Brazil soccer legend Socrates was discharged from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Saturday after having been admitted on August 18 for gastrointestinal bleeding. Socrates was hospitalized due to bleeding resulting from hypertension in the portal vein that transports blood from the digestive system to the liver. Widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Socrates captained the legendary World Cup 1982 team that lost 3-2 to Italy in the World Cup. Needing only a draw to progress to the semifinals, Socrates and the likes of Zico, Junior, Eder and Paulo Falcao kept attacking against Italy after Brazil had come from behind twice to level the score at 2-2.
Speaking of his health after his hospitalization, Socrates remarked: “I am well and want to launch a new campaign, the campaign for direct elections to be president of the CBF [Brazil Football Confederation].” Socrates’s remarks about democratic elections for the CBF recall his youthful commitment to democracy. In the early 1980s, Socrates and teammate Wladimir launched the Corinthians Democracy movement that established a democratic approach to club management at Corinthians as a form of protest against increasing regimentation in Brazilian football. The Corinthians Democracy Movement rebelled against rules by football clubs that dictated details of the day to day existence of players such when they ate lunch or how often they could have sex. Corinthians players emblazoned their jerseys with democratic political slogans that came to symbolize the fight against autocratic forms of government.
Today, Socrates is a widely respected commentator, outspoken critic of regimentation in sports and fan of Paulo Henrique Ganso. Socrates scored 22 goals for Brazil in 60 appearances for Brazil, typically wearing the number 8 jersey.
Showing posts with label Corinthians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corinthians. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima: A Tribute
When Ronaldo retires we will remember his incredible pace and his buck-toothed smile; his slalom runs through midfield; the acceleration that left defenders for dead; the retreat, deep into midfield and then the assault on goal; the stutter step that allowed him to change direction; the dribbling that we hadn’t seen since Garrincha and Maradona; his clinical finishing with either the left foot or the right; the ability to carve out that extra yard of space when surrounded by two or three defenders; the buzz in the mid-1990s about this player from Cruzeiro who had arrived in Europe and was scoring a goal a game; the boldness of his promise to break Just Fontaine’s record on his own soil; his calmness in front of the penalty spot; his friendship with Romario; his instinctive leadership on the field; his enduring respect for his boyhood idol Zico; his record of scoring in every final before World Cup 1998; his goal in the final of the 1997 Copa America against Bolivia in La Paz; his goals for Inter Milan against Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Cup when Inter was down, away from home, on a pitch that resembled sand; his breathtaking performance against Holland in World Cup 1998; his goals in the World Cup 2002 final against Germany after heart wrenching injuries; his tears in his retirement press conference; his love of Corinthians and the passion of their fans; the way he redefined the number 9 jersey; his joy for the game; the way he made the beautiful game beautiful again.
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, otherwise known as Ronaldo of Corinthians: you changed the sport of football forever. You were the greatest pure striker of all time. We will miss you.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Santos beats Sao Paulo 2-0 as Neymar and Ganso combine again; Corinthians defeats Palmeiras on penalties
The Neymar, Ganso and Elano combination continues to scintillate in Brazilian football in both the 2011 Copa Libertadores and the Sao Paulo state championship. In Saturday's Sao Paulo championship semi-final, Santos struggled to impose their rhythm over Sao Paulo in the first half despite a bevy of scoring opportunities for Neymar, who repeatedly exploded down the left flank and then cut diagonally inward after dribbling through a maze of Sao Paulo defenders. The complexion of the game changed dramatically in the 61st minute when Paulo Henrique Ganso received a pass from Neymar in the box from the left. Ganso collected the ball, moved to his left and then turned and lifted the ball onto the crown of Elano's head on the right flank. Elano made no mistake and headed the ball past the keeper's right hand into the back of the net to give Santos a 1-0 lead. Roughly ten minutes later, Neymar latched onto a magnificent through ball from midfield that sent him clear of all but two Sao Paulo defenders. Unable to circumvent the Sao Paulo defense, Neymar skillfully maintained possession until he saw Ganso burst toward goal from the center of midfield. Ganso coolly collected Neymar's pass and dispatched a left footed rocket into the top of the net in a play that recalled Ganso's goal against America in the first leg match of their round of 16 game in the Copa Libertadores. Santos now play Corinthians in the Sao Paulo state championship final. Corinthians defeated Palmerias 6-5 on penalties after regular time goals by Amara (Palmeiras) and Willian (Corinthians) tied the match at 1-1. Santos now go into their May 3 clash against America bursting with confidence as the Neymar-Ganso partnership picks up steam.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tears in Brazilian Football: Ronaldo’s Love for Corinthians
The most striking thing about Ronaldo's retirement press conference is that he breaks down in tears only when discussing his career at Corinthians from 2009 to 2011. As the conference begins, Ronaldo’s shoulders are loose and his voice is almost jocular in tone. He makes some summary remarks about his wonderful football career and longstanding history of injuries. He thanks all the clubs for which he played, the coaches and players that mentored him and the sponsors that supported him throughout his career: Cruzeiro, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Corinthians, Ambev and Nike. And then, all of a sudden, his tone changes when he comes to Corinthians and his decision to leave Europe and return to Brazil. His eyes light up and he breaks into a smile as he mentions a breakfast in Rio de Janeiro with Andres Sanches, the President of Corinthians. After that breakfast, when he and the President shook hands, Ronaldo knew he would be playing for Corinthians. Had there been a blank contract, Ronaldo tells us he would have signed it.
So far, Ronaldo's affect has been either upbeat or mechanical in cycling through the list of thank yous to clubs and sponsors. But now, he turns to the Brazilian fans who supported him throughout his career:
"I want to thank all of the Brazilian fans that vibrated with me and supported me, who cried when I cried, who fell with me when I did."
Of all the Brazilian fans, Ronaldo goes on to thank the Corinthians fans, in particular, for their passion and commitment to the club. At this point, Ronaldo begins to struggle in reading through his pre-prepared remarks. The Brazilian number 9 who raced past defenders with a degree of explosive power unparalleled in the modern game stares at his speech for seconds at a time.
“I have never seen such an exciting crowd,” he says of Corinthians fans, a claim all the more remarkable coming from someone who has played all over the world. Sometimes, their fervor renders them aggressive, he notes, in an apparent gesture of forgiveness to the Corinthians fans for their violence and anger after their exit from the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Amazingly enough, Ronaldo goes on to apologize for failing to win the Copa Libertadores, as if he had the superhuman status to claim responsibility for the loss suffered by Corinthians in a team sport marked by all kinds of contingencies. But what moves him most, is the passion of the fans and the feeling of friendship bordering on family between he, the club and the club President. I cannot imagine having lived without Corinthians, Ronaldo says, both here and in reference to other interviews about his experience after returning to Brazil. "You are my brother," Ronaldo says about the Corinthians President. He pledges to be with the club for life in any way it desires, as if his passion for Corinthians has transformed into a life-long love affair.
