Archive interview: Juninho - part 2

Juninho enjoyed three spells with Middlesbrough and it’s fair to say it was an exciting time for the club.The Little Fella played in three cups finals for Boro – plus a replay – and was part of the team that lifted the club’s first major honour.In the second part of Philip Tallentire’s exclusive interview with Juninho, the Brazilian playmaker looks back on his time with Boro following his highly-publicised arrival in October 1995.He admits he found it hard to adjust to the North-east climate but was grateful for the warm welcome he received from the Teesside public. That special relationship remains to this day.Juninho talks about reaching the Coca-Cola and FA Cup finals and reminisces about the heartbreak of relegation.He admits he was wrong not to take part in the open top bus parade after the Wembley loss to Chelsea and explains why, with a World Cup just around the corner, he had to join Atletico Madrid in the summer of 1997.Juninho returned on loan in 1999 but it wasn’t a happy period as he struggled to overcome the serious injury he suffered in Spain.His third spell with Boro came in 2002, just weeks after he helped Brazil win the World Cup. He talks about his international dream coming true and his delight at winning the Carling Cup in Cardiff.Juninho admitted he didn’t enjoy the same relationship with Steve McClaren as he did with Bryan Robson and regrets leaving to join Celtic when he did in 2004 as Boro began their European adventure.Hear him talk about these issues and much more by listing to part two of an fascinating interview, available now, for the first time on podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices