Juninho (footballer, born September 1982)

For other people named Juninho, see Juninho (disambiguation).

Anselmo Vendrechovski Júnior (September 16, 1982), known as Juninho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He is a Mexican naturalized citizen.^[1]

Juninho

Juninho with UANL in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Anselmo Vendrechovski Júnior
Date of birth	(1982-09-16) September 16, 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Wenceslau Braz, Paraná, Brazil
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
2000–2001	Coritiba
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2004	Coritiba	13	(0)
2005–2007	Botafogo	64	(14)
2008	São Paulo	8	(0)
2009–2010	Botafogo	34	(7)
2010	→ Suwon Bluewings (loan)	11	(3)
2010–2018	UANL	288	(31)
Total		418	(55)
Managerial career
2020	UANL Reserves and Academy
2020–2021	UANL (assistant)
2023	UANL (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

A centre back, Juninho was known for his quality and leadership.^[2] The former captain of Tigres UANL, was a set-piece specialist with a powerful right shot and ability to score goals.

After his retirement, he stayed attached to Tigres and worked with the youth teams and with the first team's head coach Ricardo Ferretti between 2020 and 2021. In February 9, 2023, he joined as an assistant for at the time head coach Marco Antonio Ruiz.

Career

His great-grandparents were from Poland.^[3] He spent his early career with Coritiba. On 2005, he was signed by Botafogo. He was transferred in 2008 to São Paulo after accepting a three-year offer on December 7, 2007.^[4] In January 2009, he was released to sign back with his former club Botafogo, but Tigres UANL from Mexico offered him a better contract, and since 2010 he has played in Mexico. In early 2010 he played for Suwon Bluewings on loan. His first goal with Tigres was against Santos Laguna on a free kick in the 8th minute. This was the only goal of the game as it ended 1 - 0 for a Tigres' win. He became a key in the defense for the Apertura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016 and Apertura 2017 championships of Tigres. After the departure of Lucas Lobos, he became the team's captain. Juninho retired at the end of the Apertura 2018 season and began a coaching role at Tigres' youth teams. Juninho joined the Monterrey Flash of the Major Arena Soccer League in June 2022.^[5] Nowadays, he works with Tigres' head coach Marco Antonio Ruiz.

Honours

Club

Coritiba

• Paraná State League (2): 2003, 2004

Botafogo

• Rio de Janeiro State League (1): 2006
• Taça Rio (1): 2007
• Taça Guanabara (1): 2009

São Paulo

• Brazilian Série A (1): 2008

Tigres UANL

• Liga MX (4): Apertura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2017
• Copa MX (1): Clausura 2014
• Campeón de Campeones (3): 2016, 2017, 2018
• Campeones Cup (1): 2018