Miranda (footballer, born 1984)

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

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Miranda and the second or paternal family name is de Souza. "Filho" is a generational suffix meaning "son", which is used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.

João Miranda de Souza Filho (born 7 September 1984), known as Miranda, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Miranda

Miranda with Brazil in 2018
Personal information
Full name	João Miranda de Souza Filho[1]
Date of birth	(1984-09-07) 7 September 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth	Paranavaí, Brazil
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
2000–2001	Portuguesa Londrinense
2001–2004	Coritiba
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2005	Coritiba	49	(2)
2005–2006	Sochaux	20	(0)
2006–2011	São Paulo	128	(4)
2011–2015	Atlético Madrid	117	(8)
2015–2019	Inter Milan	110	(1)
2019–2020	Jiangsu Suning	28	(2)
2021–2022	São Paulo	43	(0)
Total		494	(17)
International career
2008–2021	Brazil	58	(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Brazil Copa América Winner 2019 Brazil FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2009 South Africa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Having begun his career at Coritiba, Miranda spent the 2005–06 season with Sochaux in France before returning to Brazil to play for São Paulo. He won three consecutive Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles, and was named in the Team of the Year four consecutive times from 2007 to 2010. In 2011, he joined Atlético Madrid, where he won domestic and European honours, leaving for Inter for €15 million four years later.

Miranda made his full international debut for Brazil in 2009 and was a member of the squad which won the Confederations Cup that year. He also played at three Copa América tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, captaining Brazil at the Copa América Centenario in 2016 and winning the 2019 Copa América.

Club career

Early career and São Paulo

Born in Paranavaí, Paraná, Miranda started at Coritiba, where he made 89 appearances and scored 6 goals. On 29 July 2005, Miranda signed a four-year deal with French side Sochaux.^[2] Miranda made twenty appearances for Sochaux as the club finished mid-table but he was not able to settle in France and soon moved back to his home country.

Miranda returned to Brazil in August 2006, on loan to São Paulo FC.^[3] In March 2007, he signed with São Paulo FC until 2011.^[4] In the same year, São Paulo won the 2006 Campeonato Brasileiro. He went on to win the 2007 and the 2008 editions of the Campeonato Brasileiro also, even being selected for the "Team of the Year" in both 2007^[5] and 2008 respectively.^[6] While São Paulo failed to win any more national titles during Miranda's stay with the club, his individual performances did not go unheralded, as he was included in a further two "Team of the Year" squads in 2009 and 2010.

Atlético Madrid

Miranda during the Madrid derby in the 2013–14 season

Miranda joined Spanish side Atlético Madrid in July 2011 upon signing a three-year pre-contractual agreement in January 2011 with Atlético after deciding not to renew his contract with São Paulo which was due to expire in July 2011.^[7] Miranda made his competitive debut for his new club on 25 August 2011 in a 4–0 thumping of Portuguese side Vitória S.C. in the second leg of their Europa League playoff round tie.^[8] Miranda made his La Liga debut on 10 September in a 1–0 loss to Valencia CF, Roberto Soldado scoring the game's only goal.^[9]

The Brazilian defender scored his first goal for the capital club against Granada CF on 11 March 2012, converting a pass from Diego Godín to a goal in the top left corner of the net, pushing the club to a 2–0 league victory.^[10] On 8 April, Miranda put in an underwhelming display against fellow Champions League chasing club Levante UD, letting Arouna Koné in for Levante's second goal in the tenth minute and then picking up a red card with seven minutes left; Atlético lost the game 2–0 and Levante moved up to fourth place.^[11] His first European goal for the club came later that month against Spanish opposition, scoring Atlético's second goal in an eventual 4–2 first-leg win against Valencia in the semi-finals of their Europa League encounter on 19 April.^[12]

Miranda scored Atlético's third goal in their 4–1 UEFA Super Cup thrashing of European Champions Chelsea on 31 August 2012.^[13] On 12 March 2013, Miranda renewed his contract with Madrid, keeping him in Spain until 2016.^[14] In the Copa del Rey final on 17 May, Miranda provided the match-winner, scoring a header in added time of extra time to give Atlético a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid.^[15] This ended a streak of 25 games, stretching back to 1999, without a win against their city rivals.^[16]

After helping Atlético to their first league title in 17 years, Miranda was nominated in 2014 as the best defender in La Liga, alongside teammate Filipe Luís and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos.^[17]

