View source for Léo Júnior

{{short description|Brazilian footballer}}
{{Redirect|Júnior|other people named Junior|Junior (name)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Portuguese name|Lins|da Gama|Júnior}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Léo Júnior
| image = Leovegildo lins da gama júnior.JPG
| upright = 0.9
| fullname = Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|6|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[João Pessoa, Paraíba|João Pessoa]], Brazil
| height = 1.72 m
| position = [[Left back]], [[midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 1973–1974
| youthclubs1 = [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo|Flamengo]]
| years1 = 1974–1984
| clubs1 = [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo|Flamengo]]
| caps1 = 192
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 1984–1987
| clubs2 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| caps2 = 86
| goals2 = 12
| years3 = 1987–1989
| clubs3 = [[Delfino Pescara 1936|Pescara]]
| caps3 = 62
| goals3 = 6
| years4 = 1989–1993
| clubs4 = [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo|Flamengo]]
| caps4 = 70
| goals4 = 10
| totalcaps = 410
| totalgoals = 35
| nationalyears1 = 1979–1992
| nationalteam1 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| nationalcaps1 = 74
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| nationalyears2 = 1993–2001
| nationalteam2 = [[Brazil national beach soccer team|Brazil (beach)]]
| nationalcaps2 = ?
| nationalgoals2 = 201
| manageryears1 = 1993–1994
| managerclubs1 = [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo|Flamengo]]
| manageryears2 = 1997
| managerclubs2 = [[Clube de Regatas Flamengo|Flamengo]]
| manageryears3 = 2003
| managerclubs3 = [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]]
| caption = Júnior in 1983
}}

'''Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior''' (born 29 June 1954), also known as '''Léo Júnior''' or simply '''Júnior''', is a Brazilian football [[pundit]] and retired [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[left back]] or [[midfielder]].<ref name="enciclopedialance">{{cite book |title=Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro Lance Volume 1 |publisher=Aretê Editorial S/A |location=Rio de Janeiro |year=2001 |page=103 |isbn=85-88651-01-7}}</ref> 

He was nicknamed "capacete" ("helmet", in Portuguese) because of his afro hairstyle.

He was named by [[Pelé]] as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.<ref name="bbcfifa100">{{cite web |title=Pele's list of the greatest |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3533891.stm |access-date=12 June 2009 |date=4 March 2004 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902194507/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3533891.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Junior now works as a television pundit for [[Rede Globo]].

==Club career==

Léo Júnior played for [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]] during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, winning four [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Brazilian Championships]] (1980, 1982, 1983, 1992), the [[1981 Copa Libertadores]] and [[1981 Intercontinental Cup]].<ref name="enciclopedialance"/> With 857 matches, he is the player with most appearances for Flamengo.<ref name="espnbrasil">{{cite web |first=Mauro Cezar |last=Pereira |title=Mais Sobre Flamengo |url=http://espnbrasil.terra.com.br/flamengo |access-date=12 June 2009 |publisher=ESPN Brasil |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204190215/http://espnbrasil.terra.com.br/flamengo |archive-date=4 December 2010 }}</ref>

On 12 June 1984 he was bought by [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], for a fee of two million dollars. Léo Júnior asked and obtained a guarantee to play as a midfielder rather than a full-back, because he considered the former role less stressful, so to extend the life of his career. Although he was now thirty years old, after some initial difficulties, he succeeded in integrating in the formation coached by [[Luigi Radice]], becoming the leader of the midfield. During his first year in Italy was the victim of two incidents of racism: in [[Milan]] he was repeatedly insulted and spat upon as he left the stadium with his mother and father and in [[Turin]], on the occasion of the [[Turin derby|derby]], [[Juventus]] fans exhibited offensive banners on the colour of his skin. The Torino supporters responded promptly with another banner: "Better negro than a Juventus fan". At the end of the season, finished second behind [[Hellas Verona|Verona]], he was awarded [[Serie A]]'s player of the year.<ref name="FIFA">{{cite web |title=Junior, from the pitch to the box |publisher=FIFA |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/do-you-remember/people=252326/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910053714/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/do-you-remember/people=252326/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2015 |access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref>

During his time with "Toro" he was also given the affectionate nickname of "papà Júnior", due to his elder appearance. He remained in Turin until 1987, when he had a fallout with the manager Radice. The coach believed the performance of the Brazilian lower than that of the first season, while Léo Júnior was particularly annoyed for being substituted during a [[UEFA Cup]] tie against [[HNK Hajduk Split]], which culminated with the elimination of the team.

