One of the most recognisable Brazian footballers of his generation, Juninho Pernambucano, is gearing up for his last stint as a professional in 2014.
The thrice Vasco da Gama and ex-Lyon midfielder turns 39 at the end of January and reckons the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, the Campeonato Carioca, may be his final competitive tournament.
The midfielder told globoesporte.com that he would ideally compete in the Campeonato and have a final match against Argentina’s River Plate, the opponents for one of his career highlights in 1998.
The Copa Libertadores Semi-Final that year saw Juninho star in helping Vasco reach their only Final to date and the Rezinho de Sao Janeiro said: “I wanted a real game, where I could lose”, a sign that the he wants no favours from potential ‘goodbye’ glamour matches.
Juninho, who perhaps surprisingly only amassed 40 caps for the Selecao up until 2006, was well-renowned for being arguably one of the greatest dead-ball experts the game has seen.