Inter Milan

On 30 June 2015, Serie A club Inter Milan announced that they had signed Miranda on a two-year loan, for €4 million, with an obligation to sign outright for an additional €11 million on 1 July 2017, with conditions that would push the date even earlier.^{[18][19][20][21]} The obligation was activated after Miranda's 2016–17 season debut for Inter on 20 July.^[21][22]

Miranda made his Inter debut on 23 August as they began the season with a 1–0 home win over Atalanta. He played 32 games over the campaign, scoring once in a 3–1 victory against Sampdoria at the San Siro on 20 February 2016.^[23] He was also sent off twice in his first year with the Nerazzurri, the first coming on 27 September 2015 for a foul on Nikola Kalinić in a 4–1 home loss to Fiorentina that ended Inter's unbeaten start.^[24]

Jiangsu Suning

On 26 July 2019, it was announced that Miranda's contract with Inter was terminated by a mutual consent.^[25] Inter also announced that he was set to join Chinese club Jiangsu Suning.^[26] On 28 February 2021, Jiangsu announced that the club would be dissolved, and because of that, all players contracted to the club would be released, including Miranda.^[27]

Return to São Paulo

Miranda in 2022

In 6 March 2021, before the derby against Santos at the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo president Julio Casares confirmed the return of Miranda on a free transfer after days of negotiations. He signed a 1 year and 8 month contract.^[28]

Retirement

On January 11, 2023, Miranda announced his retirement at the age of 38, through his Instagram.^[29][30]

International career

Miranda celebrating his goal in a March 2018 friendly away to Russia

On 20 August 2007, Miranda received his first call-up to the national team, along with Thiago Silva, as a replacement for Lúcio and Luisão in a friendly match against Algeria.^[31][32] However, he did not make his debut as he was only an unused substitute during the match. More than a year later, Miranda made his first international appearance for Brazil in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Peru on 1 April 2009. He came on as a substitute for Luisão who was injured during the game.^[33]

Miranda was part of the Brazil squad which won the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. He replaced Kléber at left-back for the second group game against the United States in Pretoria, but he saw himself replaced in the third match by André Santos, who remained in the position for the rest of the tournament.

In January 2013, Miranda was called up for Brazil for the first time since 2009 ahead of a friendly against England; it was the first squad for Luiz Felipe Scolari's return as manager.^[34] He was one of seven players put on standby for Brazil's 2014 FIFA World Cup team.^[35]

Under new coach Dunga, Miranda became a regular starter in the Brazilian defence, replacing former captain Thiago Silva as David Luiz's central defensive partner.^[36] In May 2015, he was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América held in Chile.^[37] On 21 June, he replaced the suspended Neymar as captain of the Seleção in a 2–1 win against Venezuela.^[38]

In May 2016, Miranda was named as Brazil's captain for the Copa América Centenario in the United States,^[39] which ultimately ended in a group stage exit.

Miranda scored his first international goal on 6 September 2016, in the second minute of a 2–1 win over Colombia in a World Cup qualifying match played in Manaus.^[40] In May 2018 manager Tite named him in the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia,^[41] where he played as a starter in the five matches played by Brazil, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

In May 2019, Miranda was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil.^[42] He made his only appearance in the competition in Brazil's 2–0 victory over rivals Argentina in the semi-finals of the competition on 2 July, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marquinhos.^[43] Brazil subsequently went on to win the title following a 3–1 win over Peru in the final on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium.^[44] After two years, Miranda was recalled to the Brazil National Team for three World Cup qualifying matches against Chile, Argentina, and Peru. He was a reserve for all three games.