He also played for Italian club [[Delfino Pescara 1936|Pescara]] between 1987 and 1989.<ref name="enciclopedialance"/>

In early June 1991 he returned to Torino for a short spell on loan from Flamengo to bolster their team while participating in the [[Mitropa Cup]]. With Júnior in fine form, Torino won the tournament.

==International career==
Léo Júnior competed in the [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|men's tournament]] at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ju/junior-1.html |title=Júnior (Leovegildo Lins da Gama Júnior) |access-date=6 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203095240/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ju/junior-1.html |archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

He went on to record 74 appearances for the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]], between May 1979 and December 1992, scoring six goals.<ref name="enciclopediaselecao">{{cite book |first1=Antônio Carlos |last1=Napoleão |first2=Roberto |last2=Assaf |title=Seleção Brasileira 1914–2006 |publisher=Mauad X |location=São Paulo |year=2006 |page=268 |isbn=85-7478-186-X}}</ref> He appeared in both the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]<ref name="worldcup1982">{{cite web |title=Brazil's World Cup squad 1982 |url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1982/squad_bra82.html |access-date=12 June 2009 |publisher=Planet World Cup |archive-date=31 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131102753/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1982/squad_bra82.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]].<ref name="worldcup1986">{{cite web |title=Brazil's World Cup squad 1986 |url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/squad_bra86.html |access-date=12 June 2009 |publisher=Planet World Cup |archive-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226160138/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/squad_bra86.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

He also took part in many Beach Soccer World Championships as part of the [[Brazil national beach soccer team|Brazil national team]], winning awards for top scorer and best player.<ref name="enciclopedialance"/> Overall Léo Júnior played for Brazil beach soccer between 1993 and 2001, notching up 201 goals during those years,<ref>{{cite web |title=From the sand to the lawns: Junior class and strength |url=http://www.mis.rj.gov.br/blog/da-areia-para-os-gramados-a-classe-e-a-forca-do-maestro-junior/ |date=2 June 2014 |access-date=7 June 2017 |publisher=MIS MUSEUM IMAGE AND SOUND |archive-date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191235/http://www.mis.rj.gov.br/blog/da-areia-para-os-gramados-a-classe-e-a-forca-do-maestro-junior/ |url-status=live }}</ref> including 71 goals at the [[FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup|World Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Principais artilheiros dos mundiais (Mínimo de 10 gols) |url=http://www.beachsoccerbrasil.com.br:80/camp_mundial/artilheiros.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124230013/http://www.beachsoccerbrasil.com.br/camp_mundial/artilheiros.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 November 2002 |date=2001 |access-date=8 November 2018 |publisher=beachsoccerbrasil.com.br |language=pt }}</ref> He stopped playing to pursue the development of the sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Júnior detona confederação de beach soccer |url=http://esporte.band.uol.com.br/outros-esportes/noticia/?id=100000717482&t=junior-detona-confederacao-de-beach-soccer-e-empresa-de-eventos |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=7 June 2017 |publisher=band.com.br |archive-date=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191746/http://esporte.band.uol.com.br/outros-esportes/noticia/?id=100000717482&t=junior-detona-confederacao-de-beach-soccer-e-empresa-de-eventos |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, he was crowned "Best Legend" at the 2019 [[Beach Soccer Stars]] awards<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beachsoccer.com/news/beach-soccer-stars-shine-bright-once-more |title=Beach Soccer Stars shine bright once more |publisher=Beach Soccer Worldwide |date=9 November 2019 |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506205713/https://beachsoccer.com/news/beach-soccer-stars-shine-bright-once-more |url-status=live }}</ref> and the magazine [[France Football]] placed Júnior fifth in an article named "10 Legends of Beach Soccer".<ref>{{cite news |first=Alexey |last=Adamov |title=Топ-10 легенд пляжного футбола по версии France Football. Кто лишний, а кого забыли? |url=https://bsrussia.com/ru/article/top-10--12565 |work=Beach Soccer Russia |date=19 October 2019 |access-date=19 October 2019 |archive-date=19 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019193138/https://bsrussia.com/ru/article/top-10--12565 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Managerial career==
Léo Júnior coached [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]] from 1993 to 1994, and in 1997. He coached [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] from 1 October 2003 to 10 October 2003.

