sarvas in coaching the Galaxy U-17s.[16]

Personal life

Juninho holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player in MLS.[17] Juninho's brother Ricardo Goulart is also a former footballer best known for playing with former Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande,[18] he came back to Brazil playing for Santos FC and Esporte Clube Bahia, before retiring in 2023.

Honours

Club

São Paulo Reserves
Los Angeles Galaxy
Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Galaxy sign three players on loan from Sao Paulo FC . Major League Soccer . December 23, 2010 . November 26, 2015 . March 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100319103829/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20091223&content_id=7850912&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106.
  2. News: CBC.ca Sports . Stats.cbc.ca . October 25, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721224821/http://stats.cbc.ca/mls/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2010032707&season=2010-1 . July 21, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
  3. Web site: Galaxy power through Saints and into the Qtr. Finals | Major League Soccer . Mlssoccer.com . June 29, 2010 . October 25, 2010 . 3 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100903195050/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter-recap/galaxy-power-through-saints-and-qtr-finals . dead .
  4. News: Sounders FC Blog | Sounders FC 1, Los Angeles Galaxy 3 - team recap/stats | Seattle Times Newspaper . Seattletimes.nwsource.com . July 4, 2010 . October 25, 2010 . Joshua . Mayers.
  5. Web site: MLSsoccer.com . Juninho grabs AT&T Goal of the Week honors for Week 14 | Major League Soccer . Mlssoccer.com . July 9, 2010 . October 25, 2010.
  6. Web site: LA Galaxy Win 2011 Supporters' Shield. Los Angeles Galaxy Communications. LAGalaxy.com. November 7, 2011. October 8, 2011.
  7. Web site: 2011-11-20: LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, MLS Cup . MLSsoccer.com . November 20, 2011 . February 28, 2012.
  8. News: Sports Now. Los Angeles Times .
  9. Web site: Juninho and Leonardo to return to the LA Galaxy in 2012 | LA Galaxy.
  10. Web site: Juninho announces LA Galaxy return and Sao Paulo departure on Facebook. LA Galaxy. 15 January 2013. 24 July 2019.
  11. Web site: LA Galaxy transfer midfielder Juninho to Club Tijuana | LA Galaxy.
  12. Web site: Juninho. MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. April 10, 2018.
  13. Web site: LA Galaxy sign midfielder Juninho. LA Galaxy. 18 December 2018. 24 July 2019.
  14. Web site: Midfielder Juninho retires from professional soccer | LA Galaxy.
  15. https://www.lagalaxy.com/news/la-galaxy-add-juninho-and-marcelo-sarvas-la-galaxy-academy-coaching-staff LA Galaxy add Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas to LA Galaxy Academy coaching staff
  16. Web site: LA Galaxy Add Yoann Damet to First-Team Coaching Staff . LAGalaxy.com . 26 August 2022.
  17. News: MLS' complicated pay structure means teams have to get creative . Kevin Baxter . 18 July 2015 . Los Angeles Times . 7 August 2015.
  18. Web site: Jogou com Beckham e conheceu Obama: Irmão de R. Goulart quer defender EUA. Esporte. 26 March 2015.