João Miranda announced his retirement from football
The Brazilian defender wore our shirt between 2011 and 2015, playing 178 official matches and winning five titles.
João Miranda announced the end of his football career at the age of 38. The Brazilian defender was a member of our club between 2011 and 2015, during which time he played 178 official matches, scored thirteen goals and won five titles.
With the number '23' on his back, he emerged as a very secure and complete defender, clean in the cut, with good ball control and powerful in the air. Virtues that made him one of the most outstanding central defenders in our history, forming an unforgettable partnership with Diego Godín and being a fundamental part of several of our most recent successes. João Miranda won at least one title in each and every one of the four seasons in which he wore our shirt.
The first of these was the Europa League in 2012, against Athletic Club, whose conquest allowed us to play, at the beginning of the following season, the European Super Cup. In it, our team played one of the most brilliant matches in our, defeating Chelsea 1-4 and with Miranda scoring the last goal for Simeone's team after a hat-trick from Falcao.
Months later, the Brazilian would end the season as he had started it: scoring in a final. It was on 17 May 2013 at the Santiago Bernabéu, where his header in extra time gave us the victory against Real Madrid (1-2) and led us to lift our tenth Copa del Rey. A goal that will remain forever in the memory of the Atleti fans.
In the 13/14 campaign he was once again a permanent fixture in the Red & White defence and played 52 of the 61 matches we faced during that season, all as a starter. An unforgettable season in which we won our tenth league title, after a heroic 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in a direct duel against FC Barcelona.
On 11 August 2018, he visited the Cívitas Metropolitano as an Inter Milan player. On that day, Miranda also received a plaque in recognition of the 178 games played for our club, from the hands of another great legend with whom he shares nationality and demarcation: Luiz Pereira.
After his time in Italy, he joined Jiangsu Suning and returned to Sao Paulo, winning the Chinese Super League 2020, the Paulista Championship 2021 and previously, the Copa America 2019 as a member of the Brazilian national team.
Now, after a long and successful career, João Miranda has announced his retirement, having left an indelible sporting and human imprint.
Best of luck in your future, João. It was a pleasure to enjoy your football defending our shirt!