At this point, the tears begin flowing to the point where he covers his face:
"You shall see me many times in the crowd cheering for Corinthians. I was even more emotional back there when I went to speak with (Are you sleeping there? [to one of his sons on his left])…As I went to speak with my team mates…For every minute and second I have shared with them, as I have always done, from my first day here, on the toughest moments, I will stand by them and protect them from any trouble. Now I will do it off the pitch. Perhaps a bit weakened as my strength has always been to respond with my playing on the pitch."
Here, Ronaldo pledges to protect his Corinthians teammates from trouble, albeit from a weakened position off the pitch since his strength has come from playing. In the discussion about Corinthians, the depth of Ronaldo’s emotional engagement with the club’s fans, players and its management shines through. As he looks back over his career, not once does he mention his World Cup victories or 15 World Cup goals. The life experience that stands out for him hinges around the passion of the fans of Corinthians, the mentoring provided by the club’s President and the camaraderie of his teammates, amongst which he enjoyed a position of guardian, protector, mentor and friend. The tears do not stem from nostalgia about his days in Europe, and the times as a young man when he owned La Liga as it were his playground. Or later, in Italy, when even the best defenders in the world such as Allessandro Nesta said they had never encountered a player who rarely made a mistake in the final stages of his trajectory toward goal. Or his strike partnership with Romario. Or the elation of scoring two goals in the 2002 World Cup final and bringing the World Cup title home to Brazil for the fifth time. The tears revolve around Corinthians and his extraordinary, yet largely untold experience there, all of which began with a breakfast in Rio that took him on a life-giving footballing experience that makes it seem as if the glorious exploits of his youth, in his eyes, appear pale in comparison.
Given the depth of Ronaldo’s passion for Corinthians, “Bringing Back the Beautiful Game” would like to formally baptize Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima as “Ronaldo of Corinthians” alongside his other moniker, Ronaldo of Brazil.
The Biblical book “First Epistle of Paul to Corinthians” (First Corinthians) is famous for its reflection on love. Ronaldo’s retirement speech ironically turned into a reflection on his love for Corinthians, for the fans, the support and the game that he played and loved. The thirteenth chapter of Book I of Corinthians notes: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” In this moment, First Corinthians is about the purity of love. Listening to Ronaldo’s comments on Corinthians, one cannot help but get a sense of the purity of his love for Corinthians fans, the team, management and its football.
So far, Ronaldo's affect has been either upbeat or mechanical in cycling through the list of thank yous to clubs and sponsors. But now, he turns to the Brazilian fans who supported him throughout his career:
"I want to thank all of the Brazilian fans that vibrated with me and supported me, who cried when I cried, who fell with me when I did."
Of all the Brazilian fans, Ronaldo goes on to thank the Corinthians fans, in particular, for their passion and commitment to the club. At this point, Ronaldo begins to struggle in reading through his pre-prepared remarks. The Brazilian number 9 who raced past defenders with a degree of explosive power unparalleled in the modern game stares at his speech for seconds at a time.
“I have never seen such an exciting crowd,” he says of Corinthians fans, a claim all the more remarkable coming from someone who has played all over the world. Sometimes, their fervor renders them aggressive, he notes, in an apparent gesture of forgiveness to the Corinthians fans for their violence and anger after their exit from the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Amazingly enough, Ronaldo goes on to apologize for failing to win the Copa Libertadores, as if he had the superhuman status to claim responsibility for the loss suffered by Corinthians in a team sport marked by all kinds of contingencies. But what moves him most, is the passion of the fans and the feeling of friendship bordering on family between he, the club and the club President. I cannot imagine having lived without Corinthians, Ronaldo says, both here and in reference to other interviews about his experience after returning to Brazil. "You are my brother," Ronaldo says about the Corinthians President. He pledges to be with the club for life in any way it desires, as if his passion for Corinthians has transformed into a life-long love affair.
At this point, the tears begin flowing to the point where he covers his face:
"You shall see me many times in the crowd cheering for Corinthians. I was even more emotional back there when I went to speak with (Are you sleeping there? [to one of his sons on his left])…As I went to speak with my team mates…For every minute and second I have shared with them, as I have always done, from my first day here, on the toughest moments, I will stand by them and protect them from any trouble. Now I will do it off the pitch. Perhaps a bit weakened as my strength has always been to respond with my playing on the pitch."
Here, Ronaldo pledges to protect his Corinthians teammates from trouble, albeit from a weakened position off the pitch since his strength has come from playing. In the discussion about Corinthians, the depth of Ronaldo’s emotional engagement with the club’s fans, players and its management shines through. As he looks back over his career, not once does he mention his World Cup victories or 15 World Cup goals. The life experience that stands out for him hinges around the passion of the fans of Corinthians, the mentoring provided by the club’s President and the camaraderie of his teammates, amongst which he enjoyed a position of guardian, protector, mentor and friend. The tears do not stem from nostalgia about his days in Europe, and the times as a young man when he owned La Liga as it were his playground. Or later, in Italy, when even the best defenders in the world such as Allessandro Nesta said they had never encountered a player who rarely made a mistake in the final stages of his trajectory toward goal. Or his strike partnership with Romario. Or the elation of scoring two goals in the 2002 World Cup final and bringing the World Cup title home to Brazil for the fifth time. The tears revolve around Corinthians and his extraordinary, yet largely untold experience there, all of which began with a breakfast in Rio that took him on a life-giving footballing experience that makes it seem as if the glorious exploits of his youth, in his eyes, appear pale in comparison.
Given the depth of Ronaldo’s passion for Corinthians, “Bringing Back the Beautiful Game” would like to formally baptize Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima as “Ronaldo of Corinthians” alongside his other moniker, Ronaldo of Brazil.
The Biblical book “First Epistle of Paul to Corinthians” (First Corinthians) is famous for its reflection on love. Ronaldo’s retirement speech ironically turned into a reflection on his love for Corinthians, for the fans, the support and the game that he played and loved. The thirteenth chapter of Book I of Corinthians notes: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” In this moment, First Corinthians is about the purity of love. Listening to Ronaldo’s comments on Corinthians, one cannot help but get a sense of the purity of his love for Corinthians fans, the team, management and its football.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Player Profile: Roberto Carlos
"I always practise (free kicks), every day. I prefer to kick with the outside of my foot. There's no secret, it's much more (a question of) concentration."
--Roberto Carlos on the art of free kick taking
When Roberto Carlos burst onto the European football scene at Inter Milan from Palmeiras, coach Roy Hodgson played him as a left winger, otherwise known as an attacking left midfielder with the license to move forward and score goals like a striker. Carlos was assigned the left winger position because of his extreme pace and ability to backtrack as necessary. He disliked the winger position because he wanted to see more of the pitch ahead of him, and accordingly, Inter played him as a left midfielder. Even after Inter tagged Carlos as a left midfielder, the conversation between the player and coach continued about his optimal positioning on the pitch. Roberto Carlos resisted the left midfield position as well so Inter ultimately played him as a left fullback. The Brazilian wanted to race up and down the left flank and enjoy the freedom to shift from defense into attack as the game dictated. Carlos not only settled into the left fullback, but he went on to redefine it completely over the next ten years by becoming the best left fullback in the history of football. Also known for his powerful free kicks, swerving corner kicks and long range strikes on goal, Roberto Carlos enriched a decades long Brazilian tradition of samba flair from the dead ball that dates back to Rivelino, Eder, Zico, Branco, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
While Roberto Carlos is perhaps best known for his thunderous free kicks, he set new standards for athletic excellence in football more generally. With legs like tree trunks that he acquired from a childhood spent assisting his family haul farming and textile equipment in Cordeirpolis, Carlos is famous for his phenomenal speed and physical strength. From 1996 to 2007, Roberto Carlos played a whopping 584 games for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals and even more assists. 370 out of the 584 games were Spanish league games in which he scored 47 goals from his left back position. As one of eight players to play in more than 100 champions league matches, Roberto Carlos joins a elite group of Champions League veterans featuring Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Paulo Maldini, Gary Neville, Raul Gonzalez and Ryan Giggs. A tireless worker with explosive pace, Carlos was feared by defenders and strikers alike given his capacity to sprint at speeds where he could cover 100 meters in less than 11 seconds. At the international level, Carlos was surprisingly left out of the 1994 World Cup squad in favor of Leonardo, but he dominated the left back position in 1998 and 2002, combining powerfully with Rivaldo on the left flank and complementing the brilliance of Cafu, the team's right fullback. Carlos earned 125 international caps for Brazil in a distinguished international career featuring a World Cup Winners Medal in 2002 and two Copa America titles for Brazil in 1997 and 1999.
After 11 years at Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos enjoyed a brief stint at Fenerbahce before returning to Corinthians in Brazil where he was voted the best left back in Brazil's Serie A. Carlos enjoyed success at Corinthians alongside his teammate Ronaldo, narrowly missing out on the 2010 Brazil Serie A title to Muricy Ramalho's Fluminense in the final games. Carlos also scored an amazing "Olympic Goal" from a corner kick while at Corinthians, the first ever in his career. He recently decided to leave Corinthians after a two year spell in the wake of fan harassment in February 2011 following the club's elimination from the Copa Libertadores. The 37 year old left back from Sao Paulo has decided to follow the money trail by accepting a lucrative offer at the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, the club owned by the Russian senator and metals and oils magnate Suleiman Kerimov.
--Roberto Carlos on the art of free kick taking
When Roberto Carlos burst onto the European football scene at Inter Milan from Palmeiras, coach Roy Hodgson played him as a left winger, otherwise known as an attacking left midfielder with the license to move forward and score goals like a striker. Carlos was assigned the left winger position because of his extreme pace and ability to backtrack as necessary. He disliked the winger position because he wanted to see more of the pitch ahead of him, and accordingly, Inter played him as a left midfielder. Even after Inter tagged Carlos as a left midfielder, the conversation between the player and coach continued about his optimal positioning on the pitch. Roberto Carlos resisted the left midfield position as well so Inter ultimately played him as a left fullback. The Brazilian wanted to race up and down the left flank and enjoy the freedom to shift from defense into attack as the game dictated. Carlos not only settled into the left fullback, but he went on to redefine it completely over the next ten years by becoming the best left fullback in the history of football. Also known for his powerful free kicks, swerving corner kicks and long range strikes on goal, Roberto Carlos enriched a decades long Brazilian tradition of samba flair from the dead ball that dates back to Rivelino, Eder, Zico, Branco, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
While Roberto Carlos is perhaps best known for his thunderous free kicks, he set new standards for athletic excellence in football more generally. With legs like tree trunks that he acquired from a childhood spent assisting his family haul farming and textile equipment in Cordeirpolis, Carlos is famous for his phenomenal speed and physical strength. From 1996 to 2007, Roberto Carlos played a whopping 584 games for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals and even more assists. 370 out of the 584 games were Spanish league games in which he scored 47 goals from his left back position. As one of eight players to play in more than 100 champions league matches, Roberto Carlos joins a elite group of Champions League veterans featuring Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Paulo Maldini, Gary Neville, Raul Gonzalez and Ryan Giggs. A tireless worker with explosive pace, Carlos was feared by defenders and strikers alike given his capacity to sprint at speeds where he could cover 100 meters in less than 11 seconds. At the international level, Carlos was surprisingly left out of the 1994 World Cup squad in favor of Leonardo, but he dominated the left back position in 1998 and 2002, combining powerfully with Rivaldo on the left flank and complementing the brilliance of Cafu, the team's right fullback. Carlos earned 125 international caps for Brazil in a distinguished international career featuring a World Cup Winners Medal in 2002 and two Copa America titles for Brazil in 1997 and 1999.
After 11 years at Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos enjoyed a brief stint at Fenerbahce before returning to Corinthians in Brazil where he was voted the best left back in Brazil's Serie A. Carlos enjoyed success at Corinthians alongside his teammate Ronaldo, narrowly missing out on the 2010 Brazil Serie A title to Muricy Ramalho's Fluminense in the final games. Carlos also scored an amazing "Olympic Goal" from a corner kick while at Corinthians, the first ever in his career. He recently decided to leave Corinthians after a two year spell in the wake of fan harassment in February 2011 following the club's elimination from the Copa Libertadores. The 37 year old left back from Sao Paulo has decided to follow the money trail by accepting a lucrative offer at the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, the club owned by the Russian senator and metals and oils magnate Suleiman Kerimov.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Brazilian Soccer Legend Ronaldo Announces Retirement from Corinthians and Professional Football
For an article that recalls Ronaldo's explosive pace and finishing skill, see:
Flashback: The Magic of Ronaldo
Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football today citing difficulties maintaining his body and hypothyroidism, a medical condition which made it difficult for him to maintain an optimal weight. In a tearful press conference where he was flanked by his sons Alex and Ronald, Ronaldo remarked:
"It’s very hard to leave something that made me so happy. Mentally, I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost (the fight) to my body. With this announcement, it feels like it’s my first death. The pain made me anticipate the end of my career. My career was beautiful, was wonderful. I’ve had many defeats but infinite victories."
