Paulo Júnior and Daryl Shore first crossed paths in 2010. At that point, Paulo was fairly new to America, a 21-year-old displaced from Brazil playing for Miami FC in the USSF Division 2 League. After struggling for goals in his first season, Paulo’s career looked to be at crossroads. But when Miami hired Shore to be its head coach in 2010, everything started to change.

“Daryl Shore is very special,” Paulo said. “He was part of my football history early in my career at Miami FC.”

With Shore at the helm, Paulo found his groove. He had already started the season well, and when Miami brought in Shore in July, Paulo kept his form up. He led the team in goals that year, scoring 13 times in all competitions.

“[With Daryl], you work as a team,” Paulo said. “Daryl taught me a lot, mainly to be strong and always give my best in the field and out of it.”

Under Shore’s tutelage, Paulo kept progressing. At the end of the season, he got his shot at the big-time: a loan move to Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer (MLS).

“Playing for Daryl helped me get to MLS,” Paulo said.

Paulo would end up staying in Utah until 2012, during which time he enjoyed perhaps the most prestigious moment of his career. Playing in the CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican giants Cruz Azul, Paulo scored twice in front of what was then a record crowd at Real Salt Lake’s home stadium.

“It really was a dream come true,” Paulo said. “Playing a CONCACAF Champions League game and scoring two goals was incredible, and at the same time unbelievable knowing where I came from and everything I went through to get there. I never imagined that a boy from northeast Brazil could participate in an international competition with a chance to reach the FIFA Club World Cup.” [ed. the winner of the CONCACAF Champions League qualifies for the Club World Cup, featuring the winners of each continental soccer tournament]

Since that time, Paulo has bounced around from team to team. He’s become the consummate veteran, featuring six different American/Canadian clubs on his résumé. It’s been nearly a decade since Paulo played for Shore, but now, with Forward Madison FC, he’s coming back to the familiar face that helped make his success possible in the first place.

According to Shore, it's only right that he and Paulo are together again.

“When Paulo and I first met he was a young player that I helped get to MLS," Shore said. "I’ve followed his career throughout the years and I think it’s only fitting that he and I have come full circle. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work with him again and have him bring his entertaining style of soccer to Madison.”

Meanwhile, Paulo said he's itching to get onto the field.

“Daryl’s a great coach who has my admiration and respect,” he said. “It's going to be great to play again for him.”

Paulo’s signing will be confirmed pending league and federation approval. Get tickets to see Paulo in Forward Madison FC's inaugural season at https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/tickets.