Juninho = OLegend

[TheLionLyon]

Yes, that is what he is, a legend. The man that started it all is on his way out. Without a doubt, he is one of the greatest players to ever grace a Lyon shirt. If you add success and trophies to that, he is the greatest. Some might say he's the greatest FK taker ever, top 5 at least. Very emotional substitution. You could see in his eyes that this was it.

The farewell

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It was already hinted, at the start of the season, that it would likely be his final season at Lyon with the arrival of his successor Ederson and because his contract is up in 2010, but that did not stop Juninho. And if he is leaving, what a way to go out scoring his 100th GOAL for Lyon. I'll admit, I had no clue who he was when he first arrived in 2001. All I knew was that he was a reliable FK taker and a Brazilian international and since we already had success with Brazilians like Edmilson and Sonny, it was OK. I will tell you this, I definitely knew who he was when he scored two goals in just the 5th game of that season. I don't want to go on before I type a whole essay, but wherever club he goes to, either in Brazil or the Gulf, hell even the MLS (I doubt it), I will support them. Here's some amazing free kicks:

Juninho's first ever free kick goal with Lyon

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Coupe de France semi-final match against Sedan

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Against Lens
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2006-07 season against Ajaccio

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Werder Bremem in the Champions League

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Likely his last free kick goal with Lyon :(

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Post your top Juninho free-kicks.

[hibby1875]

Yes, great player who only got recognition his talents deserved when he moved to Europe. Pity he was a bit older by then, but it probably suited him that he was now playing the 'playmaker' role that suited his languid style and ability with passing and long range striking.

With regards to his FK taking - just wow! I never saw a ball hit from a free kick like that before, really taking advantage of the aerodynamic qualities of modern balls and creating incredible power from ridiculous distances. His greatest lagacy is probably that he brought this style to prominence and it is now copied by numerous players (just look at CRon). :cool:

I've really enjoyed watching some of his football, it will be missed. :(

NB: FYI LionLyon, your YT link for the Ajaccio match is a double of the Werder Bremen link.

[RyFryy]

Quality thread. Thanks for posting and sharing.

[talk2smc]

you could def tell it was it, and i understand Lyon's position...but still. at 34, TONS of teams could use Juninho, even if just for the FK's. i mean, Becks still plays for nothing else other than FK and crosses.

Juninho has always been a class act in my book, and since Ive been watching football, and Ligue I he probably has been the best ever and most winning-est player. i enjoyed watching him play very much.

as for his goals...cant really take my pick over the 44 FK's he scored...many of them were stunning if not leaving me speechless. power, movement, dip, curl, sometimes combination of all the above. great player


ideas on where he will go? back to Brazil perhaps?

[TheLionLyon]

NB: FYI LionLyon, your YT link for the Ajaccio match is a double of the Werder Bremen link.

Fixed. That's one of my favs also. It deflects off the Ajaccio player, then at the :25 mark it literally jumps. How does he do it? :D

[hibby1875]

Fixed. That's one of my favs also. It deflects off the Ajaccio player, then at the :25 mark it literally jumps. How does he do it? :D

Erm, I wish I knew! ;) It seems to defy the laws of physics in that the ball looks to move in 3 different directions while in the air. Now, I'm no expert, but how can a supposedly inanimate projectile start acting like a bird or piloted plane? I think it's a bit o' the Brazilian Magic or summit. Scary! :eek:

[Whoah10115]

Truly great player. Playing in France for so long he ended up being under-appreciated. But he was a tremendous, all-around midfielder. He had superb technique, was a great dribbler, fantastic passer, great long-range shooting, work rate, leadership, influence, hard-nosed tackling, intense passion (remember him crying during Brasil's National Anthem?). Could play anywhere in midfield. One of the world's best players.

I think a lot of teams (i.e. Arsenal) could use him. He doesn't have to be a starter anymore, but he is a hell of a depth player who can bring experience and class to any club. Plus, he's got a certain specialty.

