Quick Facts
Biography
Manoel de Oliveira da Silva Júnior (born 24 September 1976) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.
Football career
In his country, Júnior played for modest clubs Grêmio Esportivo Anápolis and Associação Garanhuense de Atletismo. In 2002, at the age of 26, he moved abroad, signing with F.C. Paços de Ferreira from Portugal and making his debut in the Primeira Liga on 25 August in a 3–1 home win against Varzim SC (90 minutes played); he suffered team relegation at the end of his second season.
In the 2005–06 campaign, Júnior scored a career-best nine goals in 33 games to help his team rank in 11th position, back in the top division. In the summer he signed with Ergotelis F.C. in Greece, going to play in several Superleague seasons with the side and eventually reuniting with former Paços teammate Beto; he was released on 7 May 2012, at nearly 36.
In December 2012, Júnior joined another team in the country, second level's Panetolikos FC. He participated in 29 matches in his first year, which ended in promotion to the top level.