He didn’t manage to leave a big mark at Leeds United, but the club had Brazilian defender Roque Junior in the squad for a few months in 2003 in the type of deal Garry Monk would now likely find out his grasp.
Having arrived from AC Milan on a loan deal, the player had a pretty respectable record at the time: He had won a Copa Libertadores in 1999, a World Cup in 2002 and a Champions League in 2003.
Things looked good for Leeds United.
“On my arrival, the expectation was good. I had left Milan. Actually, I chose to go. I wanted to play some more,” Roque Junior tells ESPN Brasil, recalling the transfer to Leeds United.
“Leeds had come from a year where we had played against them in the Champions League. They were in the same group as ours.
“The culture is very different. Our culture is similar to Italian. But from Italian and ours to English, it’s quite different. So you really needed more time to adapt.
“It was good learning for me too. Seeing today. The moment you make the decision, there are several things that influence you in the decision. From my arrival to my departure. But maybe I should have stayed a bit longer so that I could adapt better. On and off the pitch.”
It was a pretty difficult season for Leeds United so it was always going to be difficult for the Brazilian to settle. The team lost in all of Roque Junior’s five Premier League appearances, including surprising defeats such as 4-0 to Leicester City, 4-0 to Everton, 4-1 to Arsenal and 6-1 to Portsmouth.
Roque Junior ended up being sent back to Milan, and spent the rest of the season on loan at Italian side Siena. Leeds United were relegated, with that being their last time in the Premier League, something Garry Monk is currently trying to put right.
Roque Junior is now 40 years of age and has been retired since 2010. He tried being a manager and had a few minor jobs in Brazil, but hasn’t managed to succeed so far.