[TheLionLyon]

It's official. :(


L’annonce du départ de Juninho

Le Président Jean-Michel Aulas a officialisé le départ de Juninho au 30 juin… Un moment d’émotion que le Brésilien a eu du mal à supporter…
A 18h 30 sur le plateau d’OLTV, Jean-Michel Aulas, Bernard Lacombe, Claude Puel et Juninho sont rassemblés pour l’annonce que chacun avait devinée. « Juni » aura du mal à vivre ce trop plein d’émotions et devra quitter le plateau presqu’à la fin des propos du Président Jean-Michel Aulas.

Jean-Michel Aulas
« C’est un grand moment ; un moment d’émotions qui touche tout le monde. Juninho est l’homme et le joueur que l’on avait espéré rencontrer un jour. L’Histoire s’est faite grâce à Bernard Lacombe, un des artisans de sa venue à l’OL. A Vasco Gama, Juni avait déjà réalisé un parcours sans faute. Ce soir nous sommes nombreux, nous l’étions moins pour son arrivée. Tout ce monde témoigne de la grandeur de ce qu’il représente pour le football en général. Il représente le talent, la passion, le professionnalisme, le symbole de la gagne. Il représente plus ce qu’aucun joueur n’a apporté à l’OL. Toute cette relation, cette amitié c’est difficile à exprimer, à clôturer. Mais c’est juste un passage d’un livre qui s’égrène.

En janvier, nous avions rencontré Juninho et lui avions demandé qu’il réfléchisse à son avenir. Nous avions pris alors l’engagement qu’il pouvait se retrouver libre à la fin de saison s’il le souhaitait ou bien rester. Il a fait le bout de chemin avec nous jusqu’à la fin de saison qui se termine remarquablement bien avec cette 11ème qualification pour la Ligue des Champions (tour préliminaire). A sa demande, nous l’avons reçu lundi. Il nous a demandé de le laisser libre. Pour tout ce qu’il a fait, ce qu’il représente, il était normal de lui rendre sa liberté et de préparer l’avenir en lui donnant la possibilité, quand il le souhaitera, de revenir à l’OL sous une forme à déterminer. On verra.

Juni a réussi sa vie de footballeur ; sa vie d’homme. Il va nous quitter au 30 juin. Nous gardons le souvenir d’une formidable soirée, samedi dernier avec un scénario idéal. (Juni vient de quitter le plateau). Une anecdote ? Il y a la façon dont il est arrivé à l’OL. Bernard était allé au Brésil en avril 2001 et avait ramené une cassette. « Tiens voilà le tireur de coups francs que vous recherchez. Mais c’était bien plus. On a rapidement découvert toutes les facettes du joueur. L’Histoire a démarré sur cette vidéo. Il vous dira lui même ce qu’il a choisi de faire ».

Bernard Lacombe
« Quand un grand joueur s’en va, on pense qu’il est irremplaçable. On va tout faire pour compenser son départ, mais on ne l’oubliera pas. Juni, c’est l’exception. quelque chose de magique. Il a tellement apporté cette envie de la gagne. Il l’a transmise au club. Au fil des ans, il a accumulé des titres. Un immense joueur. Il aura marqué l’histoire du club ».

Claude Puel
« Quand j’étais à Lille, on connaissait l’importance de Juni à l’OL. J’ai eu un très grand plaisir à la côtoyer et de l’avoir entrainé lors de sa dernière saison. Pour moi, les grands joueurs ne sont pas difficiles à gérer. Juni, c’est un compétiteur avec une remise en cause permanente. Samedi contre Caen, tout s’est passé magnifiquement. Il y a eu beaucoup d’émotions ».

Juninho a eu besoin de récupérer. Il s’est présenté plus tard au Centre de Formation où avait lieu un cocktail. « Je suis vraiment désolé. Je ne me sentais pas bien. C’est certainement l’émotion retenu samedi. Je suis trop fatigué pour en dire plus. Je vous remercie. Je remercie tous les Lyonnais. J’espère vous en dire plus la semaine prochaine ».