Ronaldo ended his career at Corinthians at a moment when he and Roberto Carlos bore the brunt of anger from fans after the club's February 2 elimination from the Copa Libertadores. Ronaldo's extraordinary career was plagued by knee injuries related to his explosive power and pace.
Flashback: The Magic of Ronaldo
Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football today citing difficulties maintaining his body and hypothyroidism, a medical condition which made it difficult for him to maintain an optimal weight. In a tearful press conference where he was flanked by his sons Alex and Ronald, Ronaldo remarked:
"It’s very hard to leave something that made me so happy. Mentally, I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost (the fight) to my body. With this announcement, it feels like it’s my first death. The pain made me anticipate the end of my career. My career was beautiful, was wonderful. I’ve had many defeats but infinite victories."
Ronaldo ended his career at Corinthians at a moment when he and Roberto Carlos bore the brunt of anger from fans after the club's February 2 elimination from the Copa Libertadores. Ronaldo's extraordinary career was plagued by knee injuries related to his explosive power and pace.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Roberto Carlos leaves Corinthians for Russian club Anzhi
Corinthians has confirmed the departure of left back Roberto Carlos by "mutual consent" after the player expressed a desire to leave the club following harassment by fans after the elimination of Corinthians from the Copa Libertadores. Carlos and his family received a number of threats from irate fans after Corinthians's February 2 elimination. The Brazilian club just reported that Roberto Carlos will sign with the Russian club Anzhi for a reported $9 million a year, for a two year contract with the option of an extension for another year. The 37 year old is widely regarded as the best left back football has witnessed in the last 30 years. The Brazilian national team has begun to find replacements for the brilliance of their former right back Cafu in the form of Maicon and Dani Alves, but thus far have been unable to locate a player of Carlos's extraordinary pace, strength and vision on the left flank. Ronaldo of Brazil also remarked on the possibility of leaving Corinthians after suffering similar harassment by fans because of their poor Copa Libertadores performance. Ronaldo revealed considering early retirement immediately but appears set to continue at Corinthians for the time being.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Roberto Carlos Scores from Corner Kick in "Olympic Goal" for Corinthians
Roberto Carlos scored direct from a corner kick in a 2-0 victory for Corinthians against Portuguesa in the opening week of the Sao Paolo, "Paulista" championship. In South America, goals scored direct from corner kicks are known as "Olympic Goals". The Corinthians left-back curled the ball in direct from the left flank corner flag in the 20th minute after Paulinho opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Captain Ronaldo played for most of the match in a highly encouraging start to the season where he appeared to have recovered from injuries sustained late last year. Roberto Carlos's "Olympic Goal" marks the second spectacular goal in his career after his famous banana free kick at the 1997 Tournoi de France.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Fluminense clinch Brazil Serie A title
Fluminense clinched Brazil's Serie A title with a 1-0 victory over Guarani as contenders Corinthians stumbled to a 1-1 draw against lowly Goias. In the final match of the championship, Cruzeiro scored a 2-1 victory against Palmeiras to leapfrog over Corinthians into second place. Fluminense went ahead thanks to a goal by Emerson in the 61st minute and managed to retain their lead by maintaining possession for the vast majority of the game. Dentinho equalized for Corinthians after his team fell behind to a Goias goal by Felipe, but the away team failed to produce the game winner they needed to stay in contention for the title. In any case, a victory for Flu was enough to guarantee them the title as Muricy Ramalho's team went into the final match with a one and two point lead over Corinthians and Cruzeiro respectively. Fluminense's victory put a damper on any possibility Corinthians would salvage the title in their centenary year, in what could be the last competitive season played by their flagship striker and global celebrity, Ronaldo. Fluminense's victory marks the first time they have won Brazil's Serie A title since 1984. Last year's championship winners Flamengo ended their disastrous season by avoiding relegation and taking 14th place out of 20 with a 0-0 draw against Santos in their final game of the season.
Final standings:
Fluminense: 71 points
Cruzeiro: 69 points
Corinthians: 68 points
Gremio: 63 points
Final standings:
Fluminense: 71 points
Cruzeiro: 69 points
Corinthians: 68 points
Gremio: 63 points
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Ronaldo of Brazil: The Retirement of the First Global Sports Hero of All Time
Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo announced his retirement from professional football on February 14, 2011, citing difficulties maintaining his body and hypothyroidism, a medical condition which made it difficult for him to maintain an optimal weight.
Where will Ronaldo find his nest after retiring from professional football? Questions such as these about Ronaldo’s future hover like a ghost around the Brazilian legend's decision to retire in the wake of harassment from Corinthians fans because of the club's February 2 exit from the Copa Libertadores. After retirement, Ronaldo’s Selecao teammates Romario and Bebeto found careers in coaching, club management and, most recently, politics. Correspondingly, 1994 World Cup winners Dunga and Jorginho went on to coach one of the most tactically aware and defensively robust Brazil sides of all time. Right winger Leonardo coached AC Milan with considerable success from 2009-2010 and has transformed Inter Milan radically since taking over as coach in late December 2010.
Ronaldo has said little about his post-retirement plans but one senses he is less likely to pursue a career in coaching and more inclined to contribute to football in an advisory capacity for club teams or as a commentator on the game. As a global symbol of peace, goodwill and human rights for the United Nations at various moments during his career, Ronaldo may well end up following Romario and Bebeto in furthering causes for justice and the well-being of children worldwide, whether in politics or the non-profit sector. With respect to football, Ronaldo has professed an interest in remaining involved with his former club Real Madrid in an advisory role, and one would expect that he will continue to maintain close ties to Corinthians in subsequent years. But in all this, the question about Ronaldo’s retirement and attendant plans engages the fate of one of the first truly transnational sports heroes of all time.
Ronaldo rapidly became a symbol of goodwill and sportsmanship to generations of football fans all over the world. In the mid-1990s, his goal scoring feats and slalom runs catalyzed a renaissance of interest in the game that coincided with its emerging popularity in the United States and Asia. And most importantly, Ronaldo became the first truly global sports hero that men and women all over the world admired, shared and loved, beginning with his sublime goal a game ratio at Barcelona and Inter Milan, to his heart wrenching struggles with knee injuries, back to the glory of his 2002 World Cup victory and two goals against Germany in the final. Pele was never truly a global hero because he played in a historical moment that was not wired in quite the same way as the world is today with Google, YouTube and soccer websites and discussion boards in almost every language. Maradona had few fans amongst English football supporters and his greatness was ultimately eclipsed by his decline into cocaine addiction and alcoholism. Romario paved the way for the concept of a global super-hero, but his cat-like prowess around the goal mouth paled in comparison to Ronaldo’s almost superhuman speed, strength, dribbling ability and power. Moreover, the peak years of Romario’s career coincided with the dawn of the consumer internet era as opposed to the conjunction of the peak of Ronaldo's fame with the lightning fast proliferation of internet technologies across the globe.