Personal life

Miranda's sons, João Vitor Miranda and Lucas Miranda, are currently players in the youth sectors of Real Valladolid and São Paulo FC, respectively.^[45]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[46][47]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental[a]		Other[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Coritiba	2004	Série A	40	2	—		—		—		40	2
	2005		9	0	—		—		—		9	0
	Total		49	2	—		—		—		49	2
Sochaux	2005–06	Ligue 1	20	0	0	0	—		—		20	0
São Paulo	2006	Série A	14	1	—		—		—		14	1
	2007		35	2	—		—		—		35	2
	2008		24	0	—		10	1	—		34	1
	2009		28	0	—		6	0	15	1	49	1
	2010		27	1	—		11	0	19	1	57	2
	2011		—		6	0	—		17	1	23	4
	Total		128	4	6	0	29	1	51	3	214	8
Atlético Madrid	2011–12	La Liga	27	1	2	0	15	1	—		44	2
	2012–13		35	2	7	1	3	0	1	1	46	4
	2013–14		32	2	5	0	13	2	2	0	52	4
	2014–15		23	3	3	0	8	0	2	0	36	3
	Total		117	8	17	1	39	3	5	1	178	13
Inter Milan	2015–16	Serie A	32	1	2	0	—		—		34	1
	2016–17		32	0	1	0	3	0	—		36	0
	2017–18		31	0	0	0	—		—		31	0
	2018–19		15	0	1	0	5	0	—		20	0
	Total		110	1	4	0	8	0	—		121	1
Jiangsu Suning	2019	Chinese Super League	9	1	0	0	—		—		9	1
	2020		19	1	0	0	—		—		19	1
	Total		28	2	0	0	—		—		28	2
São Paulo	2021	Série A	28	0	5	0	6	0	7	1	46	1
	2022		15	0	5	0	9	1	7	0	36	1
	Total		43	0	10	0	15	1	14	1	82	2
Career total			494	17	37	1	91	5	70	5	692	28

1. Includes continental competitions, such as Copa Libertadores, Recopa Sudamericana UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
2. Includes other competitions, such as Supercopa de España and Brazilian state leagues

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[48]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil	2009	6	0
	2013	1	0
	2014	6	0
	2015	14	0
	2016	10	1
	2017	6	0
	2018	11	2
	2019	4	0
Total		58	3

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Miranda goal.

List of international goals scored by Miranda

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 September 2016	Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil	Colombia	1–0	2–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	23 March 2018	Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia	Russia	1–0	3–0	Friendly
3	16 October 2018	King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	Argentina	1–0	1–0	2018 Superclásico de las Américas

Honours

Miranda on Atlético Madrid's victory parade after winning the league in 2014

São Paulo

• Série A: 2006, 2007, 2008
• Campeonato Paulista: 2021^[49]
• Copa Sudamericana runner-up: 2022^[50]

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14^[51]
• Copa del Rey: 2012–13^[52]
• Supercopa de España: 2014^[53]
• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12^[54]
• UEFA Super Cup: 2012^[55]
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14^[56]

Jiangsu Suning

• Chinese Super League: 2020^[57]

Brazil

• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009^[58]
• Copa América: 2019^[59]

Individual

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010^{[60][61][62][63]}
• Bola de Prata: 2008,^[64] 2009^[65]

