Juninho (footballer, born December 1990)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Soares and the second or paternal family name is Belitardo. "Júnior" is a generational suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.
Juninho
祖連奴
Personal information
Full name Walter Soares Belitardo Júnior
Date of birth (1990-12-11) 11 December 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Caieiras, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Kitchee
Number 90
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Santo André
2009 São Bernardo
2010 América (AM)
2011 Fernandópolis
2012 Votuporanguense
2013 Barretos 8 (2)
2014 Paulista 4 (0)
2015 América (GO)
2015 Barretos 5 (0)
2016 Sporting de Macau 17 (15)
2016–2017 Tung Sing 22 (31)
2017–2018 Yuen Long 15 (2)
2018–2020 Pegasus 17 (3)
2019–2020 → Yuen Long (loan) 9 (3)
2020–2023 Rangers 35 (14)
2023– Kitchee 6 (4)
International career‡
2024– Hong Kong 14 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 December 2024

Walter Soares Belitardo Júnior (Chinese: 祖連奴; born 11 December 1990), commonly known as Juninho, is a professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee. Born in Brazil, he plays for the Hong Kong national team.

Club career

Sporting de Macau

After terminating his contract with Barretos in 2015 due to low pay and delays in payment, Juninho decided to move to Macau in search of a higher salary.[2] He moved to Macau with the intention of signing a professional contract but due to a misunderstanding as to the professional opportunities in Macau, he was ultimately forced to play as an amateur for Sporting de Macau in order to continue his career.

Tung Sing

Juninho signed with Hong Kong Premier League club Dreams, then known as Biu Chun Glory Sky, in the summer of 2016. However, as the club later signed additional foreign players, BCGS did not have room on their squad to register him.[3]

Juninho then moved to Tung Sing in September 2016. In his only season with the club, he scored 31 goals in 22 appearances, finishing third in the Golden Boot race.[4]

Yuen Long

Following the 2016–17 season, Juninho went on trial with HKPL club Rangers but was not signed.[5] A week before the 2017–18 season started, Juninho was signed to Yuen Long.[6]

Pegasus

On 23 July 2018, it was announced at Pegasus' season opening event that the club had signed Juninho for the 2018–19 campaign.[7]

Yuen Long

On 8 August 2019, Juninho was loaned to Yuen Long after Pegasus had signed a new foreign player. He rejoined the club after one year.[8]

Rangers

On 17 October 2020, it was announced that Juninho was signed for Rangers.[9]

Kitchee

On 12 July 2023, Juninho joined Kitchee.[10]

International career

On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Juninho had received his HKSAR passport after giving up his Brazilian passport, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.[11] He was then subsequently called up for the local training camp in preparation of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. On 26 December 2023, he was named in Hong Kong's final squad for the Asian Cup.[12]

On 1 January 2024, Juninho made his international debut for Hong Kong in a friendly match against China.

Career statistics

International

As of 14 December 2024
National team Year Apps Goals
Hong Kong 2024 14 2
Total 14 2

International goals

No. Date Cap Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 5 September 2024 7 HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji  Solomon Islands 1–0 3–0 Friendly
2. 15 October 2024 10 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Cambodia 3–0 3–0 Friendly

Honours

Club

Yuen Long

Kitchee

References

  1. ^ www.the-afc.com https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/teams/2023/afc_asian_cup/hong-kong-china. Retrieved 14 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "外闖中伏變人球 職業球員踢業餘聯賽". HK01. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018. (in Chinese)
  3. ^ "外闖中伏變人球 職業球員踢業餘聯賽". HK01. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018. (in Chinese)
  4. ^ "2016-17 Top Scorer - First Division". HKFA.
  5. ^ "元朗「巴西幫」添成員 簽東昇舊將祖連奴". Upower. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017. (in Chinese)
  6. ^ Au Yeung, Patrick (19 August 2017). "Yuen Long Eager to Get Going in HKPL". offside.hk.
  7. ^ Yip, Si Man (23 July 2018). "飛馬新帥不踢Tiki-taka 首席中鋒陳肇麒轉型中堅". HK01. Retrieved 23 July 2018. (in Chinese)
  8. ^ "查理士來投 飛馬外借祖連奴到元朗". Apple Daily. Retrieved 8 August 2019. (in Chinese)
  9. ^ "標準流浪簽4森巴兵迎新季". on.cc. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020. (in Chinese)
  10. ^ "傑志新援曾戰兩屆世界盃 班費逾2000萬推行「精兵政策」". HK01. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023. (in Chinese)
  11. ^ 港超聯 祖連奴攞特區護照：我係時候作出貢獻 (in Chinese). hk.on.cc. 8 December 2023.
  12. ^ "中國香港代表隊 – 決選名單" [Hong Kong, China Team – Finalists]. Hong Kong Football Association (in Chinese). 26 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.