Nathan Junior

Nathan Junior Soares de Carvalho (born 10 March 1989) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for FC Samtredia in Georgia.

Club Career

Early career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, as a teenager Nathan Junior played for his local club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and was a member of the club's system. At the age of 16 he tried to get into the first team unsuccessfully and a year later got an offer to join Anorthosis Famagusta academy in Cyprus, which was accepted by the player, and in July 2005 he joined the Cypriot side, spending the next three seasons there.

Skonto Riga

With the help of former Anorthosis Famagusta player and Latvian international Marians Pahars Junior was taken on trial at Skonto Riga in July 2008. He signed a four-year contract as the trial was successful. Right after joining Junior found it difficult to fit into the squad, as there were many experienced players, and was soon loaned out to Olimps/RFS. He played 15 matches that season and was mainly used in the right-back position.

In December 2008 Junior returned to Skonto Riga and was mainly used as a late game substitute by that time club's manager Paul Ashworth. In 2009 Skonto had a lack of forwards as two of them left right before the start of the season, and Junior was tried out as a forward. He scored twice on his new position debut against Jurmala-VV, and later on remained in that position. He played 19 games and scored 5 goals in the 2009 season, and was notified as a forward in the squad for the 2010 season. He made a big surprise in the upcoming season, scoring 18 goals in 24 league matches and sharing the top-scorer's honour with Liepajas Metalurgs striker Deniss Rakels, who had also netted 18 times respectively. In 2010 Skonto became the champions of Latvia. After the impressive season Junior went on trials with Maccabi Haifa in Israel, Dynamo Moscow in Russia and Energie Cottbus in Germany, but didn't settle there.

At the start of 2011

This page also has a version in other languages :  Натан Жуниор (russian)