References

1. "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
2. "Sochaux contrata zagueiro brasileiro João Miranda" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 29 July 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
3. "São Paulo contrata zagueiro Miranda, 'herdeiro' de Lugano" (in Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
4. Miranda acerta até 2011
5. "São Paulo domina premiação da CBF" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 December 2007.
6. "Hexacampeão, São Paulo domina também o Prêmio Craque Brasileirão" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 December 2008.
7. "Miranda fecha com Atlético de Madr" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
8. "Vitória SC 0–4 Atlético". UEFA. 25 August 2011.
9. "Valencia CF 1 – 0 Atlético Madrid". Yahoo! Sports. 10 September 2011.
10. "Atletico Madrid 2–0 Granada". ESPNFC. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013.
11. "Granotas leap into top four". ESPNFC. 8 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013.
12. "Atlético in control against rivals Valencia". UEFA. 19 April 2012.
13. "Chelsea were comprehensively beaten in the Super Cup as Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick to inspire Atletico Madrid to victory in Monaco". BBC Sport. 31 August 2012.
14. "Miranda extends Atlético deal until 2016". Marca. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
15. "Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo off in Real Madrid loss". BBC Sport. 17 May 2013.
16. "Atletico party like it's 1999". ESPNFC. 17 May 2013.
17. Fernandez-Abascal, Eduardo (14 October 2014). "Chelsea Duo Thibaut Courtois And Filipe Luis Nominated For La Liga Awards". International Business Times. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
18. "Inter agree €15 million deal for Miranda". goal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
19. "Inter confirm Miranda move". goal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
20. "IMIRANDA FLIES IN FOR MEDICAL". Inter.it. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
21. page 8 of Relazione sulla gestione (Management Report) F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2015 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
22. page 2 of Relazione sulla gestione (Management Report) "2015–16 Bilancio" [2015–16 Annual Report] (page contains code and password to download the actual PDF from http://www.registroimprese.it). Inter Milan (in Italian). CCIAA. 21 December 2016 [October 2016]. Retrieved 21 December 2016. {{cite web}}: External link in |format= (help)
23. "Mancine sorride sotto gli occhi di Mourinho" [Mancini smiles under the eyes of Mourinho]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 20 February 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
24. "Inter Milan 1–4 Fiorentina". BBC Sport. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
25. "Joao Miranda leaves by mutual consent". inter.it (Press release). F.C. Internazionale Milano. 26 July 2019.
26. "Official: Miranda to Jiangsu Suning". Football Italia. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
27. "Chinese Super League in disarray as champions Jiangsu cease operations". The Guardian. Reuters. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
28. "Miranda é do São Paulo!". GE (in Portuguese). 6 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
29. "Miranda encerra uma carreira que o coloca entre os zagueiros da mais alta estirpe que o Brasil teve neste século". trivela. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
30. "Zagueiro Miranda anuncia aposentadoria do futebol". globo.com FUTEBOL. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
31. Lucio, Gilberto ruled out^{[permanent dead link‍]}
32. Defesa novata na seleção
33. Brazil – Peru
34. Sánchez, Alberto (22 January 2013). "Miranda y Filipe Luis estarán en la próxima convocatoria de Brasil" [Miranda and Filipe Luis will be in Brazil's next squad] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
35. "World Cup 2014: Kaka and Robinho omitted from Brazil squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
36. "Dunga indica zaga com Miranda e David Luiz; Thiago Silva será reserva". Rede Globo. 3 June 2015.
37. "2015 Copa America squad lists". ESPN. 28 May 2015.
38. "Brazil v Venezuela: 2-1 win sees Dunga side progress in Copa America despite Neymar absence". Fox Sports. 22 June 2015.
39. "Inter Milan's Copa America players: Miranda, Murillo, Banega, Medel". ESPN. 29 June 2016.
40. Mansur, Carlos Eduardo (6 September 2016). "Brasil derrota a Colômbia com gols de Miranda e Neymar em Manaus" [Brazil defeat Colombia with goals from Miranda and Neymar in Manaus] (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 June 2018.
41. "World Cup: Neymar named in Brazil's 23-man squad". BBC Sport. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
42. "Brazil name Copa America squad". Football Italia. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
43. Brewin, John (3 July 2019). "Brazil 2–0 Argentina". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
44. Smyth, Rob (7 July 2019). "Brazil 3-1 Peru". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
45. "No time de Ronaldo Fenômeno: Filho de Miranda é apresentado no Valladolid após deixar o São Paulo". saopaulo.blog (in Portuguese). 6 August 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
46. "Brazil – João Miranda – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
47. "Football : João Miranda". Football DataBase. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
48. "João Miranda". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
49. "São Paulo vence o Palmeiras, conquista o Paulista e se liberta do jejum". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 May 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
50. "São Paulo 0 x 2 Independiente del Valle". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 October 2022.
51. "Atletico Madrid win La Liga". Sport 24. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
52. "Real Madrid – At. Madrid" (in Spanish). RFEF. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
53. "Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid to win Spanish Super Cup". BBC Sport. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
54. "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
55. "Chelsea 1–4 Atletico Madrid". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
56. "Madrid finally fulfil Décima dream". UEFA. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
57. "Alex Teixeira shines as Jiangsu claim maiden Chinese Super League title". ESPN. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
58. "Selecao comeback ends U.S. dream". ESPN. Associated Press. 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
59. "Brazil 3–1 Peru". BBC Sport. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
60. "São Paulo domina premiação da CBF" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
61. "Hexacampeão, São Paulo domina também o Prêmio Craque Brasileirão" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
62. "Hexacampeão, Flamengo recebe troféu de campeão nacional" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
63. "Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
64. "Bola de Prata Placar 2008" (in Portuguese). Veja. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
65. "Bola de Prata Placar 2009". Veja. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2019.

External links

• Atlético Madrid official profile
• Inter official profile
• Miranda at National-Football-Teams.com
• Miranda – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Miranda – UEFA competition record (archive)