# Nathan Júnior

Nathan Júnior Soares de Carvalho (born 10 March 1989) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for FC Telavi in Georgia.

## Club career
### Early career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, as a teenager Nathan Júnior played for his local club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and was a member of the club's system. At the age of 16 he tried to get into the first team unsuccessfully and a year later got an offer to join Anorthosis Famagusta academy in Cyprus, which was accepted by the player, and in July 2005 he joined the Cypriot side, spending the next three seasons there.

### Skonto Riga

With the help of former Anorthosis Famagusta player and Latvian international Marians Pahars Júnior was taken on trial at Skonto Riga in July 2008. He signed a four-year contract as the trial was successful. Right after joining Júnior found it difficult to fit into the squad, as there were many experienced players, and was soon loaned out to Olimps/RFS. He played 15 matches that season and was mainly used in the right-back position.
In December 2008 Júnior returned to Skonto Riga and was mainly used as a late game substitute by that time club's manager Paul Ashworth. In 2009 Skonto had a lack of forwards as two of them left right before the start of the season, and Júnior was tried out as a forward. He scored twice on his new position debut against Jūrmala-VV, and later on remained in that position. He played 19 games and scored 5 goals in the 2009 season, and was notified as a forward in the squad for the 2010 season. He made a big surprise in the upcoming season, scoring 18 goals in 24 league matches and sharing the top-scorer's honour with Liepājas Metalurgs striker Deniss Rakels, who had also netted 18 times respectively. In 2010 Skonto became the champions of Latvia. After the impressive season Júnior went on trials with Maccabi Haifa in Israel, Dynamo Moscow in Russia and Energie Cottbus in Germany, but didn't settle there.
At the start of 2011 season Júnior suffered an injury and didn't appear in the first league matches of the season. Despite lack of gaming practice, he showed his ability right after being declared fit, and soon became the leading scorer of the league yet again. He was named the league's best player in July 2011. Although, Skonto had a poor season and finished only in the 4th place of the Latvian Higher League, Júnior became the league's top scorer with 22 goals in 26 games. After the season, he was included in the LFF and sportacentrs.com teams of the tournament and was also named the best forward of the season.

### Kapfenberger SV

At the end of 2011 Júnior went on trial with the Austrian Bundesliga club Kapfenberger SV and signed a contract with them in January 2012.

### Tokushima Vortis

On 31 January 2018, Tokushima Vortis announced the signing of Nathan Júnior.

### Paços Ferreira

After seven months without club, Nathan signed with Paços Ferreira on 31 January 2019 after a trial. He left the club at the end of the year.

### Académico Viseu

On 31 January 2019, Nathan moved to another Portuguese club, Académico Viseu, after being without club since leaving Paços Ferreira in the summer 2019. However, he played only 27 minutes.

### FC Samtredia

Nathan then returned to Georgia, where he signed with FC Samtredia in August 2020.

## International career

Nathan Júnior has not represented Brazil at any level yet. In an interview for sportacentrs.com the player admitted that he would be interested in representing Latvia, but as the Latvian law does not allow more than one citizenship, Júnior would have to waive the Brazilian passport and play in Latvia for at least five years. The player said that it would be a serious decision, but after moving to Austria this question has been put aside.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 4 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Skonto Riga | 2009 | Virslīga | 19 | 4 | | | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Skonto Riga | 2010 | Virslīga | 24 | 18 | | | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 18 |
| Skonto Riga | 2011 | Virslīga | 26 | 22 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 23 |
| Skonto Riga | Total | Total | 69 | 44 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | 75 | 45 |
| Kapfenberger SV | 2011–12 | Austrian Bundesliga | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Dila Gori | 2012–13 | Umaglesi Liga | 21 | 7 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 23 | 10 |
| SKA-Energia | 2013–14 | Russian National League | 27 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 9 |
| SKA-Energia | 2014–15 | Russian National League | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 6 |
| SKA-Energia | Total | Total | 41 | 15 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 15 |
| Tondela | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 34 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 13 |
| Al-Fateh | 2016–17 | Saudi Professional League | 20 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 6 |
| Tokushima Vortis | 2018 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Paços de Ferreira | 2018–19 | LigaPro | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Académico de Viseu | 2019–20 | LigaPro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Samtredia | 2020 | Erovnuli Liga | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Samtredia | 2021 | Erovnuli Liga | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 |
| Samtredia | Total | Total | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 3 |
| Telavi | 2021 | Erovnuli Liga | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 240 | 88 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 257 | 93 |

## Honours

Skonto Riga
* Latvian First League: 2010
* Baltic League: 2010–11; runner-up 2008
Individual
* Virsliga top scorer: 2010, 2011