View source for Aldair

{{short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1965)}}
{{about|the retired Brazilian international footballer|other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Portuguese name|Nascimento|dos Santos}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Aldair
|image = Aldair.jpg
|image_size = 230px
|caption = Aldair in 2005
|fullname = Aldair Nascimento dos Santos<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/aldair-nascimento-dos-santos/40509/|title=Aldair|publisher=soccerway.com|access-date=4 July 2022}}</ref>
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|11|30}}<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|id=13641|accessdate=}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Ilhéus]], Brazil
|height = 1.83 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asromacalcio.it/sito-ufficiale/squadra/rosa99-00/aldair.html|title=Aldair|publisher=AS Roma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000619113629/http://www.asromacalcio.it/sito-ufficiale/squadra/rosa99-00/aldair.html|archive-date=19 June 2000}}</ref>
|position = [[defender (association football)#Centre-back|Centre back]]
|years1 = 1985–1989
|years2 = 1989–1990
|years3 = 1990–2003
|years4 = 2003–2004
|years5 = 2005
|years6 = 2007–2009
|clubs1 = [[CR Flamengo|Flamengo]]
|clubs2 = [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
|clubs3 = [[AS Roma|Roma]]
|clubs4 = [[Genoa CFC|Genoa]]
|clubs5 = [[Rio Branco Atlético Clube|Rio Branco]]
|clubs6 = [[SS Murata|Murata]]
|caps1 = 54
|goals1 = 3
|caps2 = 22
|goals2 = 5
|caps3 = 330
|goals3 = 14
|caps4 = 17
|goals4 = 1
|caps5 = 2
|goals5 = 0
|caps6 = 10
|goals6 = 0
|totalcaps = 435
|totalgoals = 23
| nationalyears1 = 1996
| nationalteam1 = [[Brazil national under-23 football team|Brazil Olympic]] ([[List of overage players in Olympic football|O.P.]])
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 1989–2000<ref name="RSSSF">{{Cite news|title=Aldair Nascimentos dos Santos – International Appearances|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/aldair-intl.html}}</ref>
|nationalteam2 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
|nationalcaps2 = 81
|nationalgoals2 = 3
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|BRA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 USA]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 France]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup|1997 Saudi Arabia]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1989 Copa América|1989 Brazil]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 Copa América|1997 Bolivia]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1995 Copa América|1995 Uruguay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
}}

'''Aldair Nascimento dos Santos''' ({{IPA|pt-BR|awdaˈiʁ|lang}}; born 30 November 1965), known simply as '''Aldair''', is a Brazilian retired [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[defender (association football)|centre back]], and who was part of the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]] that won the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].

Considered as one of Brazil's greatest defenders ever,<ref>{{cite web|language=en|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/18621/6120873/brazils-greatest-defenders|title=Brazil's greatest defenders|date=2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=en|url=http://www.givemesport.com/355659-is-the-current-brazil-team-the-best-of-alltime|title=Is the current Brazil team the best of all-time?|date=2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416110844/http://www.givemesport.com/355659-is-the-current-brazil-team-the-best-of-alltime|archive-date=16 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> he spent most of his professional career at Italian club [[AS Roma]], where he later also served as [[Captain (association football)|captain]], winning the [[Serie A]] title with the club in [[2000–01 Serie A|2001]]. He is one of the members to have been inducted into the [[AS Roma Hall of Fame]].<ref name="AS Roma Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=http://www.asroma.com/en/club/hall-of-fame|title=AS Roma Hall of Fame|publisher=AS Roma|access-date=16 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721014240/http://www.asroma.com/en/club/hall-of-fame|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Club career==
Aldair started playing at [[CR Flamengo|Flamengo]] where he won the State Championship [[Campeonato Carioca]] in [[1986 Campeonato Carioca|1986]]. He moved to Europe in 1989, playing with [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]], winning the [[1989 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|Portuguese Supercup]], and reaching the [[1990 European Cup final|European Cup final]] during his only season with the team.

