Junior Quitirna Explained

Junior Quitirna
Fullname:Armando Junior Quitirna[1]
Birth Date:2000 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Guinea-Bissau[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Crawley Town
Clubnumber:18
Youthyears1:–2018
Youthclubs1:AFC Hornchurch
Youthyears2:2018–2019
Youthclubs2:Charlton Athletic
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:AFC Hornchurch
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2021
Clubs2:Charlton Athletic
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2021–2023
Clubs3:Waterford
Caps3:43
Goals3:15
Years4:2023–2024
Clubs4:Fleetwood Town
Caps4:29
Goals4:5
Years5:2023
Clubs5:Altrincham (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2024–
Caps6:2
Goals6:1
Club-Update:21:40, 21 August 2024 (UTC)

Armando Junior Quitirna (born 25 April 2000) is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Crawley Town.

Career

Early career

Quitirna was born in Guinea-Bissau, but moved to London at the age of eight. He started his youth career with local side AFC Hornchurch where he featured mainly for the Development squad but also featured for the first team as an unused substitute in the FA Cup and Isthmian League Division One North, against Hertford Town and Witham Town respectively.[3] [4]

Charlton Athletic

In 2018 he signed for EFL League One side Charlton Athletic and was placed in the under-23 squad. He failed to make an appearance in his first season with the club as Charlton were promoted to the EFL Championship through the play-offs, with victory over Sunderland at Wembley Stadium. In August 2019, he made his professional debut for the first team when he featured as a substitute in the EFL Cup first round 0–0 draw with Forest Green Rovers, which they eventually lost on penalties. He failed to feature in another matchday squad as Charlton were relegated back to League One after only one season. Following that campaign he was offered a new one-year contract in July 2020 with another one-year option included.[5] He made his second and final appearance for the club in September 2020 in a 0–0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion U21 in the EFL Trophy. It was announced on 18 May 2021 that he would leave the club at the end of his contract, with Quitirna turning down a new deal in order to pursue first team football.[6]

Waterford

On 9 July 2021, it was announced that had Quitirna made the move to League of Ireland Premier Division side Waterford after an approach from chairman, Mitch Cowling, who promoted first team football.[7] On the same day, he made his debut for the club, scoring a penalty in a 1–0 win away to Finn Harps.[8] On 30 July 2021, he came off the bench away to Drogheda United in the 75th minute and scored the winning goal eight minutes later in a 2–1 win for his side.[9] He scored six goals in his first 14 appearances in Waterford's hugely-improved form in the second half of the season. Waterford finished in 9th position which sent them into a relegation play-off with First Division side UCD, which they subsequently lost 2–1.[10] He made a total of 20 appearances in all competitions over the season, scoring seven goals.[11] In his second season for the club he made a total of 35 appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals as the club finished in second behind Champions Cork City. The club qualified for the promotion play-offs, beating Treaty United in the semi-finals and Galway United in the final. However, they lost the promotion/relegation play-off to UCD for the second season running. He was named in the League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year. On 31 January 2023, it was announced that Quitirna had left the club due to ongoing visa issues and a move to sister club, Fleetwood Town, facilitated a move back to his native UK.[12]

Fleetwood Town

Quitirna joined League One club Fleetwood Town until his visa issues were sorted and was immediately loaned out to National League club Altrincham on an initial one-month deal, following in the footsteps of Chris Conn-Clarke and Barry Baggley.[13] Quitirna returned to his parent club on 2 March 2023, after making just one appearance for Altrincham, playing 10 minutes in an FA Trophy tie away to Bracknell Town, in which he scored the last goal in a 3–1 win.[14] Upon his return to Fleetwood, he forced himself into first team contention and scored on his EFL debut on 7 April after replacing Daniel Batty as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. He made a further four appearances for the Cods as they finished in 13th position.

In January 2024, Quitirna signed a new long-term contract with the club, keeping him at the club until June 2026 with the option for a further year.[15]

Crawley Town

On 25 July 2024, Quitirna returned to League One following Fleetwood Town's relegation, joining newly promoted Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee on an initial two-year deal.[16] He scored on his debut for the club as Crawley beat Blackpool 2–1 in the opening game of the season.[17]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AFC Hornchurch2017–18Isthmian League Division One North00000000
Charlton Athletic2019–20Championship00001010
2020–21League One0000001[18] 010
Total0000101020
Waterford2021[19] LOI Premier Division1663110207
2022LOI First Division27931533513
2023LOI First Division1111
Total431562745621
Fleetwood Town2022–23League One5151
2023–24League One24400101[20] 0264
Total295001010315
Altrincham (loan)2022–23National League001111
Crawley Town2024–25League One2100100031
Career total742162301059328

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EFL – Squad List 2022/23: Fleetwood Town - In Squad Players . English Football League . 52 . 26 March 2023.
  2. Web site: PlayerProfile. www.cafc.co.uk.
  3. Web site: FA Cup: Hertford Town 1 Hornchurch 2. www.romfordrecorder.co.uk. 16 September 2017. 7 May 2023.
  4. Web site: Bostik North: Hornchurch 0 Witham Town 1. www.romfordrecorder.co.uk. 4 November 2017. 7 May 2023.
  5. Web site: RELEASED AND RETAINED PLAYERS. www.cafc.co.uk. 2 July 2020. 7 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Squad update following completion of the 2020/21 season. www.cafc.co.uk. 18 May 2021. 22 March 2022.
  7. Web site: Waterford FC. 9 July 2021. Waterford FC.
  8. Web site: Junior Quitirna strikes to give Waterford lifeline at bottom of Premier Division.
  9. Web site: Super-sub Junior Quitirna seals Waterford win away to Drogheda United. 30 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Joy for UCD as they beat beleagured [sic] Waterford to seal Premier Division status. Paul. Fennessy. The42. 26 November 2021 .
  11. Web site: Guinea-Bissau - Junior Quitirna - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.
  12. Web site: Update: Junior Quitirna. 31 January 2023. 7 May 2023.
  13. Web site: Junior Quitirna joins Town and heads to Altrincham on loan. www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 31 January 2023. 31 January 2023.
  14. Web site: Junior rejoins Fleetwood after Alty loan spell comes to an end .
  15. Web site: Junior Quitirna pens a new long-term deal with Town. www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 24 January 2024. 24 January 2024.
  16. Web site: REDS SECURE THE SIGNING OF ARMANDO JUNIOR QUITIRNA. www.crawleytownfc.com. 25 July 2024. 25 July 2024.
  17. Web site: 10 August 2024 . Crawley 2–1 Blackpool . 11 August 2024 . Sky Sports.
  18. One appearance in the EFL Trophy
  19. Web site: England - J. Quitirna - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway.
  20. One appearance in the EFL Trophy