José Sinval

For the footballer born in 1971, see Sinval.

José Sinval de Campos (born 6 April 1967), known as José Sinval or Sinval, is a Brazilian football striker who mainly played in Switzerland and Spain. He settled in Switzerland and became a coach.^[1]

José Sinval

Personal information
Full name	José Sinval de Campos
Date of birth	(1967-04-06) 6 April 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth	Bebedouro, Brazil
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	FC Sion (assistant manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1986	Ponte Preta
1986–1995	Servette	272	(45)
1995–2000	Mérida
2000	Pachuca
2001–2003	Étoile Carouge
2004–2004	Collex-Bossy
2005–2006	Mérida
2006–2007	Fribourg
Managerial career
2014	Servette (assistant)
2017–	Sion (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sinval began his career in Ponte Preta, but was scouted during a youth tournament in Qatar. He moved to Switzerland as a part of a "Brazilian invasion" of the country's football scene.^[2] He joined Servette FC in 1986. Aged only 19, he still managed to take the place of French international Bernard Genghini.^[3]

After winning the 1993–94 Nationalliga A with Servette, he dreamt of a transfer to Serie A.^[2] This did not happen, but in 1995 he left Swiss football to join CP Mérida. He faced relegation from the 1995–96 La Liga, but helped win the 1996–97 Segunda División, only to be relegated once more from the 1997–98 La Liga. El Periódico Extremadura called him "one of the most charismatic players in the club's history".^[4]

Following a spell with Pachuca in Mexico, he returned to Switzerland in an attempt to rejoin Servette. He was not wanted by Servette at the time, and a trial with FC Wil and talks with Racing Ferrol did not come to fruition, with Sinval ultimately being signed by Étoile Carouge in the Swiss second tier.^[5] In 2005, though past his prime, he moved back to Mérida and the club Mérida UD. The transfer was orchestrated by the club president, whose father had been president in the 1990s. The club contested the 2005–06 Segunda División B, and his playing was contingent on obtaining an Italian passport.^[4][6]

Personal life

Sinval married for the second time in 2022. He considered himself Swiss after residing there for several decades, but had not acquired a Swiss passport.^[7]

Honours

Servette

• 1993–94 Nationalliga A

Mérida

• 1996–97 Segunda División

References

1. José Sinval at WorldFootball.net
2. do Valle, Emmanuel (27 November 2022). "A "invasão brasileira": relembre 20 jogadores daqui que passaram pelo futebol suíço nos anos 1980 e 1990". Trivela (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
3. Pflugshaupt, Peter (30 March 2020). "Servette FC - Das sind Legenden des Genfer Kultclubs". Nau.ch (in German). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
4. "Un regreso sonado". El Periódico Extremadura (in Spanish). 27 July 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
5. Faas, Jérôme (16 October 2001). "De retour en terre genevoise, José Sinval fait les beaux jours d'Etoile Carouge". Le Temps (in French). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
6. "Sinval comienza a entrenar hoy en su nueva etapa en Mérida". El Periódico Extremadura (in Spanish). 20 October 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
7. Jacquier, Nicolas (28 November 2022). "José Sinval: "Le Brésil aurait tort de ne pas se méfier de la Suisse"". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 31 December 2023.