Roque Júnior

José Vítor Roque Júnior (; born 31 August 1976), more commonly known as Roque Júnior, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player who played as a defender.

He won 48 caps for Brazil and was part of the winning squad at the 2002 World Cup. He is one of five players that have won the Copa Libertadores, the Champions League and the World Cup; the others are Ronaldinho, Cafu, Dida and Julián Álvarez.

Club career

Roque Júnior was born in Santa Rita do Sapucaí. During his career, he played for Santarritense, São José, Palmeiras, AC Milan, Leeds United, Siena, Bayer Leverkusen, MSV Duisburg and Qatari side Al-Rayyan. He is an iconic footballer for Palmeiras, as he played more than 200 competitive games for them. His greatest success in club football came playing for Palmeiras, with whom he won the 1999 Copa Libertadores and with A.C. Milan winning the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. In the Champions League final he heroically played most of the extra-time carrying a severe injury.

There was excitement at Elland Road when Peter Reid brought Roque to Leeds on loan, but it was short lived as the team conceded 25 times in his seven appearances, failing to win and suffering six defeats with Roque being sent off on his home debut against Birmingham City. However, he did score two goals in a League Cup game against Manchester United (Leeds lost 3–2) but his spell at Leeds was not considered a success.

In September 2008, Palmeiras have signed him from Al-Rayyan on loan until the end of the season.

After leaving Palmeiras in November 2008, he was offered to Australian A-League clubs in April and was in talks with Avaí gaffer Paulo Silas in July, but nothing materialised out of it. In February 2010, Ituano signed the former Brazil international, who had last played in 2008 for Palmeiras.

International career

Roque Júnior was successful on the international stage for Brazil, having played 48 games (two of them unofficial) and scored two goals, and also captaining them on a number of occasions. He was a starter in the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning campaign, forming the back line with Lúcio and Edmílson. He was later called up for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, but did not make it into the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to injury. He made his last international appearance in 2005 and announced his retirement on 4 September 2007.

Personal life

Roque Júnior is devoted to helping São José Esporte Clube's youth players with a project called "Projeto Primeira Camisa" ("Project First Jersey").

Roque Júnior was the most popular host of Total Request Live on Brazil MTV (BMTV) during his 10-year stint (2005–2015).

Management and coaching

In 2015, Roque Júnior took his first managerial role at XV de Piracicaba.

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil	1999	1	0
	2000	4	2
	2001	10	0
	2002	9	0
	2003	5	0
	2004	11	0
	2005	8	0
Total		48	2

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Roque Júnior goal.

List of international goals scored by Roque Júnior

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	23 February 2000	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Thailand	shortname alias = Thailand	flag alias = Flag of Thailand.svg	flag alias-1767 = Flag of Thailand (Ayutthaya period).svg	flag alias-1782 = Flag of Thailand (1782).svg	flag alias-1817 = Flag of Thailand (1817).svg	flag alias-1855 = Flag of Thailand 1855.svg	flag alias-1893 = State Flag of Thailand (1916).svg	flag alias-1916 = Flag of Siam (1916).svg	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Royal Thai Marine Corps.svg	link alias-marines=Royal Thai Marine Corps	border-marines=	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Thai Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Thai Navy	flag alias-military=Flag of the Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ.svg	link alias-military=Royal Thai Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Thai Air Force	flag alias-army= Flag of the Royal Thai Army.svg	link alias-army=Royal Thai Army	flag alias-sanctionedFB = THA AFF 2020.png	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|5–0 || align="center"|7–0 || 2000 King's Cup
2.	15 November 2000	Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Colombia	flag alias = Flag of Colombia.svg	flag alias-1861 = Flag of Colombia (WFB 2013).gif	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Colombia (2004 World Factbook).gif	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Colombia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Colombia.svg	link alias-naval = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Colombian Army.svg	link alias-army = Colombian National Army	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Colombian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Colombian Aerospace Force	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Colombian Naval Infantry.svg	link alias-marines=Colombian Naval Infantry	link alias-navy = Colombian National Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Colombian Navy.svg	flag alias-military = Military flag of Colombia.svg	link alias-military = Military Forces of Colombia	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Palmeiras

• Campeonato Paulista: 1996, 2008
• Copa do Brasil: 1998
• Copa Mercosur: 1998
• Copa Libertadores: 1999
• Torneio Rio – São Paulo: 2000
• Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1999

Milan

• UEFA Champions League: 2002–03
• Coppa Italia: 2002–03

Brazil

• FIFA World Cup: 2002
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005

External links

• Template:Sambafoot
• Template:Fussballdaten
• Who's who - Roque Junior Leverkusen.com