Francisco Ernandi Lima da Silva

Francisco Ernandi Lima da Silva (born 2 July 1959), better known as Mirandinha, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Club career Mirandinha was born in Chaval, Ceará. He had unsuccessful early spells at Ceará and Fortaleza, before finding some success at the 'third club' in Fortaleza city, Ferroviário. He then moved to play for Ponte Preta. As of 1981 he was playing for Botafogo in the Taça de Ouro.

Mirandinha signed for Newcastle United in 1987 for £575,000, becoming the first Brazilian to play in English football. He made his debut in September 1987, in a 1–1 draw away to Norwich City.

He scored his first Football League goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford, just 24 hours after his attacking ability had been described as a 'myth' by George Best. At the end of his first season in English football, he was selected as part of the EFL XI to face Ireland in Dublin. He left Newcastle in 1989, returning to his former club Palmeiras.

In 1991, he moved from Palmeiras to join Belenenses, although he was only there for a short time, playing three Portuguese League matches. By late February he was playing for Corinthians, and he scored two goals for them in the 1991 Copa Libertadores.

After leaving Corinthians he played for Fortaleza, and he then had spells in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse and Shonan Bellmare.

International career Mirandinha won four caps for the Brazil national team, all in 1987, with his only international goal coming against England in a 1–1 draw during the 1987 Rous Cup.

Post-playing career As of July 2013 he was a director at Maguary, who were playing in the third division of the Campeonato Cearense. In 2014 he was the manager of the Castelão stadium in Fortaleza, a host venue in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

54!!20!!5!!1!!4!!2!!0!!0!!4!!1!!67!!24 Belenenses 1990–91 Primeira Divisão

Corinthians 1991 Série A

Shimizu S-Pulse 1992 J1 League

1993 Football League

1994 J1 League

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