Add to all this the manner in which football enjoys a global popularity that trumps basketball, tennis and golf, it becomes easy to understand how Ronaldo crossed national, class, generational and gender boundaries more so than Bruce Lee, Michael Jordan, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. His fame ushered in the conditions of possibility for a transnational sports hero embraced by fans all over the entire globe. In terms of fame and global power as a cultural icon, only Michael Jackson and Madonna bear him comparison. While soccer historians would do well to begin cataloguing Ronaldo’s dizzying array of goals and records, cultural historians should take stock of the way in which Ronaldo elevated sport in general, and football in particular, to a global language with the power to galvanize audiences in all corners of the entire world. Messi stands on Ronaldo’s shoulders because his circulation in the world of contemporary popular culture derives from Ronaldo’s unprecedented, organic creation of the concept of a truly global sports hero for the very first time.
The above article features a post-February 14, 2011 update to the original December 4 posting.
Where will Ronaldo find his nest after retiring from professional football? Questions such as these about Ronaldo’s future hover like a ghost around the Brazilian legend's decision to retire in the wake of harassment from Corinthians fans because of the club's February 2 exit from the Copa Libertadores. After retirement, Ronaldo’s Selecao teammates Romario and Bebeto found careers in coaching, club management and, most recently, politics. Correspondingly, 1994 World Cup winners Dunga and Jorginho went on to coach one of the most tactically aware and defensively robust Brazil sides of all time. Right winger Leonardo coached AC Milan with considerable success from 2009-2010 and has transformed Inter Milan radically since taking over as coach in late December 2010.
Ronaldo has said little about his post-retirement plans but one senses he is less likely to pursue a career in coaching and more inclined to contribute to football in an advisory capacity for club teams or as a commentator on the game. As a global symbol of peace, goodwill and human rights for the United Nations at various moments during his career, Ronaldo may well end up following Romario and Bebeto in furthering causes for justice and the well-being of children worldwide, whether in politics or the non-profit sector. With respect to football, Ronaldo has professed an interest in remaining involved with his former club Real Madrid in an advisory role, and one would expect that he will continue to maintain close ties to Corinthians in subsequent years. But in all this, the question about Ronaldo’s retirement and attendant plans engages the fate of one of the first truly transnational sports heroes of all time.
Ronaldo rapidly became a symbol of goodwill and sportsmanship to generations of football fans all over the world. In the mid-1990s, his goal scoring feats and slalom runs catalyzed a renaissance of interest in the game that coincided with its emerging popularity in the United States and Asia. And most importantly, Ronaldo became the first truly global sports hero that men and women all over the world admired, shared and loved, beginning with his sublime goal a game ratio at Barcelona and Inter Milan, to his heart wrenching struggles with knee injuries, back to the glory of his 2002 World Cup victory and two goals against Germany in the final. Pele was never truly a global hero because he played in a historical moment that was not wired in quite the same way as the world is today with Google, YouTube and soccer websites and discussion boards in almost every language. Maradona had few fans amongst English football supporters and his greatness was ultimately eclipsed by his decline into cocaine addiction and alcoholism. Romario paved the way for the concept of a global super-hero, but his cat-like prowess around the goal mouth paled in comparison to Ronaldo’s almost superhuman speed, strength, dribbling ability and power. Moreover, the peak years of Romario’s career coincided with the dawn of the consumer internet era as opposed to the conjunction of the peak of Ronaldo's fame with the lightning fast proliferation of internet technologies across the globe.
Add to all this the manner in which football enjoys a global popularity that trumps basketball, tennis and golf, it becomes easy to understand how Ronaldo crossed national, class, generational and gender boundaries more so than Bruce Lee, Michael Jordan, Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. His fame ushered in the conditions of possibility for a transnational sports hero embraced by fans all over the entire globe. In terms of fame and global power as a cultural icon, only Michael Jackson and Madonna bear him comparison. While soccer historians would do well to begin cataloguing Ronaldo’s dizzying array of goals and records, cultural historians should take stock of the way in which Ronaldo elevated sport in general, and football in particular, to a global language with the power to galvanize audiences in all corners of the entire world. Messi stands on Ronaldo’s shoulders because his circulation in the world of contemporary popular culture derives from Ronaldo’s unprecedented, organic creation of the concept of a truly global sports hero for the very first time.
The above article features a post-February 14, 2011 update to the original December 4 posting.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Fluminense on verge of Brazil Serie A title
Fluminense stand on the brink of their first Brazil Serie A title since lifting the trophy in 1984 under the leadership of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. In their penultimate game, Fluminense won 2-1 against Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras through goals by Carlinhos and Tarta. Palmeiras striker Dinei threatened Fluminense's title chances by scoring from a spectacular long range strike from the right flank that rocketed past goalkeeper Ricardo Berna's right hand in the 4th minute. But the league leaders quickly regained their composure and created a bevy of scoring opportunities by means of their quick build-ups through midfield and intelligent distribution to the flanks. Fullback Carlinhos equalized in the 19th minute through a long range, right footed strike from the left flank before Tarta sealed the match for Fluminense with a left footed strike from within the box in the 58th minute. Fluminense's come from behind victory underscored their championship level mettle through a glorious display of attacking, free flowing football characteristic of Brazilian domestic teams at their best.
Meanwhile, second placed Corinthians secured a 2-0 victory over Vasco da Gama through goals by Bruno Cesar and Danilo. Third placed Cruzeiro stayed in the title hunt with a 2-1 victory over Flamengo, who narrowly avoided relegation by securing 15th place in the league under the leadership of their most recent coach, Wanderlei Luxemburgo.
In the final round of competition, Fluminense play at home against relegated Guarani, while Corinthians travel to play Goias. A loss by Fluminense and a win or draw for Corinthians would be enough to hand the title to Corinthians in their centenary year. A loss for Fluminense to Guarani would be monumental though coach Muricy Ramalho assured his fans that, despite their relegated status, he expects Guarani to play as professionals in a highly competitive final match. Cruzeiro stand an outside chance of claiming the title in the event they win and Fluminense and Corinthians both lose.
Corinthians star striker Ronaldo looks set to miss the final match against Goias because of a right thigh injury sustained in their 1-1 draw against Vitoria on November 21.
Standings:
Fluminense: 68 points
Corinthians: 67 points
Cruzeiro: 66 points
Meanwhile, second placed Corinthians secured a 2-0 victory over Vasco da Gama through goals by Bruno Cesar and Danilo. Third placed Cruzeiro stayed in the title hunt with a 2-1 victory over Flamengo, who narrowly avoided relegation by securing 15th place in the league under the leadership of their most recent coach, Wanderlei Luxemburgo.
