Juca Antonello

Juliano Roberto Antonello, or Juca, is a professional football player from Brazil who plays as a midfielder. After graduating from the Internacional youth academy in 2000, Juca played just two seasons with the senior team. That said, he made 23 appearances in his debut season, as a 21-year old, and even scored three goals.

He moved to Criciuma Esporte Clube in 2002, and struggled to find playing time over the next two seasons. Although he was part of the team when it won promotion to Serie A, Juca would only play at the Serie A level, and never at the Serie B level with Criciuma. He did, however, end up with a winner’s medal for the 2002 Serie B triumph.

In 2003, he moved to Marilia Atletico Clube, hoping to get more playing time in the Serie B division. He played 20 league games and scored 5 times, catching the eye of Fluminense. In2004, Juca signed with Fluminense and although he played 31 games in all competition, he failed to impress the team management and was on his way to Botafogo in 2005.

Once Juca reached Botafogo, his career started looking up. He played 30 games and scored five goals, in all competition but was still looking to have a more influential role on the pitch. He decided to move down the ladder, to Guarani Clube, in 2006, but after just four games, was re-signed by Botafogo. Juca wouldn’t get too many games in his second stint but what he did get was a ticket to Europe, signing with FK Partizan in the Serbian SuperLiga.

A regular starter for Partizan, between 2007 and 2009, Juca would play almost 60 games for the team, scoring 10 goals. He would end up with the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Serbian league titles as well as the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Serbian Cup.

However, the biggest pay-off would be the fact that Juca caught the eye of Deportivo La Coruna, in the Spanish League. In his two seasons with Deportivo La Coruna, Juca played 30 games in all competition, scoring three goals.

He returned to Brazil, in 2011, signing with Ceara Sporting Club and hoping to replicate his performance from Serbia.