Paulinho Criciúma

Paulo Roberto Rocha usually known as Paulinho or Paulinho Criciúma (born on August 30, 1961 in Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil) is a former football (soccer) player and a football head coach.

Playing career

During his football career, he played as a center-forward. He defended Criciúma, where he started his career, between 1976 and 1982, América-SP in 1983, Bangu in 1984, POSCO Atoms of South Korea in 1985 and 1986 (League 28 matches-9 goals / League Cup 12 matches-3 goals), then returned to Bangu AC in 1987, signed with Botafogo in 1988, and left the club in 1990, In 1991, he played for Internacional, moving to Toyota Motor FC of Japan in the same year, staying in the Japanese club until 1992. In 1993, Paulinho signed with the United States club Los Angeles Salsa which played in the American Professional Soccer League.Paulinho was the league's points and goals leader, being named a first team All Star and the league MVP.In 1994, he tied teammate Paul Wright for the points lead, but finished second on the goals list.The Salsa folded at the end of the 1994 season and he moved north to the Montreal Impact of Canada.The fall of 1995, Paulinho signed with Atlético Celaya of Mexico, playing until 1996.

Paulinho Criciúma won the Korean Super League in 1986, defending POSCO Atoms, the Campeonato Carioca in 1989 and in 1990 with Botafogo, and the Konica Cup in 1991, with Toyota Motor FC.

Coaching career

He was the head coach of Barreiras in 2001, Camaçari in 2002, and was hired as Criciúma's head coach for the 2006 season, but was sacked on January 23 of that year.