Júnior Caiçara

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Souza and the second or paternal family name is Paula.

Júnior Caiçara
Caiçara with Ludogorets Razgrad in 2014
Personal information
Full name Uilson de Souza Paula Júnior
Date of birth (1989-04-27) 27 April 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Santos, Brazil
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Santo André
Youth career
2005–2007 São Vicente
2007–2008 Santo André
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Santo André 1 (0)
2009 → CSA (loan) 6 (0)
2010 → América-SP (loan) 4 (0)
2010–2012 → Gil Vicente (loan) 56 (1)
2012–2015 Ludogorets Razgrad 83 (0)
2015–2017 Schalke 04 26 (0)
2017–2023 İstanbul Başakşehir 158 (2)
2023 Santos 5 (0)
2024– Santo André 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:10, 14 November 2023 (UTC)

Uilson de Souza Paula Júnior (born 27 April 1989), commonly known as Júnior Caiçara, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a right-back for Santo André.

Career

Santo André and loans

Caiçara's first professional club is Santo André. In 2009, after making his senior debut with their B-team in the previous year's Copa Paulista,[1] he was loaned out to Brazilian team CSA.[2]

Back to Santo André in May 2009,[3] Júnior Caiçara made his Série A debut on 16 May, starting and being sent off in a 4–2 away win over Coritiba.[4] In 2010, he was sent on loan to América-SP, where he featured in four Campeonato Paulista Série A2 matches before being released on 10 February.[5]

In June 2010, Caiçara goes to Portugal team Gil Vicente again on loan from Santo André.[6] He made his debut on 29 August against Trofense in the second Portugal league. He helped his team to gain promotion in the Primeira Liga and played with the team in their return in Primeira Liga.

Ludogorets Razgrad

After playing two seasons for Gil Vicente in Portugal, Júnior Caiçara joined Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad on 5 June 2012.[7] He signed a three-year contract and was given the number 80 jersey.

On 11 July, Caiçara marked his debut for Ludogorets with a goal and first trophy. He opened the scoring in the 2012 Bulgarian Supercup against Lokomotiv Plovdiv, the match ended 3–1 to Ludogorets.[8] On 18 July, he made his European debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Then he made his Bulgarian A Group debut, playing full 90 minutes in a 3–0 away win over Cherno More Varna on 11 August. Caiçara quickly established himself as Ludogorets's first choice right-back, making 28 league appearances during his debut campaign in Bulgaria. He collected his first A group title winner's medal at the end of the 2012–13 season.

On 21 August 2013, Caiçara was sent off against Basel in a 4–2 home defeat in the play-off round of the Champions League, his first red card in a Ludogorets shirt.[9]

On 12 December 2014, Ludogorets announced that Caiçara had extended his contract with a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2017.[10]

Schalke 04

On 25 June 2015, Caiçara signed with German club Schalke 04 on a three-year deal for a fee of €4.5 million.[11] He made his Bundesliga debut in a 1–1 draw with Darmstadt 98.

İstanbul Başakşehir

On 16 January 2017, Caiçara signed with Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. on a 3.5-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[12] Three days later he made his debut for the team in the Turkish Cup coming as a substitute in the 61 minute in a match against Yeni Amasyaspor.[13] On 22 January, he completed his debut for the team coming as a substitute again in a match against Fenerbahçe in the Süper Lig.[14]

On 19 February 2023, Caiçara terminated his contract with the club.[15]

Santos

On 21 August 2023, Caiçara returned to his home country after signing a contract with Santos in the top tier until the end of the year.[16]

Santo André return

On 3 January 2024, Caiçara returned to Santo André for the season.[17]

International career

Caicara is eligible for both Brazil and Bulgaria since on 1 July 2014 he got a Bulgarian passport and became able to play for Bulgaria from 2017. He said that he would be happy to represent Bulgaria on the international level.[18] On 25 February 2017, he mentioned again that he would represent Bulgaria if he got an invite since the old manager, Ivaylo Petev, wanted him, and he is waiting for a call from Petar Hubchev.[19]