In the final round of competition, Fluminense play at home against relegated Guarani, while Corinthians travel to play Goias. A loss by Fluminense and a win or draw for Corinthians would be enough to hand the title to Corinthians in their centenary year. A loss for Fluminense to Guarani would be monumental though coach Muricy Ramalho assured his fans that, despite their relegated status, he expects Guarani to play as professionals in a highly competitive final match. Cruzeiro stand an outside chance of claiming the title in the event they win and Fluminense and Corinthians both lose.
Corinthians star striker Ronaldo looks set to miss the final match against Goias because of a right thigh injury sustained in their 1-1 draw against Vitoria on November 21.
Standings:
Fluminense: 68 points
Corinthians: 67 points
Cruzeiro: 66 points
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Fluminense overtake Corinthians in Brazil's Serie A with 2 rounds remaining
Fluminense regained the lead in Brazil's Serie A after pounding Sao Paulo 4-1 while Corinthians dropped points on the road to lowly Vitoria with a 1-1 draw marked by an injury to their flagship striker Ronaldo. Argentine playmaker Conca scored two goals and set up two more for Fluminense as they consolidated their position as favorites for the title with two rounds remaining. Fluminense defender Gum opened the scoring from a Conca corner in the 34th minute. Lucas equalized for Sao Paulo early in the second half but the last twenty minutes witnessed a torrent of goals initiated by Conca, the midfielder who is widely regarded as the best player in Brazil's Serie A this season. Conca put Fluminense back in the lead with a strike inside the box in the 74th minute and then former Lyon striker Fred poached Conca's long distance strike roughly five minutes later. Two minutes from time, Conca sealed an emphatic 4-1 victory for Fluminense with a left footed shot that positions Fluminense within striking range of their first Serie A title since 1984.
Corinthians, meanwhile, failed to capitalize on their draw to relegation battling Vitoria despite an early lead secured by a terrific pass from Ronaldo to midfielder Danilo, the goalscorer. But Vitoria equalized just before half time with a penalty due to a handball by Corinthians midfielder Ralf. Playing in his seventh consecutive match, Ronaldo was substituted in the interim between the two goals in the 30th minute for a right thigh muscle injury. His departure appeared to unsettle the league leaders as they failed to recover their rhythm and impose their game on the home team. Third placed Cruzeiro bounced back from last week's 1-0 loss to Corinthians with a 3-1 victory over Vasco da Gama from goals by Roger, Henrique and Edcarlos, all of which were assisted by corners or passes from Montillo. The result leaves Cruzeiro just one point behind Corinthians who, in turn, lag one point behind Fluminense with two matches remaining.
After 36 matches:
Fluminense: 65 points
Corinthians: 64 points
Cruzeiro: 63 points
Penultimate round: Sunday, November 28
Fluminense (away) v. Palmeiras
Cruzeiro (away) v. Flamengo
Corinthians (home) v. Vasco da Gama
Corinthians, meanwhile, failed to capitalize on their draw to relegation battling Vitoria despite an early lead secured by a terrific pass from Ronaldo to midfielder Danilo, the goalscorer. But Vitoria equalized just before half time with a penalty due to a handball by Corinthians midfielder Ralf. Playing in his seventh consecutive match, Ronaldo was substituted in the interim between the two goals in the 30th minute for a right thigh muscle injury. His departure appeared to unsettle the league leaders as they failed to recover their rhythm and impose their game on the home team. Third placed Cruzeiro bounced back from last week's 1-0 loss to Corinthians with a 3-1 victory over Vasco da Gama from goals by Roger, Henrique and Edcarlos, all of which were assisted by corners or passes from Montillo. The result leaves Cruzeiro just one point behind Corinthians who, in turn, lag one point behind Fluminense with two matches remaining.
After 36 matches:
Fluminense: 65 points
Corinthians: 64 points
Cruzeiro: 63 points
Penultimate round: Sunday, November 28
Fluminense (away) v. Palmeiras
Cruzeiro (away) v. Flamengo
Corinthians (home) v. Vasco da Gama
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Corinthians regain lead from Fluminense as Ronaldo penalty sends Brazil Serie A battle down to the wire
Ronaldo scored a decisive penalty in the closing minutes of a hard fought match against Cruzeiro to give Corinthians a crucial victory as the battle for the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A goes down to the wire with three matches remaining. Since Ronaldo's return from injury, Corinthians have now won four matches and drawn two, a significant turnaround from a period when the Timao suffered a five match winless streak when their flagship striker, more commonly known as The Phenomenon, was sidelined because of injury. Ronaldo has now played six consecutive 90 minute matches and the Corinthians number 9 has vowed to play as much as possible in order to bring the title back to Corinthians in their centenary year. The match against Cruzeiro represented a hard fought victory for Corinthians as Cruzeiro squandered a number of high percentage chances on goal. Ronaldo himself had a number of chances including a blistering run from midfield that resulted in a left footed shot that sailed over the crossbar. The 89th minute penalty was awarded when Ronaldo suffered a blow from the back that left him face down in the box. Cruzeiro players protested the penalty vociferously and in the process, defender Gil earned a red card. Under pressure, Ronaldo maintained his tradition of successful penalty taking by sending the ball low into the corner to goalkeeper Fabio's left as he dove right.
Meanwhile, Fluminense drew 1-1 with Goias, and consequently relinquished the lead in Brazil's Serie A to Corinthians. Corinthians now have 63 points, Fluminense have 62 and Cruzeiro have 60, with 3 matches remaining. Highly familiar with titles going down to the wire, the experienced Ronaldo noted that, in the battle for Brazil's Serie A, "everything will be decided only on the last day."
Meanwhile, Fluminense drew 1-1 with Goias, and consequently relinquished the lead in Brazil's Serie A to Corinthians. Corinthians now have 63 points, Fluminense have 62 and Cruzeiro have 60, with 3 matches remaining. Highly familiar with titles going down to the wire, the experienced Ronaldo noted that, in the battle for Brazil's Serie A, "everything will be decided only on the last day."
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Neymar's Uniqueness
He has a lanky build and spiky hair. At first glance, one might mistake him for a playground player with pace and the chutzpah to take shots on goal. He occasionally throws tantrums on the field that testify to the immaturity of an 18 year old boy. But this same petulant youth has been compared with Pele and Robinho and hailed as one of the brightest stars in the emerging generation of Brazilian football. His name is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior and he wears either the number 11 or 7 shirt for the Brazilian club Santos.
Although Neymar has scored 10 goals for Santos in Brazil's Serie A this season so far, and 10 in the preceding season as a whole, his international fame and attention from clubs such as Chelsea and Juventus have rested less on the raw statistics of his goals per game, and more on his unique style of play. For one, there is a boundless energy and exuberance about his movement on the pitch. He plays with the youthful energy of a teenager, bursting forward on the left and right wings and running at the center of defenses as well. The Brazilian press have compared him most frequently to Robinho because of their shared propensity to dribble and cut inward from the flanks without fear of swarms of defenders.
