Former Corinthians Player Celebrates MLS Debut with Houston Dynamo: ‘I'm Very Happy with This Opportunity'

36-year-old midfielder Júnior Urso made his debut for the Houston Dynamo last night (22) in a 0-0 draw against Seattle Sounders in the 5th round of MLS.

Although the club is still without a win this season, the Brazilian celebrated his first game for the Texans and spoke about how important he can be in coach Ben Olsen's tactical system.

Some of Urso's quotes:

‘I'm happy, very happy with this opportunity. The truth is that our team has a lot of youngsters, very young players, but there are also more experienced players who give us a balance. I'm one of the more experienced players. I'm here to add value to the team, not just on the pitch, but also during training sessions, with specific lines and positions.

Júnior Urso teamed up in Houston's midfield with fellow Brazilian Artur, formerly of São Paulo FC, and together prevented the Seattle Sounders' attacking impetus. The No 30 hit 90% of his passes, 100% of his long balls, contributed three tackles and won six of seven duels.

He then mentioned his expectations for this time in Houston:

I believe there are great things in store for us this year, I'm going to try my best to help the team get that first win, and of course, one thing at a time, but I believe our team can achieve great things in MLS.

Júnior Urso Experience in MLS

Júnior Urso's first club in the United States was Orlando City in 2020, who signed him from Corinthians. The midfielder left Timão after one season, with the 2019 Campeonato Paulista in his bag.

Orlando City

Júnior had two spells with the Florida Lions. During his first spell, he stood out and became a regular in Oscar Pareja's team, playing an important role in the tactical set-up. The Brazilian was noted for his versatility in midfield and for his marking power and distribution of play. Urso helped Orlando City reach MLS playoffs during his first season in 2020.

In 2023, after a brief spell in Brazilian football with Coritiba, Júnior Urso returned to Orlando City in July, but his stay was short. At the end of the season, the midfielder's contract option was declined and he left the club.

Charlotte FC

In 2024, Júnior Urso was signed by Charlotte FC. He joined the team at the start of the year and soon alternated between starting and reserve midfield roles for the Crowns. His debut came in a 1-0 win against NYCFC, and over the course of the season, the Brazilian was given more space, helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history.

The first round match was against Orlando City, and after a series of three games, Charlotte ended up being eliminated by Orlando on penalties. Despite his experience and quality, Charlotte FC decided not to renew his contract at the end of the season, bringing his time at the club to an end.