Ocimar de Almeida Júnior or simply Júnior Urso (born 10 March 1989) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ocimar de Almeida Júnior | ||
| Date of birth | 10 March 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Taboão da Serra, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Charlotte FC | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2010 | Santo André | 0 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Palestra (loan) | 28 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | Ituano | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Avaí | 11 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Paraná (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Coritiba (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2013 | Coritiba | 23 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Shandong Luneng | 58 | (12) |
| 2016 | → Atlético Mineiro (loan) | 23 | (4) |
| 2017–2019 | Guangzhou R&F | 42 | (6) |
| 2019 | Corinthians | 27 | (3) |
| 2020–2022 | Orlando City | 87 | (12) |
| 2023 | Coritiba | 7 | (0) |
| 2023 | Orlando City | 9 | (0) |
| 2024– | Charlotte FC | 21 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:03, 27 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editBrazil
editJúnior started his career in Santo André. In 2010, he transferred to Ituano. After a good performance in early 2011, he had his federative rights purchased to Avaí and was loaned to Paraná Clube immediately. In the middle of 2011 season, Avaí called back Junior Urso to play in the Série A.[2] He made his debut for Avaí in the game which Avaí loses to Grêmio in Ressacada.[3] In the end of 2011, he was hired with Coritiba.
Shandong Luneng
editIn February 2014, Urso moved to Chinese Super League giants Shandong Luneng and proceeded to score the first goal of the season against Harbin Yiteng.[4]
Loan to Atlético Mineiro
editFollowing contract disputes with Shandong Luneng, the Chinese club loaned Urso back to Brazil where he played the 2016 season with Atlético Mineiro. The loan fee was a reported US$2 million (R$7.2 million).[5]
Guangzhou R&F
editOn 9 January 2017, Júnior moved to fellow Super League side Guangzhou R&F.[6]
Corinthians
editOn 4 February 2019, Júnior Urso returned to Brazil, signing with Corinthians after Guangzhou terminated his contract.[7] He made his debut for the team on 17 February against São Paulo FC in the 2019 Campeonato Paulista, a competition Corinthians would go on to win.[8] Three days later he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 win over Avenida in the Copa do Brasil.[9]
Orlando City
editOn 6 January 2020, Corinthians confirmed the sale of Urso to MLS team Orlando City ahead of the 2020 season, reportedly for a fee of $900k.[10][11] Orlando announced his arrival the following week.[12] Urso made his debut for the team in the season opener, captaining the side in place of the suspended Nani as Orlando earned a 0–0 draw against Real Salt Lake.[13] On 29 August 2020, Urso scored the opener in a 3–1 win over Atlanta United, Orlando's first ever win in the rivalry's history.[14] On 10 November 2022, Orlando City and Urso mutually agreed to terminate his contract, allowing Urso to return to Brazil for personal reasons.[15] In three seasons, he made a total of 100 appearances in all competitions and scored 14 goals.
In July 2023, Urso rejoined Orlando City.[16] In December 2023, as part of the end of season roster moves, it was announced Urso had his option declined and was released as a free agent.[17]
Charlotte FC
editOn 21 February 2024, Urso signed with Charlotte FC ahead of their 2024 season.[18]
Personal life
editUrso's brother is former professional footballer Peter de Almeida who retired in 2015 to become Junior's agent.[19]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Playoffs | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goal | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santo André | 2010 | PA1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Ituano | 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| Avaí | 2011 | Série A | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Paraná (loan) | 2011 | Série B | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Coritiba | 2012 | Série A | 24 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 2 | 51 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |||
| Total | 47 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 90 | 4 | ||
| Shandong Luneng | 2014 | Chinese Super League | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 30 | 4 | |||
| 2015 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 34 | 11 | ||||
| Total | 58 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 15 | ||
| Atlético Mineiro (loan) | 2016 | Série A | 23 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 10 | 2 | 48 | 7 | |
| Guangzhou R&F | 2017 | Chinese Super League | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | |||
| 2018 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 4 | |||||
| Total | 42 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 6 | ||
| Corinthians | 2019 | Série A | 27 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 10 | 1 | 48 | 5 | |
| Orlando City | 2020 | MLS | 23 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 27 | 4 | ||
| 2021 | 30 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 32 | 4 | ||||
| 2022 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 41 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 87 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 14 | ||
| Coritiba | 2023 | Série A | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Orlando City | 2023 | MLS | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | 326 | 40 | 38 | 1 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 72 | 5 | 468 | 51 | ||
- ^ MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage.
- ^ Leagues Cup
Honours
editClub
edit- Coritiba
- Shandong Luneng
- Corinthians
- Orlando City
Individual
edit- Campeonato Mineiro Team of the Tournament: 2016[23]
- Campeonato Paulista Team of the Tournament: 2019[24]
References
edit- ^ "Júnior Urso". Orlando City SC. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ Florianópolis, Por clicRBS (20 September 2011). "Reforços, Júnior Urso e Diego são apresentados na Ressacada". globoesporte.com.
- ^ Globo Esporte - Simples e eficiente na marcação, Grêmio vence o abatido Avaí em SC
- ^ 鲁能官方宣布第五外援 巴甲强力后腰正式加盟
- ^ Dia, Frederico Ribeiro/ Hoje em (4 April 2016). "Ele calou o Mineirão, quase jogou no Galo, mas abandonou a carreira para cuidar do irmão Junior Urso". Home (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ 富力官方宣布乌索正式加盟 at sports.sohu.com 2017-01-09 Retrieved 2017-01-20
- ^ "Corinthians anuncia a contratação do volante Júnior Urso por três temporadas". Globoesporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 4 February 2019.
- ^ "Corinthians 2 x 1 São Paulo - Campeonato Paulista 2019 rodada 7 - Tempo Real - Globo Esporte". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Corinthians 4 x 2 Avenida - Copa do Brasil 2019 Segunda fase - Tempo Real - Globo Esporte". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Nota oficial: venda de jogadores". Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Corinthians está perto de vender Júnior Urso para clube dos Estados Unidos; veja os detalhes". Globoesporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Signs Brazilian Midfielder Júnior Urso". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ "Orlando City SC 0, Real Salt Lake 0 2020 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
- ^ "Atlanta United FC 1, Orlando City SC 3 2020 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
- ^ "Orlando City SC and midfielder Júnior Urso part ways as Brazilian returns home for personal reasons". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ "Midfielder Júnior Urso returns to Orlando City SC through end of 2023 season". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ "Orlando City SC announces end-of-season statuses following end of 2023 MLS Season". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ Club, Charlotte Football. "Charlotte FC Signs Midfielder Júnior Urso | Charlotte FC". Charlotte Football Club.
- ^ TEMPO, O. (26 June 2016). "Irmão do volante Júnior Urso abandonou o futebol para ser o "faz-tudo"". SuperFC (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Júnior Urso". ogol. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ "Brazil - Júnior Urso - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
- ^ "足协杯-麦克格文压哨绝杀 鲁能5-4舜天夺冠". Sports.sina.com.cn. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ Horizonte, Por GloboEsporte comBelo (8 May 2016). "Seleção do Troféu Globo Minas tem o domínio de finalistas do Estadual". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Corinthians, Jean Mota e Martinelli dominam premiação do campeonato" [Corinthians, Jean Mota and Martinelli dominate the tournament's awards] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
External links
edit- Júnior Urso at Soccerway
- (in Portuguese) zerozero