Career statistics

As of 14 November 2023[20]
Club performance League State League[a] Cup[b] League Cup[c] Continental[d] Other[e] Total
Club Season League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santo André 2008 Série B 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 10 0 10 0
2009 Série A 1 0 — 0 0 — — — 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 — — 10 0 11 0
CSA (loan) 2009[21] Série D 0 0 6 0 2 0 — — — 8 0
América-SP (loan) 2010 Paulista A2 — 4 0 — — — — 4 0
Gil Vicente (loan) 2010–11 Segunda Liga 28 1 — 1 0 6 1 — — 35 2
2011–12 Primeira Liga 28 0 — 1 0 6 1 — — 35 1
Total 56 1 — 2 0 12 2 — — 70 3
Ludogorets Razgrad 2012–13 A Group 28 0 — 0 0 — 2 0 1 1 31 1
2013–14 29 0 — 8 0 — 15 0 1 0 53 0
2014–15 26 0 — 6 0 — 11 0 1 0 44 0
Total 83 0 — 14 0 — 28 0 3 1 128 1
Schalke 04 2015–16 Bundesliga 23 0 — 2 0 — 7 0 — 32 0
2016–17 3 0 — 2 0 — 4 1 — 9 1
Total 26 0 — 4 0 — 11 1 0 0 41 1
İstanbul Başakşehir 2016–17 Süper Lig 14 0 — 4 0 — 0 0 — 18 0
2017–18 31 0 — 1 0 — 10 0 — 42 0
2018–19 33 0 — 2 0 — 2 0 — 37 0
2019–20 33 0 — 0 0 — 11 0 — 44 0
2020–21 8 0 — 0 0 — 1 0 — 9 0
2021–22 27 2 — 1 0 — 0 0 — 28 2
2022–23 10 0 — 0 0 — 9 0 — 19 2
Total 156 2 — 8 0 — 33 0 0 0 197 2
Santos 2023 Série A 5 0 — — — — — 5 0
Santo André 2024 Série D 0 0 0 0 — — — — 0 0
Career total 327 3 10 0 30 0 12 2 72 1 13 1 464 7
  1. ^ Includes Campeonato Alagoano and Campeonato Paulista Série A2
  2. ^ Includes Copa do Brasil, Taça de Portugal, DFB-Pokal, Bulgarian Cup and Turkish Cup
  3. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  4. ^ Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ Includes Copa Paulista and Bulgarian Supercup

Honours

Club

Gil Vicente

Ludogorets Razgrad

İstanbul Başakşehir

References

  1. ^ "Experiência do trio de zaga é o diferencial do Ramalhão B" [Experience of the back three is the differential of the Ramalhão B] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Grande ABC. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Em retorno relâmpago, ex-CSA ganha vaga de titular no Santo André" [In a quick return, former CSA man earn starting spot at Santo André] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Alagoas 24 Horas. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Júnior Caiçara se diz pronto para estrear no Ramalhão" [Júnior Caiçara says he is ready to debut in the Ramalhão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Correio Braziliense. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ^ "De virada, o Santo André vence o Coritiba" [With a comeback, Santo André defeat Coritiba] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Bem Paraná. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. ^ "A2: Limpeza! América dispensa ex-Guarani e mais seis" [A2: Cleanup! América release former Guarani man and six more] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Jogadores do Santo André comemoram empréstimo para Europa" [Santo André players celebrate loan to Europe] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Futebol Interior. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Ludogorets signed with a talanted left back". ludogorets.com. 5 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
  8. ^ "More silverware for dominant Ludogorets". uefa.com. 11 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Basel take charge against Ludogorets". uefa.com. 21 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Жуниор Кайсара подписа нов договор с Лудогорец" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 12 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Königsblau verpflichtet Junior Caicara von Ludogorets Razgrad". FC Schalke 04 (in German). 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  12. ^ "S04 agrees deal with Basaksehir FK for Caicara - News - Schalke04.de". www.schalke04.de. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  13. ^ İSTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHIR VS. YENI AMASYASPOR
  14. ^ FENERBAHÇE VS. İSTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHIR
  15. ^ "Junior Caiçara, Başakşehir'e veda etti! Sözleşmesi feshedildi" [Junior Caiçara bids farewell to Başakşehir! Contract terminated] (in Turkish). TRHaber. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Lateral-direito Júnior Caiçara é o novo reforço do Santos FC" [Right-back Júnior Caiçara is the new addition of Santos FC] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Ex-Santos, lateral Júnior Caiçara é anunciado pelo Santo André" [Formerly of Santos, full-back Júnior Caiçara is announced by Santo André] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Кайсара след бг паспорта: Искам в националния отбор". blitz.bg. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  19. ^ Кайсара пред турски медии: Готов съм за националния на България
  20. ^ "Junior Caiçara » Club matches". World Football.
  21. ^ "Campeonato Alagoano – Edição 2009" [Campeonato Alagoano – 2009 Edition] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Blog do Sorrentino. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Istanbul's Medipol Başakşehir wins first ever Turkish Süper Lig title". Daily Sabah. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.