1. Early Life and Youth Career
Igor Julião's early life saw him develop his footballing talent from a young age within a renowned Brazilian youth system.
1.1. Birth and Background
Igor Julião was born on August 23, 1994, in Leopoldina, a municipality located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1.2. Youth Career
Julião began his formative years in football at the esteemed youth academy of Fluminense. He joined the club's youth system in 2003 and spent nearly a decade developing his skills there, progressing through various age groups until his promotion to the senior team in 2012.
2. Club Career
Julião's professional club career has seen him play for a variety of teams across different countries, gaining diverse experiences through loan spells and transfers.
2.1. Fluminense and Early Loans
Igor Julião made his professional debut with his boyhood club, Fluminense, in 2012, after graduating from their youth ranks. His initial years at Fluminense included his first appearances in the Série A, Brazil's top-tier league. To gain more senior team experience, he was sent on his first loan spell in 2014 to MLS club Sporting Kansas City in the United States. This move provided him with significant playing time in a new league environment, where he made 23 appearances for the club in the regular season.
2.2. Loan Spells and Transfers (2014-2018)
Following his initial loan to Sporting Kansas City, Julião embarked on several more loan spells in Brazil, each offering different challenges and opportunities. In 2015, he had brief stints at ABC and Macaé, both playing in the Série B. The same year, he returned to Fluminense briefly. In 2016, he was loaned to Ferroviária, where he gained experience in the Campeonato Paulista, the Campeonato Brasileiro's state league. He then returned to Sporting Kansas City for a second loan spell in 2017, although he only made one appearance during this period. Later in 2017, he moved to Europe on loan, joining Slovakian 2. Liga club ŠTK Šamorín for the 2017-18 season. During his time in Slovakia, Julião was a consistent presence, making 25 appearances and scoring four goals, showcasing his offensive capabilities. After these various loan experiences, he continued to play for Fluminense until 2021.
2.3. Vizela and Marítimo (2021-Present)
In 2021, Igor Julião made a permanent move to Portugal, signing with Vizela. He spent two seasons with Vizela, playing in the Primeira Liga, Portugal's top football division. He made 13 appearances in the 2021-22 season and 20 appearances in the 2022-23 season, scoring one goal. His contributions helped Vizela establish itself in the Primeira Liga. In 2023, Julião transferred to Marítimo, a prominent club in the Liga Portugal 2. As of the 2023-24 season, he has continued to be a regular fixture in the squad, making 21 appearances and scoring two goals for the club.
3. International Career
Igor Julião has represented Brazil at the youth international level. In 2013, he was part of the Brazil U-20 squad, making 3 appearances during his tenure with the team.
4. Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fluminense | 2012 | Série A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 15 | 0 | 2 (Campeonato Carioca) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 (Copa Sudamericana) | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2020 | 20 | 0 | 4 (Campeonato Carioca) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||||
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 3 (Campeonato Carioca) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 69 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 87 | 1 | ||||
| Sporting Kansas City (loan) | 2014 | MLS | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 (CONCACAF Champions Cup) | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||||
| ABC (loan) | 2015 | Série B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||
| Macaé (loan) | 2015 | Série B | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||
| Ferroviária (loan) | 2016 | Paulistão | 10 (Campeonato Paulista) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||||||
| ŠTK Šamorín (loan) | 2017-18 | 2. Liga | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 | ||||||
| Vizela | 2021-22 | Primeira Liga | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2022-23 | 20 | 1 | 3 (Taça da Liga) | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||||||||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||||||
| Marítimo | 2023-24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 (Taça da Liga) | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||||
| Career Total | 181 | 7 | 19 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 223 | 8 | ||
5. Honours
- US Open Cup: 2017 (with Sporting Kansas City)
6. Personal Life
Igor Julião stands out among many professional footballers for his unconventional and intellectual interests outside of the sport. He is an avid reader of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, known for his profound philosophical works on morality, religion, and existence. Julião also holds a deep admiration for the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, celebrated for her vibrant and often surreal self-portraits that explored identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. His appreciation for such figures highlights a unique depth of character beyond the football pitch.
Furthermore, Julião is a vocal advocate for social justice, notably speaking out against homophobia in football. His public stance on this issue underscores his commitment to promoting equality and challenging discrimination within the sport, reflecting a progressive viewpoint on social matters.
7. External Links
- [https://oglobo.globo.com/esportes/o-perfil-nada-boleiro-de-igor-juliao-lateral-do-flu-fa-de-frida-kahlo-critico-da-homofobia-no-futebol-1-23298918 O perfil nada boleiro de Igor Julião, lateral do Flu fã de Frida Kahlo e crítico da homophobia no futebol] (in PortuguesePortuguese)
- [http://www.fluminense.com.br/site/futebol/o-time/elenco/jogador/igor-juliao/ Fluminense.com Profile] (in PortuguesePortuguese)
- [https://int.soccerway.com/players/igor-igor-de-carvalho-juliao/245345/ Igor Julião at Soccerway]
- [https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/igor-juliao Igor Julião at MLS Soccer]