Profile of Zico on Famous Like Me

Arthur Antunes Coimbra (born in March 3, 1953), better known as Zico, was a famous Brazilian football player. He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004 and, for many people, is considered the best Brazilian player after Pelé and Garrincha. Zico is considered an idol for millions of people (particularly in Brazil, Japan and Italy), not only for his unique talent as a player, but also for his personal history and charisma.

Zico comes from a low middle-class family, in the suburbs of Quintino, Rio de Janeiro. As many young kids in Brazil, he has spent his youth playing soccer for fun during all day and dreaming of playing professionally at night. Eventually, when he was still a teenager, he called the attention of radio reporter Celso Garcia, who took him to a play test at Flamengo. Since then, he began his path to become one of the most admired players in history of football (soccer).

Physically, he wasn't strong and his history of determination and discipline began with a hard muscle and body development program. Working hard (and also through special diet sponsored by his team), he was able to develop a strong body and become an athlete. Later on, when he would be hunted in the field, this physical development proved to be essential for his success.

Career

Zico played most of his career at Flamengo and also played at Udinese. After Zico retired from international football (in 1989 from the Brazilian national team and in 1990 from Flamengo), he became the first director general of the Brazilian National Secretary of Sports, in 1990. Shortly afterwards, he left this political assignment to face an even more challenging mission in Japan, where he practically founded football after helping -- as a technical director, coach and player -- the development of Kashima Antlers, from 1991 on.

During his career in Flamengo, Zico was key during the most glorious period of the team's history. Along with many other titles, in his first period at Flamengo he led the team to victory in the Copa Libertadores in 1981, the Intercontinental Cup in 1981, and three national titles, among several other titles. On the field, Zico made goals in all imaginable ways, and was also a great assister and team organizer, as he had a very privileged vision of the field. He was a two-footed player and was an expert at free kicks.

In a multi-million dollar transaction, he was hired to play for Udinese, in Italy, from 1983 to 1985. Though leaving some Brazilian fans in sadness, he led Udinese to be among the best Italian teams. Unhappily from Zico's point of view, however, Udinese hadn’t won any important competition and Zico eventually came back to Brazil and Flamengo, sponsored by a group of companies.

In his return, he suffered a knee injury after a violent tackle from Bangu's defender Marcio Nunes, which interrupted his career for several months. After a very difficult time in the 1986 World Cup, when he, still injured, missed a penalty kick against France, he came back in 1987, when he led Flamengo to its fourth national title. Zico is considered the best player in Flamengo's history. His achievements in Flamengo inspired Brazilian singer Jorge Benjor to make a song in his honour - Camisa 10 da Gávea, helping create the mystique of the club's number 10. Every player subsequently wearing Flamengo's number 10 jersey is supposed to be Zico's successor. Overall, he scored 52 goals in 72 matches for Brazil, and also played in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups.

After the first presidential election in many years, Brazil's new president Fernando Collor de Mello appointed Zico as his Minister of Sports. Zico stayed at this political assignment for about a year and his most important contribution was a piece of legislation dealing with the business side of sport teams, as most of the teams in Brazil were (and still are in 2005) administered more like amateur associations than professional companies.

Zico interrupted his political assignment to accept a much more rewarding job, both financially and in happiness: in 1991 he joined the Sumitomo Metal Industries soccer division (the present Kashima Antlers). He helped develop from scratch the formerly small club from Kashima-cho (present-day Kashima city) into one of Japan's best sides.

Zico’s discipline, talent and professionalism meshed very well with Japanese culture. He has oriented the Japanese in all aspects of team development and, as a player, rapidly became a national idol after some of the most fantastic goals and assists of his career. In his third and also very significant commemorative farewell game, in 1994 he retired as a player and became the technical adviser of Kashima Antlers. As he stayed only part-time in Japan, in 1995 Zico founded his own football team in Brazil, called Clube de Futebol Zico (Zico Football Club).

He is even, apparently being hunted down, like former Brazil team-mate Sócrates by English football team Garforth United.

Japan's coach

His influence and the recognition of his role in the development of Japan's soccer has been growing ever since. Besides having his name in public squares, statues and even being the image used to promote latest Asian edition of Winning Eleven , since July of 2002 Zico has been the head coach of the Japanese national team, succeeding Philippe Troussier. After an uncertain start and several rumors that he would quit, he managed to stay in the job, winning the Kirin Cup in 2004 and leading Japan to qualify for the 2006 World Cup scheduled to be held in Germany, after which he has declared he will retire from coaching .

All his goals (number of goals, matches and goal average)

• Flamengo: 568 - 765 - 0.74
• Udinese (Italy): 57 - 79 - 0.72
• Kashima Antlers (Japan): 54 - 88 - 0.61
• Brazil national football team: 66 - 89 - 0.74
• Masters soccer team: 8 - 16 - 0.50
• Others: 44 - 49 - 0.90
• Total: 797 - 1086 - 0.73

Major prizes

• Best soccer player of the Americas elected by El Mundo (Venezuela) 1977
• Best soccer player in the world chosen by Guerin Esportivo (Italy), El Balón (Spain), El Mundo and Placar magazine 1981
• Best soccer player of the Americas chosen by El Gráfico (Argentina) and El Mundo 1982
• Top scorer in Brazil - 59 goals 1982
• Set a goal record in a single season as a Flamengo player - 49 goals 1974 and 56 goals 1976
• Set a record of goals in matches in a row in the Japanese Tournament - 11 goals in 10 matches in a row 1992
• Second highest scorer of the Italian Championship, 1983.

For more information, it is worthy paying a visit to Zico’s official website, where Zico usually writes and post pictures at his own weblog.

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Zico