==Style of play==
Léo Júnior was known for his technique and teamwork as well as his versatility, playing at left back and on the [[Midfielder#Winger|left side of midfield]] for Brazil due to his two footedness whilst often playing as a [[central midfielder]] or [[Midfielder#Deep-lying playmaker (Strolling 10)|deep-lying playmaker]] at club level; he was also capable of playing on the right flank, and initially started out as an attacking right-back. He was as capable of "orchestrating attacking moves as fulfilling his defensive remit."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150910053714/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/do-you-remember/people=252326/index.html Junior, from the pitch to the box] FIFA.com</ref> In addition to his [[Playmaker|playmaking]] skills, he was highly regarded for his elegance, leadership, and tactical intelligence, as well as his ability to get forward, provide precise [[Cross (football)|crosses]] for his teammates, or strike on goal. Moreover, he was also an accurate [[Direct free kick|free kick]] and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty taker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1987/09/20/papa-junior.html |title=PAPA' JUNIOR |publisher=La Repubblica |language=it |date=20 September 1987 |access-date=23 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323032921/https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1987/09/20/papa-junior.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toronews.net/archivio-toro-news/leo-junior-approda-al-toro/?refresh_ce-cp |title=Leo Junior approda al Toro |publisher=www.toronews.net |language=it |author1=Guido De Luca |date=18 June 2008 |access-date=23 March 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/11/sezioni/sport/calcio/mura/mura/mura.html?ref=search |title=Falcao, Careca e altri maestri la top ten dei nostri brasiliani |publisher=La Repubblica |language=it |author1=GIANNI MURA |date=3 November 2006 |access-date=23 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323032924/http://www.repubblica.it/2006/11/sezioni/sport/calcio/mura/mura/mura.html%3Fref%3Dsearch |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pianeta-calcio.it/stampa_incontri_vip.php?id=324 |title=IL PELE'...JUNIOR |publisher=www.pianeta-calcio.it |language=it |author1=Andrea Nocini |date=20 September 2012 |access-date=23 March 2019 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{NFT player|17933|accessdate=}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Copa do Brasil]], [[Coppa Italia]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="11"|[[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]]
|1975
|rowspan="10"|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|27||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1976 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1976]]
|21||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1977 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1977]]
|18||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1978 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1978]]
|25||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1979 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1979]]
|7||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1980 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1980]]
|19||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1981 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1981]]
|6||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1982 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1982]]
|23||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1983 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1983]]
|26||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1984 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1984]]
|20||0||||||||||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!174!!6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
|[[1984–85 Serie A|1984–85]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Serie A]]
|26||7||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1985–86 Serie A|1985–86]]
|30||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1986–87 Serie A|1986–87]]
|30||1||||||||||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!86!!12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Delfino Pescara 1936|Pescara]]
|[[1987–88 Serie A|1987–88]]
|rowspan="2"|Serie A
|28||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1988–89 Serie A|1988–89]]
|34||3||||||||||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!62!!8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|-
|rowspan="7"|Flamengo
|1988
|rowspan="6"|Série A
|1||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1989 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1989]]
|15||1||3||1||||||||||||
|-
|[[1990 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1990]]
|12||0||4||0||||||||||||
|-
|[[1991 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1991]]
|17||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1992 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1992]]
|25||9||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1993 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1993]]
|0||0||8||1||||||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!70!!10!!15!!2!!!!!!!!!!!!
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!410!!35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==

