Mirandinha

Mirandinha entered the history of world football by becoming the first Brazilian to play in English first division football when he signed with Newcastle United in 1987. Quick, skillful and with a goal-scoring instinct, the striker from Ceará arrived in the British Isles as a big novelty and enchanted the crowd at St. James' Park with his explosive football. Born in Mirandiba, a small town in the Pernambuco backlands — the origin of his nickname —, Mirandinha made his career in Brazil's biggest teams, notably at Palmeiras, where he became a top scorer and a decisive piece in memorable campaigns. His arrival at Newcastle marked a unique chapter in the relationship between Brazil and English football. In his two seasons at Newcastle, the striker scored regularly, adapting to the physical English football with surprising naturalness for the standards of the time. His partnership with the Geordie crowd was immediate, born from the simplicity and joy with which he brought football to the pitch. After returning to Brazil, Mirandinha played for other clubs and ended his career as a pioneer who paved the way for the invasion of Brazilians in European leagues in the following decades. His name is mentioned whenever the beginning of Brazilian influence in English football is discussed.