[talk2smc]

read he was in tears. :(
any destinations? hes not retiring no? also, is HE asking to leave, im just surprised, as maybe he could do a bench role or something, but as i said before, he still provides a TON of value to many teams....

[TheLionLyon]

read he was in tears. :(
any destinations? hes not retiring no? also, is HE asking to leave, im just surprised, as maybe he could do a bench role or something, but as i said before, he still provides a TON of value to many teams....

He was asked about his future in January by the board and he made the decision to depart this month. He does provide value, but, in Lyon's case, we are looking to move forward, hence why Govou and to a lesser extent Cris are being supposedly shopped. I know this won't mean much, but through the entire season, Juninho worked with his future replacements Ederson, Miralem, and some of the youth players, and from what I've heard, they've learned alot. I don't expect them to be magically kicking free kicks like Juninho, but I know at least we have a bright future coming out of his departure

Juninho's likely to go back to Vasco or to the Gulf and take big money from say a Qatar.

EDIT: But I wouldn't be shocked if a Liverpool (whom he was linked to during the season) or another decent European club, excluding the ones in France, come calling.

[talk2smc]

Juninho's likely to go back to Vasco or to the Gulf and take big money from say a Qatar.

EDIT: But I wouldn't be shocked if a Liverpool (whom he was linked to during the season) or another decent European club, excluding the ones in France, come calling.

see thats what i mean...hell ANY club could use him if not just to come off the bench, or whatever. midfielders at 34 or near there off the top of my head...(mainly thinking Italy here)
Vieira 32
Becks 34
Seedorf 33
Zanetti 35
Dacourt 34 (Fulham, probably retiring)
C Zanetti 32
Salihamidivic 32
Jorgensen 33
Liverani 33
Tedesco 37:eek:


i mean, bar...Zanetti....i think i would take Juninho above all the rest. in al honesty.

[drac78]

It wouldn't surprise me to see him at AC Milan, he might be a little too young though :rolleyes:

[shreyas]

He was one of my favourite players when I grew up cos I wanted to copy his FK techniques as well.. I still remember going through hundreds of different french sites just looking for clips of his freekicks.. ended up downloading whole Lyon Season Reviews just to look at his technique with free kicks.. What a player! Best freekick taker right now easily IMO! Hope he doesn't retire..!!

[Yonathan]

What a great player! I really liked the way he played especially his freekicks:D Currently I'm traning on his freekick actually I'm very very good on that!

[Zicao]

Raí is trying to get him to sign with São Paulo.
Source (http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Times/Sao_Paulo/0,,MUL1168611-9875,00-RAI+E+A+ARMA+DO+SAO+PAULO+PARA+FECHAR+A+CONTRATACA O+DE+JUNINHO+PERNAMBUCANO.html)

[garrincha]

Pjanic next one ? i guess time will tell..

[Yonathan]

Pjanic next one ? i guess time will tell..

yep I also think that Pjanic will take over Juninho.

and btw Pjanic says that he trains alot more on freekicks now:cool:

[vaudevillian]

He is now playing here in Qatar, with al Gharafa. Saw him live last winter. He still has it in him. He was head and shoulders above others.
He won the league, as a captain and the Best Player of the season award.

One of his best performances in a Gharafa shirt, heres the goals.

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And he still got the free kicks.

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[kirua]

Pjanic next one ? i guess time will tell..

bafetimbi gomis is the next one

[aliraz]

v/FOlnTHfmbxw

[talk2smc]

i truly wish he would have stayed in Europe a few more yrs. damn, miss the guys FK's.. great player

[aliraz]

v/wkMfxo4CrjY

[flier5]

:eek:

[mrCham]

We miss you captain.

http://img.chronofoot.com/juninho/juninho_4041_w250.jpg