Aldair subsequently moved to [[AS Roma]] in 1990 and played with this club during 13 seasons, until 2003. He played a total of 436 matches with the ''Giallorossi'', scoring 20 goals in total.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asroma.com/it/club/storia/hall-of-fame/15264/aldair|title=Aldair|publisher=AS Roma}}</ref> During this period he won the [[2000–01 Serie A|Serie A in 2001]], one [[Supercoppa Italiana]], and one [[Coppa Italia]] in [[1990–91 Coppa Italia|1991]] (also reaching the [[1991 UEFA Cup final|UEFA Cup final]] in the same year). Aldair was recognised in 2000 as one of the best players in the world by being selected in the FIFA XI; still, he remained loyal to Roma in spite of the club not having won any major international honours during his time there.

Due to his long career with Roma, Aldair is currently the [[List of AS Roma records and statistics#All competitions appearances|most-capped foreign player in the Italian club's history]] and the club [[Retired numbers in association football|decided to retire his number 6 jersey]] when he left the team in 2003. However, this retirement was not permanent, as in 2013 the shirt number 6 has been conceded to [[Kevin Strootman]], with Aldair's approval.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.repubblica.it/ultimora/sport/CALCIO-ROMA-STROOTMAN-AVRA-MAGLIA-N-6-DI-ALDAIR/news-dettaglio/4375640| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180311173915/http://www.repubblica.it/ultimora/sport/CALCIO-ROMA-STROOTMAN-AVRA-MAGLIA-N-6-DI-ALDAIR/news-dettaglio/4375640| archive-date = 2018-03-11| title = CALCIO, ROMA: STROOTMAN AVRA' MAGLIA N. 6 DI ALDAIR {{!}} News Sport {{!}} Repubblica.it}}</ref> In 1998, he was chosen to be the [[List of AS Roma players#Captains|captain of the ''Giallorossi'']] but preferred to grant the [[Captain (association football)|armband]] to the then 22-years old [[Francesco Totti]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/aldair-totti-un-leader-silenzioso-scelsi-io-di-dargli-la-fascia-da-capitano|title = Aldair: "Totti un leader silenzioso, scelsi io di dargli la fascia da capitano"}}</ref> For his contribution to the club, Aldair was included into the [[AS Roma Hall of Fame]] in 2012, and thus recognized as one of the best footballers in the club's history. He was nicknamed "[[Pluto (Disney)|Pluto]]" by Roma fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ultimouomo.com/pluto-aldair-classe-e-lentezza/|title=Pluto Aldair: Classe e lentezza|date=5 October 2016}}</ref>

After Roma, Aldair then briefly joined [[Genoa CFC|Genoa]]. In July 2005, Aldair announced plans of playing for [[Rio Branco Atlético Clube|Rio Branco]], and played two games for the club in the state championship, helping his team to win the title.

Former teammate and good friend [[Massimo Agostini]] convinced him to play in [[San Marino]] for [[SS Murata]] in order to boost their [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] campaign. After Murata's dreadful 7–1 aggregate defeat to Cypriots [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] in the first round of qualifying for the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup]], Agostini decided to call upon Aldair to join him on the Italian Peninsula. Aldair took part in the Champions League qualifying stage in July 2007.

==International career==
Aldair was part of the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian]] squad that took part at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]]. In 1994, he reached the pinnacle of his career when he played for the Brazilian squad that won the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. Originally not included in the squad announced on 10 May 1994, he was called up as replacement when [[Carlos Mozer]] had to withdraw due to illness. He also played for Brazil in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]], as Brazil went on to reach the [[1998 FIFA World Cup final|final]] once again, only to be defeated by [[France national football team|France]]. He took part in three Copa América's with Brazil, winning the title in [[1989 Copa América|1989]] and [[1997 Copa América|1997]], whilst earning a runners-up medal in [[1995 Copa América|1995]]. Aldair won a bronze medal at the [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Summer Olympics]], and was part of the Brazilian team that won the [[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup]]. In addition to these tournaments, Aldair also took part in two friendly tournaments with Brazil, winning the 1995 [[Umbro Cup]], and finishing in second place in the [[1997 Tournoi de France]]. In total, he appeared 81 times for Brazil between 1989 and 2000, scoring three goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.sambafoot.com/players/164_Aldair.html |title=Aldair - Aldair Nascimento dos Santos profile |access-date=28 September 2007 |date=4 July 2007 |publisher=Sambafoot |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027210644/http://en.sambafoot.com/players/164_Aldair.html |archive-date=27 October 2009 }}</ref>

