Juninho

My hero is Juninho, whose real name is Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Júnior, also known as Juninho Pernambucano in France. He is Brazilian, he was born January 30, 1975 in Recife in the state of Pernambuco. His nickname comes from a combination of the Brazilian diminutive "Juninho" which is commonly applied to any person with the name "Junior" and "Pernambucano" meaning someone born in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. He is a footballer who plays central midfielder and is the captain of Olympique Lyonnais, my favorite team. After the quarter-final of the 2006 World cup in Germany where Brazil lost against the French team, Juninho decided to retire from his international career with the Brazilian national squad because he preferred that younger talents become integrated into the team to prepare the 2010 World Cup. Today, he is considered to be one of the most skilled free-kick takers in the world . For example he scored 52 free kicks for Olympique Lyonnais, in March 2006 he scored a free kick from 41 metres against AC Ajaccio. Besides, Pro evolution Soccer 5, a very popular football videogame (that I regard as the best football videogame) gave the best characteristic for “free kick accuracy” and “curling” with 99/99. At the beginning, Juninho practiced “futsal” then his career started with Sort Club do Recife in '94-'95, winning the Pernambucano State championship . In 1995 Vasco de Gama recruited him, he played 11O games with this team scoring 24 goals. He won the Brazilian Championship in 1997 and 2000 and the Copa Libertadores which is equivalent to the Champion’s league in Europe. At last he joined the Olympique Lyonnais in 2001, at this time Juninho was totally unknown, even the leaders of Olympique Lyonnais knew him only thanks to video cassettes! But Lyon needed a central midfielder and he cost nothing because he broke his contract ... thus, Juninho arrived in July 2001 in France. His arrival coincided with the first French championship! Then he won the French championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and the Trophée des champions in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. Today he is an essential element on his team and he is recognized as a very great central mildfielder all over the world. That’s why Gerard Houiller, the current manager of Olympique Lyonnais, decided to give him the captain’s armband. As regards the Brazilian national squad, Juninho counts 40 selections and 6 goals, he played his first match with Brazil in Marsh 28, 1999 against Korea Republic. So, Juninho contributed to the expansion of Olympique Lyonnais in European football, he has already marked the history of the French football and World football. That’s why, Juninho is my hero.