In a style reminiscent of his compatriot Ronaldo, Neymar roams all over the pitch and returns deep into midfield in order to run at defenses. But unlike Ronaldo, he brushes by defenders by relying almost exclusively on an exquisite sense of balance and ball control in contrast to Ronaldo's combination of power, strength and skill. Drawing throngs of defenders in his wake, he solicits the foul, scores from the penalty spot or orchestrates the ensuing free kick and instinctively locates the right place in the box for the killer header or deflection or shot on goal. More often than not, he carves his way out of a thicket of defenders by feigning a move right and then darting left, or employing a similar set of guileful tricks to fool defenders.
Like Ronaldo, Neymar shoots off both feet. Like Ronaldo, he treks back deep into midfield. Like Romario, his balance and goal scoring precision around the box are virtually unparalleled in the modern game. Like Rivaldo, he takes penalties with confidence and success. Like Kaka, he has a sixth sense for the placement of his team mates on the pitch at all moments. But in the final analysis, he is just Neymar, the lanky Santos striker who finds the back of the net from all corners of the pitch and applies himself to his trade with a limitless energy and adolescent disrespect for the positioning and rigidity of the modern game.
In recent months he has scored for Santos in Brazil's Serie A against Atletico Mineiro, Gremio, Avai, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Internacional and Sao Paulo. And he scored Brazil's opening goal in their friendly against the USA on August 10, 2010 in New Jersey. Nevertheless, Selecao coach Mano Menezes opted to drop Neymar from Brazil's friendlies against Iran and the Ukraine because of his incidents of indiscipline at Santos. At the moment, it's anyone's guess as to whether the Santos sensation will be included in the Brazil roster for the November friendly against Argentina. As every coach knows, brilliance and indiscipline are often coextensive traits that take time for a gifted young athlete to juggle and balance. The question now on everyone's mind is whether Mano and Santos can enable Neymar's talent to blossom to reach its fullest potential and become a complete player that bears no comparison to Robinho, Pele, Ronaldo or Romario, but is just Neymar, the aggressive forward whose creativity marks the fullest embodiment of the beautiful game since Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona and Socrates.
Although Neymar has scored 10 goals for Santos in Brazil's Serie A this season so far, and 10 in the preceding season as a whole, his international fame and attention from clubs such as Chelsea and Juventus have rested less on the raw statistics of his goals per game, and more on his unique style of play. For one, there is a boundless energy and exuberance about his movement on the pitch. He plays with the youthful energy of a teenager, bursting forward on the left and right wings and running at the center of defenses as well. The Brazilian press have compared him most frequently to Robinho because of their shared propensity to dribble and cut inward from the flanks without fear of swarms of defenders.
In a style reminiscent of his compatriot Ronaldo, Neymar roams all over the pitch and returns deep into midfield in order to run at defenses. But unlike Ronaldo, he brushes by defenders by relying almost exclusively on an exquisite sense of balance and ball control in contrast to Ronaldo's combination of power, strength and skill. Drawing throngs of defenders in his wake, he solicits the foul, scores from the penalty spot or orchestrates the ensuing free kick and instinctively locates the right place in the box for the killer header or deflection or shot on goal. More often than not, he carves his way out of a thicket of defenders by feigning a move right and then darting left, or employing a similar set of guileful tricks to fool defenders.
Like Ronaldo, Neymar shoots off both feet. Like Ronaldo, he treks back deep into midfield. Like Romario, his balance and goal scoring precision around the box are virtually unparalleled in the modern game. Like Rivaldo, he takes penalties with confidence and success. Like Kaka, he has a sixth sense for the placement of his team mates on the pitch at all moments. But in the final analysis, he is just Neymar, the lanky Santos striker who finds the back of the net from all corners of the pitch and applies himself to his trade with a limitless energy and adolescent disrespect for the positioning and rigidity of the modern game.
In recent months he has scored for Santos in Brazil's Serie A against Atletico Mineiro, Gremio, Avai, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Internacional and Sao Paulo. And he scored Brazil's opening goal in their friendly against the USA on August 10, 2010 in New Jersey. Nevertheless, Selecao coach Mano Menezes opted to drop Neymar from Brazil's friendlies against Iran and the Ukraine because of his incidents of indiscipline at Santos. At the moment, it's anyone's guess as to whether the Santos sensation will be included in the Brazil roster for the November friendly against Argentina. As every coach knows, brilliance and indiscipline are often coextensive traits that take time for a gifted young athlete to juggle and balance. The question now on everyone's mind is whether Mano and Santos can enable Neymar's talent to blossom to reach its fullest potential and become a complete player that bears no comparison to Robinho, Pele, Ronaldo or Romario, but is just Neymar, the aggressive forward whose creativity marks the fullest embodiment of the beautiful game since Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona and Socrates.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Flamengo Fire Silas Days After Zico's Resignation
As expected, Flamengo's President Patricia Amorin announced the club's decision to fire head coach Silas, just three days after the shock resignation of Zico, club legend and Executive Director of Football. In the 36 days that Silas occupied the position, he led Flamengo to only one victory in 10 matches. The defending champions now have a total of 30 points in Brazil's Serie A in contrast to Fluminense, Corinthians and Cruzeiro, who have 52, 49 and 48 respectively. Former Santos, Real Madrid and Brazil national team coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo is widely considered the leading candidate for the position after he was fired by Atletico Mineiro last month. Flamengo now flirt dangerously near the relegation zone in 15th place and will require a major overhaul of form in order to salvage their 2010-2011 season.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Fluminense, Corinthians and Cruzeiro draw as battle for Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A heats up
The race for the championship of the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A remained tightly clustered around Fluminese, Corinthians and Cruzeiro, as the three leading teams drew over the October 2 weekend against opponents further down the table. Leaders Fluminense drew 1-1 with Gremio Prudente, second placed Corinthians fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Ceara and third placed Cruzeiro drew 0-0 with Atletico Paranaense. Internacional are in fourth place while Botafogo, who drew 1-1 with arch-rivals Flamengo, are now in fifth.
Corinthians midfielder Paulinho and substitute Matias de Federico scored in the 70th and 82th minute respectively to salvage a point for Adilson Batista's team and avoid dropping further down the table into third place. In the case of Fluminense, striker Rodriguinho scored in the 34th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, but Muricy Ramalho's team conceded a goal to Willian Jose 18 minutes before the whistle. The race for the title is now firmly on between the top four teams, though Corinthians and Internacional have a game in hand with 26 matches played in contrast to the 27 played by Fluminense and Cruzeiro.
