Top 10 South Americans in Premier League history

#7 Juninho

Juninho became an icon at Middlesbrough

We go way back into the mid 1990’s for this one. At the time, the transfer seemed utterly bizarre – Juninho was considered one of Brazil’s brightest prospects following their 1994 World Cup victory, and so to see him signing for Middlesbrough – just months after they’d been promoted into the Premier League for 1995/96 – seemed absolutely insane.

But it indeed happened and unlike the other big-name imports they signed – Emerson, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Branco – he was clearly committed to the cause and became an instant hit with the fans.

The Teesside faithful nicknamed Juninho ‘The Little Fella’ and watched in awe as his performances as an attacking midfielder led the club to the finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1996/97, although they lost both games.

The team were eventually relegated that season, with Juninho left in tears on the pitch following the decisive game. The relegation led him to move to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 1997, basically to ensure he’d gain a place in Brazil’s 1998 World Cup squad, but the story wasn’t over there.

In 1999/00 Atletico loaned Juninho back to Middlesbrough and he again starred for them in the Premier League, before a third spell – this time a permanent one – followed from 2002 to 2004. By that point Juninho was at the tail end of his career, but his commitment to the club meant he remained an icon and in 2007, he was voted Middlesbrough’s greatest ever player. Not bad for a guy originally expected to be another foreign mercenary.