Walter Soares Belitardo Júnior (Chinese: 祖連奴; born 11 December 1990), commonly known as Juninho, is a professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee. Born in Brazil, he plays for the Hong Kong national team.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Soares Belitardo Júnior | ||
| Date of birth | 11 December 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Caieiras, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kitchee | ||
| Number | 90 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2010 | Santo André | ||
| 2009 | São Bernardo | ||
| 2010 | América (AM) | ||
| 2011 | Fernandópolis | ||
| 2012 | Votuporanguense | ||
| 2013 | Barretos | 8 | (2) |
| 2014 | Paulista | 4 | (0) |
| 2015 | América (GO) | ||
| 2015 | Barretos | 5 | (0) |
| 2016 | Sporting de Macau | 17 | (15) |
| 2016–2017 | Tung Sing | 22 | (31) |
| 2017–2018 | Yuen Long | 15 | (2) |
| 2018–2020 | Pegasus | 17 | (3) |
| 2019–2020 | → Yuen Long (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| 2020–2023 | Rangers | 35 | (14) |
| 2023– | Kitchee | 6 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Hong Kong | 9 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 July 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2024 | |||
Club career
Sporting de Macau
After terminating his contract with Barretos in 2015 due to low pay and delays in payment, Juninho decided to move to Macau in search of a higher salary.[2] He moved to Macau with the intention of signing a professional contract but due to a misunderstanding as to the professional opportunities in Macau, he was ultimately forced to play as an amateur for Sporting de Macau in order to continue his career.
Tung Sing
Juninho signed with Hong Kong Premier League club Dreams, then known as Biu Chun Glory Sky, in the summer of 2016. However, as the club later signed additional foreign players, BCGS did not have room on their squad to register him.[3]
Juninho then moved to Tung Sing in September 2016. In his only season with the club, he scored 31 goals in 22 appearances, finishing third in the Golden Boot race.[4]
Yuen Long
Following the 2016–17 season, Juninho went on trial with HKPL club Rangers but was not signed.[5] A week before the 2017–18 season started, Juninho was signed to Yuen Long.[6]
Pegasus
On 23 July 2018, it was announced at Pegasus' season opening event that the club had signed Juninho for the 2018–19 campaign.[7]
Yuen Long
On 8 August 2019, Juninho was loaned to Yuen Long after Pegasus had signed a new foreign player. He rejoined the club after one year.[8]
Rangers
On 17 October 2020, it was announced that Juninho was signed for Rangers.[9]
Kitchee
International career
On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Juninho had received his HKSAR passport after giving up his Brazilian passport, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.[11] He was then subsequently called up for the local training camp in preparation of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. On 26 December 2023, he was named in Hong Kong's final squad for the Asian Cup.[12]
On 1 January 2024, Juninho made his international debut for Hong Kong in a friendly match against China.
Career statistics
International
- As of 15 October 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 2024 | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 10 | 2 | |
International goals
| No. | Date | Cap | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5 September 2024 | 7 | HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji |  Solomon Islands | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2. | 15 October 2024 | 10 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong |  Cambodia | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Club
Yuen Long
Kitchee
References
External links
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