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.1991 Copa Libertadores results and line-ups at RSSSF (although appearance data is not listed for Corinthians match against Flamengo on 20 March 1991, which was abandoned, although the match was declared valid)
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.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNewcastle United1987–88First Division26112021—2132131988–892893121—203511Total5420514200416724Belenenses1990–91Primeira Divisão32—32Corinthians1991Série A42—Shimizu S-Pulse1992J1 League—82——82Bellmare Hiratsuka1993Football League171232—20141994J1 League13210——142Japan30144200003416Career total
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