===Football===
'''Flamengo'''
*[[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]: 1981<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[Libertadores Cup]]: 1981<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]]: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1992<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[Brazil Cup]] 1990<ref name="FIFA"/>
*[[Campeonato Carioca]]: [[1974 Campeonato Carioca|1974]], [[1978 Campeonato Carioca|1978]], [[1979 Campeonato Carioca#Special Championship|1979 (Special)]], [[1979 Campeonato Carioca#Championship|1979]], [[1981 Campeonato Carioca|1981]], [[1991 Campeonato Carioca|1991]]

'''Torino'''
* [[Mitropa Cup]]: 1991
* [[Serie A]] runner-up: [[1984–85 Serie A|1984–85]]

'''Brazil'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: round 2 (fifth place) [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]; quarter-finals (fifth place) [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]
*[[Copa América]] runner-up: [[1983 Copa América|1983]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Bola de Ouro|Bola de Prata Brazilian Championship All-Star Team]]: 1980, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1992
* [[South American Player of the Year|Bronze ball South American Player of the Year]]: 1981
* [[FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: 1982
* [[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 1982 <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |title=FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Guerin Sportivo|Serie A Team of The Year]]: 1985, 1988<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/serie-a-guerin-sportivo-1980-1991-every-game-with-player-ratings.2085771/ |website=BigSoccer |title=Guerin Sportivo Serie A Team of the Year|access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref>
* [[Serie A]] player of the year: 1985
* [[Bola de Ouro|Bola de Ouro Brazilian Footballer of the Year]]: 1992
* South American Team of the Year: 1992<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sam-toy.html |title=South American Team of the Year |date=16 January 2009 |access-date=25 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121064015/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/sam-toy.html |archive-date=21 January 2015 }}</ref>
* [[FIFA 100]]: 2004
* Most appearances in [[Clube de Regatas do Flamengo|Flamengo]]'s History – 857 apps<ref>{{cite news |url=http://flamengo.com.br/site/noticia/detalhe/15828/junior-completa-58-anos-de-idade-e-recebe-o-carinho-do-flamengo |title=Junior completa 58 anos de idade e recebe o carinho do Flamengo |publisher=Site Oficial do Clube de Regatas do Flamengo |date=29 June 2012 |access-date=24 November 2015 |archive-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125043123/http://flamengo.com.br/site/noticia/detalhe/15828/junior-completa-58-anos-de-idade-e-recebe-o-carinho-do-flamengo |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Beach soccer===
'''Brazil'''
* [[Beach Soccer World Championship]]: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
* [[Copa América]]: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

'''Individual'''
* [[Beach Soccer World Championship]] top scorer: 1997 – 11 goals, 1998 – 14 goals, 1999 – 10 goals, 2000 – 13 goals
* [[Beach Soccer World Championship]] Best Player: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
* [[Beach Soccer Stars]] Legend Award: 2019

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA|name=Junior}}
* {{Sambafoot|371_junior|Júnior (Leovegildo Lins Gama Júnior)}}

{{Navboxes colour
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{1982 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1992 South American Team of the Year}}
{{1980 Bola de Prata}}
{{1983 Bola de Prata}}
{{1984 Bola de Prata}}
{{1991 Bola de Prata}}
{{1992 Bola de Prata}}
{{Bola de Ouro}}
{{FIFA 100}}
}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title= Brazil squads
|bg= #FBEC5D
|fg= #008000 
|list1=
{{Brazil squad 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{Brazil squad 1979 Copa América}}
{{Brazil Squad 1982 World Cup}}
{{Brazil Squad 1983 Copa América}}
{{Brazil Squad 1986 World Cup}}
}}
{{Clube de Regatas do Flamengo managers}}
{{Sport Club Corinthians Paulista managers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Junior, Leo}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Brazilian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Torino FC players]]
[[Category:Delfino Pescara 1936 players]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:CR Flamengo footballers]]
[[Category:Copa Libertadores–winning players]]
[[Category:CR Flamengo managers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Brazil]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1983 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Brazilian football managers]]
[[Category:Brazil men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Sport Club Corinthians Paulista managers]]
[[Category:Brazilian beach soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A managers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Paraíba]]