Gazetteboro

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