==Style of play==
An elegant and tactically versatile [[defender (association football)|defender]], Aldair was capable of playing both as a [[sweeper (association football)|sweeper]] and [[centre back]], due to his vision, technical ability and passing range. His confidence on the ball and, in particular, his adeptness at [[long ball]]s enabled him to advance into midfield and create chances for teammates. Although he was not particularly quick, he was a strong defender who excelled in the air. He also excelled at anticipating opponents with well-timed challenges due to his ability to read the game. In addition to his defensive and technical skills, Aldair was also known for his leadership and sportsmanship throughout his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/nascimento-dos-santos-aldair_%28Enciclopedia_dello_Sport%29/|title=ALDAIR, Nascimento Dos Santos|work=Enciclopedia dello Sport Treccani|author1=Darwin Pastorin|language=it|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1999/08/20/la-rabbia-di-capello.html|title=La rabbia di Capello|work=La Repubblica|author1=Corrado Zunino|language=it|access-date=5 June 2015|date=20 August 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/novembre/26/paure_della_Roma_passano_con_co_0_92112610416.shtml|title=le paure della Roma passano con Aldair|work=Il Corriere della Sera|author1=Franco Melli|language=it|access-date=5 June 2015|date=26 November 1992}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{WorldFootball.net|aldair}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[CR Flamengo|Flamengo]]
|[[1985 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1985]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|–||–|||||||||||||||||
|-
|[[1986 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1986]]
|Série A
|23||1||||||||||||||23||1
|-
|[[1987 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1987]]
|Série A
|7||0||||||||||||||7||0
|-
|[[1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1988]]
|Série A
|24||2||||||||||||||24||2
|-
|[[1989 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1989]]
|Série A
|–||–|||||||||||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!54!!3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!54!!3
|-
|[[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
|[[1989–90 S.L. Benfica season|1989–90]]
|[[Primeira Divisão]]
|22||5||2||0||8||1||1{{efn|Appearances in [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]}}||0||33||6
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[AS Roma|Roma]]
|[[1990–91 AS Roma season|1990–91]]
|[[Serie A]]
|29||2||9||0||11||0||colspan="2"|—||49||2
|-
|[[1991–92 AS Roma season|1991–92]]
|Serie A
|33||3||3||0||6||0||1{{efn|Appearances in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||43||3
|-
|[[1992–93 AS Roma season|1992–93]]
|Serie A
|28||2||7||0||7||2||colspan="2"|—||42||4
|-
|[[1993–94 AS Roma season|1993–94]]
|Serie A
|12||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
|[[1994–95 AS Roma season|1994–95]]
|Serie A
|28||1||5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||33||1
|-
|[[1995–96 AS Roma season|1995–96]]
|Serie A
|31||0||1||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||39||0
|-
|[[1996–97 AS Roma season|1996–97]]
|Serie A
|32||2||0||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||36||2
|-
|[[1997–98 AS Roma season|1997–98]]
|Serie A
|28||3||6||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||34||5
|-
|[[1998–99 AS Roma season|1998–99]]
|Serie A
|27||0||3||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||37||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 AS Roma season|1999–2000]]
|Serie A
|34||1||4||0||8||1||colspan="2"|—||46||2
|-
|[[2000–01 AS Roma season|2000–01]]
|Serie A
|15||0||1||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||19||1
|-
|[[2001–02 AS Roma season|2001–02]]
|Serie A
|16||0||1||0||6||0||0||0||23||0
|-
|[[2002–03 AS Roma season|2002–03]]
|Serie A
|17||0||1||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||23||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!330!!14!!41!!2!!64!!4!!1!!0!!436!!20
|-
|[[Genoa CFC|Genoa]]
|[[2003–04 Serie B|2003–04]]
|[[Serie B]]
|17||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17|||1
|-
|[[Rio Branco Atlético Clube|Rio Branco]]
|[[2005 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C|2005]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série C|Série C]]
|–||–||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in [[Campeonato Capixaba Série B]]}}||0||2||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[SS Murata|Murata]]
|[[2007–08 Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio|2007–08]]
|[[Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio|Campionato Sammarinese]]
|10||0||||||1||0||||||11||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio|2008–09]]
|Campionato Sammarinese
|–||–||||||1||0||||||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!10!!0!!!!!!2!!0!!!!!!12!!0
|-
!colspan=3|Total
!433!!23!!43!!2!!74!!5!!4!!0!!554!!30
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="NFT" /><ref name="RSSSF" />
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
|1989
|15||0
|-
|1990
|3||1
|-
|1991
|0||0
|-
|1992
|0||0
|-
|1993
|0||0
|-
|1994
|11||0
|-
|1995
|13||1
|-
|1996
|2||0
|-
|1997
|19||1
|-
|1998
|9||0
|-
|1999
|3||0
|-
|2000
|6||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!81||3
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
;Flamengo<ref name="yahoo.com">{{cite web|url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/football/aldair.html|title=Aldair|publisher=Yahoo.com|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]]: [[1987 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1987]]
* [[Campeonato Carioca]]: [[1986 Campeonato Carioca|1986]]