Corinthians midfielder Paulinho and substitute Matias de Federico scored in the 70th and 82th minute respectively to salvage a point for Adilson Batista's team and avoid dropping further down the table into third place. In the case of Fluminense, striker Rodriguinho scored in the 34th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, but Muricy Ramalho's team conceded a goal to Willian Jose 18 minutes before the whistle. The race for the title is now firmly on between the top four teams, though Corinthians and Internacional have a game in hand with 26 matches played in contrast to the 27 played by Fluminense and Cruzeiro.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Which Mano Menezes Will Show Up as Coach of the Selecao?
What kind of coach will Mano Menezes (Mano) become at the helm of the Brazilian national football team? For starters, Mano is a fan of precisely the 4-2-3-1 formation that Brazil used in South Africa. He is well known for his ability to restore teams such as Gremio and Corinthians to glory after suffering humiliating relegations to their respective second divisions. And, like his predecessors, Carlos Dunga and Luiz Felipe Scolari, Mano has historically professed a certain pragmatism to football, with an emphasis on winning, even if this means sitting on the lead and hogging ball possession at the expense of going forward to score more goals. Mano's teams have tended to play with two defensive midfielders and score on the counter-attack in much the same fashion as Brazil under the Dunga era from 2006 to 2010.
But in a recent interview, Mano promised to turn his back on a footballing philosophy of pragmatism as the head of the national team.
"We are going to rescue our style. Brazil has it's own way of playing," he noted in an August 3, 2010 interview with Sport TV.
"We want to recover that tradition of being the protagonists, and stop being bit-part actors looking for the rival mistake. The world now plays more similar to that Brazil and we ourselves have distanced ourselves from it."
That said, it's really anyone's guess as to what kind of coach Menezes becomes as he settles into his role as director of the Selecao.
Consider the case of Luiz Felipe Scolari, for example, in leading the Seleaco to World Cup victory in Yokohama, Japan in the summer of 2002. Like Dunga, Scolari was initially known for his commitment to tough tackling and rough, defensive minded play. An ardent supporter of a strong defense and quick counter-attacks, he championed winning at the expense of beautiful football. As coach of Gremio from 1993-1996, Scolari threatened to bench players for not committing enough fouls, and additionally became famous for encouraging player ball-boys to throw balls onto the field when opponents were about to take a throw-in, or having his players solicit the help of local police against visiting teams in the event of an on field fracas.
In Korea and Japan in the summer of 2002, something remarkable happened to Scolari's rough and defensive style of play. Brazil's starting line-up initially featured Roberto Carlos and Cafu attacking down the left and right flanks respectively, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho as the triumvirate "3 Rs" strikeforce, and another offensive midfielder in the form of Juninho Paulista attacking down the center. Fans were dumbfounded by Scolari's offensive formation, especially since the rigidity of his earlier career had given way to a fluid, samba style of soccer where players would routinely switch positions instead of sticking to a predetermined tactical formation. The result produced moments of magic for the Brazilian national football team at a level unseen since 1982. Fans will recall Edmilson's sublime bicycle kick goal in their 5-2 demolition of Costa Rica, Rivaldo's magical goal in the 67th minute against Belgium, Ronaldinho's sublime free kick against England in the quarterfinal to mark a 2-1 come from behind victory and, most importantly, the great strength of Ronaldo in and around the box, scoring 8 goals in 7 games, shaking off defenders shamelessly and putting the ball where it belongs.
But Scolari had at his disposal an extraordinary crop of players, the quality of which Menezes is unlikely to have unless Robinho, Pato, Neymar, Ganso and company blossom into world class talent that can hold their form over the greater part of a decade. Time will tell, but the interesting thing is that, for all the talk of renovation, rebuilding, rebirth and jogo bonito in Brazil, few people in Brazil are calling Ricardo Teixeira's bluff and noting how the Brazilian Confederation of Football's choice of a coach for the Selecao seems disturbingly similar to Dunga and the early Scolari, at precisely the moment when Brazilian football needs radical change.
But in a recent interview, Mano promised to turn his back on a footballing philosophy of pragmatism as the head of the national team.
"We are going to rescue our style. Brazil has it's own way of playing," he noted in an August 3, 2010 interview with Sport TV.
"We want to recover that tradition of being the protagonists, and stop being bit-part actors looking for the rival mistake. The world now plays more similar to that Brazil and we ourselves have distanced ourselves from it."
That said, it's really anyone's guess as to what kind of coach Menezes becomes as he settles into his role as director of the Selecao.
Consider the case of Luiz Felipe Scolari, for example, in leading the Seleaco to World Cup victory in Yokohama, Japan in the summer of 2002. Like Dunga, Scolari was initially known for his commitment to tough tackling and rough, defensive minded play. An ardent supporter of a strong defense and quick counter-attacks, he championed winning at the expense of beautiful football. As coach of Gremio from 1993-1996, Scolari threatened to bench players for not committing enough fouls, and additionally became famous for encouraging player ball-boys to throw balls onto the field when opponents were about to take a throw-in, or having his players solicit the help of local police against visiting teams in the event of an on field fracas.
In Korea and Japan in the summer of 2002, something remarkable happened to Scolari's rough and defensive style of play. Brazil's starting line-up initially featured Roberto Carlos and Cafu attacking down the left and right flanks respectively, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho as the triumvirate "3 Rs" strikeforce, and another offensive midfielder in the form of Juninho Paulista attacking down the center. Fans were dumbfounded by Scolari's offensive formation, especially since the rigidity of his earlier career had given way to a fluid, samba style of soccer where players would routinely switch positions instead of sticking to a predetermined tactical formation. The result produced moments of magic for the Brazilian national football team at a level unseen since 1982. Fans will recall Edmilson's sublime bicycle kick goal in their 5-2 demolition of Costa Rica, Rivaldo's magical goal in the 67th minute against Belgium, Ronaldinho's sublime free kick against England in the quarterfinal to mark a 2-1 come from behind victory and, most importantly, the great strength of Ronaldo in and around the box, scoring 8 goals in 7 games, shaking off defenders shamelessly and putting the ball where it belongs.
But Scolari had at his disposal an extraordinary crop of players, the quality of which Menezes is unlikely to have unless Robinho, Pato, Neymar, Ganso and company blossom into world class talent that can hold their form over the greater part of a decade. Time will tell, but the interesting thing is that, for all the talk of renovation, rebuilding, rebirth and jogo bonito in Brazil, few people in Brazil are calling Ricardo Teixeira's bluff and noting how the Brazilian Confederation of Football's choice of a coach for the Selecao seems disturbingly similar to Dunga and the early Scolari, at precisely the moment when Brazilian football needs radical change.
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