Who is Pernambucano Juninho? The story of a free-kick master

Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Júnior, better known by his nickname Juninho Pernambucano , was born on January 30, 1975 in Recife, Brazil. He began playing football at Sport Recife , where he quickly established himself in the first team and won the Campeonato Pernambucano and the Copa do Nordeste in 1994, before his 20th birthday.

Juninho's talent attracted the attention of major clubs, and Vasco da Gama signed him in 1995. There, he built a reputation, playing nearly 300 professional matches. The Brazilian phenomenon scored 55 goals and won around ten titles, creating a strong and lasting relationship with the Rio de Janeiro club.

Juninho's European rise with Olympique Lyonnais

In 2001, Juninho Pernambucano joined Olympique Lyonnais , marking the beginning of a golden era for the French club. He quickly became a key player in midfield thanks to his vision and unique ability to take free kicks. In eight seasons, he played 343 matches , scoring 100 goals, 44 of which were from free kicks .

Juninho contributed to OL's seven consecutive French league titles (2002–2008) , as well as a Coupe de France in 2008 and three Trophées des Champions (2002–2004). The free-kick specialist was regularly named Ligue 1's best player and also the league's best foreign player.

Is Juninho Pernambucano the greatest free-kick taker in history?

Juninho is unanimously recognized as the greatest free-kick taker in football history . With 77 free-kick goals , he surpasses any other free-kick taker in this area. His skill stems from his ability to control trajectory, precision, and power, even from improbable distances.

A memorable moment: his free kick against Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich) in the Champions League, a symbol of his abstract talent. An investigation by the newspaper L'Équipe attributes to Juninho a direct or indirect involvement in 40% of OL's goals through his set pieces.

Juninho Pernambucano with the Brazilian national team

Juninho earned his first cap for the Brazilian national team in 1999 under the management of Luxemburgo. He went on to make 44 appearances , scoring 7 goals . The Olympique Lyonnais attacking midfielder notably participated in the 2005 Confederations Cup, which Brazil won, and the 2006 World Cup , which he left after the quarter-final defeat against Zinedine Zidane's France.

An exceptional attacking midfielder, Juninho brings his free-kick prowess and vision to the Seleção. Often hampered by competition, he remains invaluable.

Juninho's transition to sporting director at OL

After Lyon, Juninho finished his career in Qatar with Al-Gharafa , winning the league and two local cups before returning to Vasco da Gama (2011–2014), where he ended his career with symbolic gestures, such as a decisive free kick upon his return.

After retiring from playing, Juninho became a consultant for the Brazilian channel Rede Globo (2013–2018), then sporting director of Olympique Lyonnais (OL) between 2019 and 2021, where his record remained mixed despite some notable signings. The former Brazilian international wanted to refocus the project on Lyon's core values: promoting young players, targeted recruitment, and salary discipline. He initially appointed Silvinho as manager but then reinstated Rudi Garcia, whom he disliked. Despite the tensions, the team reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Champions League and remained competitive in Ligue 1. Juninho notably brought in Bruno Guimarães and his colleague Lucas Paquetá. His ambitious but somewhat unstructured management style clashed with the Covid-19 pandemic and internal power struggles.

Juninho left the Olympique Lyonnais staff in December 2021, leaving behind solid assets and an ambitious vision.

Juninho, a legend of Brazilian and Lyon football

Juninho embodies the art of the free kick and extreme precision. He remains a legend of Olympique Lyonnais , considered one of the greatest players in the club's history . He is still a respected figure in Brazil for his elegant football, professionalism, and longevity.

His free kicks are still studied today, and his calling card is that of a technically gifted playmaker capable of influencing matches with a single gesture. Finally, Juninho Pernambucano's career – from Recife to Lyon, from the pitch to the office – reflects the evolution and legacy of a truly unique footballer.