;Benfica<ref name="yahoo.com"/>
* [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|Portuguese Supercup]]: [[1989 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|1989]]

;Roma<ref name="yahoo.com"/>
* [[Serie A]]: [[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01]]
* [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1990–91 Coppa Italia|1990–91]]
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[2001 Supercoppa Italiana|2001]]

;Rio Branco
* [[Campeonato Capixaba Série B]]: 2005

;Murata<ref name="SW">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/aldair-nascimento-dos-santos/40509/|title=Aldair|work=Soccerway|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>
* [[Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio|Campionato Sammarinese]]: [[2007–08 Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio|2007–08]]

===International===
;Brazil<ref name="yahoo.com"/><ref name="SW"/>
* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]; Runner-up [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]
* [[Copa América]]: [[1989 Copa América|1989]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/89safull.html |title=Copa América 1989 |last=Tabeira |first=Martín |date=2 May 2013 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref> [[1997 Copa América|1997]]; Runner-up  [[1995 Copa América|1995]]
* [[Summer Olympic Games]]: Bronze medal [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]]
* [[FIFA Confederations Cup]]: [[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup|1997]]

===Individual===
* [[FIFA XI]]: 2000<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=FIFA XI's Matches – Full Info}}</ref>
* [[Golden Foot]]: 2008, as football legend<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html |title=Golden Foot Legends |website=goldenfoot.com |access-date=27 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416024500/http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html |archive-date=16 April 2015 }}</ref>
* [[AS Roma Hall of Fame]]: 2012<ref name="AS Roma Hall of Fame"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Association football|Brazil}}
* [[List of athletes who came out of retirement#Football|List of athletes who came out of retirement]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|63545}}
* {{NFT player|13641}}
* {{ForaDeJogo|196511300001}}
* {{WorldFootball.net|aldair}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|aldair}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{BOC profile}}

{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{AS Roma Hall of Fame}}
{{navboxes
|title=Brazil squad
|bg= #FBEC5D
|fg= #008000
|list1=
{{Brazil squad 1989 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1995 Copa América}}
{{Brazil men's football squad 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Brazil squad 1997 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aldair}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Brazilian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Brazil men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in San Marino]]
[[Category:CR Flamengo footballers]]
[[Category:1989 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1995 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1997 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1997 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Copa América–winning players]]
[[Category:FIFA Confederations Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:AS Roma players]]
[[Category:S.L. Benfica footballers]]
[[Category:Genoa CFC players]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Brazil]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Brazil]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:SS Murata players]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in San Marino]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:People from Ilhéus]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bahia]]
[[Category:20th-century Brazilian sportsmen]]