Tim Vickery: Vasco da Gama legend Juninho returns to Brazil for nominal wages

[Tim Vickery]

Supporters of Vasco da Gama filed away sadly -- some of them angrily -- on Sunday after their team suffered a defeat on penalties in a Rio championship final against great local rivals Flamengo. But along with the sorrow, the last few days also brought the fans a reason to be cheerful. One of their favorite players is returning to the club, and the story has an uplifting twist.

More...

 

[GodCubed]

Ah, Juninho. Excellent player, and from the sound of it a thoroughly nice bloke too. I still think he's the best freekick taker I've ever seen bar none.

 

[Athe~]

Cracking player back in the day. Pity the article keeps calling the sport 'soccer', I might have bothered reading it otherwise.

 

[curtis290]

What an awesome player, I only started watching him at the end of his career but he's one of my all time favorites! A great creative playmaker who took amazing free kicks. Wish I could have seen more of him.

Cracking player back in the day. Pity the article keeps calling the sport 'soccer', I might have bothered reading it otherwise.

Football is referred to as soccer in many countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, as well as in the Caribbean. Sports Illustrated is an American newspaper.

 

[DMF]

Definition of Free Kick King.

Absolute legend. His record at Lyon was insane. Over 60% of his goals for Lyon were from dead ball situations.

 

[Calum]

epic

[video=youtube;uTAPp4V5dbM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTAPp4V5dbM[/video]

 

[curtis290]

Was an absolutely incredible goal, I'm almost positive I watched that game and I can't believe I can't remember that happening.

 

[Athe~]

Football is referred to as soccer in many countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, as well as in the Caribbean. Sports Illustrated is an American newspaper.

I know, I know. It's just me being a cranky old man and complaining about silly stuff most people can ignore.

---------- Post added at 08:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 PM ----------

YouTube - Very Best Of Juninho (Freekicks)

---------- Post added at 08:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 PM ----------

By the way, I was thinking a couple days ago, they don't make this guys anymore. There aren't really many 'free kick specialists'. I remember being truly afraid of some players taking free kicks back in the day, because I knew they were going to score. Granted, Ronaldo takes free kicks and is quite good, the same can be said about Messi, and I've seen good kicks from a few others too.

But not so long ago we had Roberto Carlos, Juninho, Riquelme, Beckham... the list goes on.

 

[GodCubed]

Not to be a ****, but Roberto Carlos really wasn't that good of a freekick taker. Sure, everyone remembers that freekick against France, but he actually scored them rarely.

 

[Calum]

Best FreeKick taker of the 20th Century ?

I think so

 

[Athe~]

Not to be a ****, but Roberto Carlos really wasn't that good of a freekick taker. Sure, everyone remembers that freekick against France, but he actually scored them rarely.

I know, but that free kick is plain awesome.