View source for Cláudio Taffarel

{{short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1966)}}
{{redirect|Taffarel|the surname|Taffarel (surname)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Portuguese name|Mergen|Taffarel}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Cláudio Taffarel
| image = Taffarel 2018.png
| caption = Taffarel with [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in 2018
| full_name = Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cláudio Taffarel: Profile |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/taffarel/ |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|5|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul|Santa Rosa]], Brazil
| height = 1.80 m<ref>{{cite web |title=Cláudio Taffarel |url=http://parma.soccerage.com/ITA_giocatore408.asp |publisher=Parma FC |access-date=19 August 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207164415/http://parma.soccerage.com/ITA_giocatore408.asp |archive-date=7 February 2003}}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub = {{ublist|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (goalkeeping coach)|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] (goalkeeping coach)}}
| youthyears1 = 1984–1985
| youthclubs1 = [[SC Internacional|Internacional]]
| years1 = 1985–1990
| clubs1 = [[SC Internacional|Internacional]]
| caps1 = 50
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1990–1993
| clubs2 = [[Parma AC|Parma]]
| caps2 = 74
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1993–1994
| clubs3 = [[AC Reggiana|Reggiana]]
| caps3 = 31
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1995–1998
| clubs4 = [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]]
| caps4 = 73
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1998–2001
| clubs5 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
| caps5 = 89
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2001–2003
| clubs6 = [[Parma AC|Parma]]
| caps6 = 6
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 323
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1988–1998
| nationalteam1 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| nationalcaps1 = 101
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2011–2019
| managerclubs1 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] (goalkeeping coach)
| manageryears2 = 2014
| managerclubs2 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] (interim)
| manageryears3 = 2014–2023
| managerclubs3 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] (goalkeeping coach)
| manageryears4 = 2015
| managerclubs4 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] (interim)
| manageryears5 = 2021–
| managerclubs5 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (goalkeeping coach)
| manageryears6 = 2024–
| managerclubs6 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] (goalkeeping coach)
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|BRA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 United States]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 France]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1989 Copa América|1989 Brazil]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 Copa América|1997 Bolivia]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1991 Copa América|1991 Chile]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1995 Copa América|1995 Uruguay]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Third|[[1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup|1998 United States]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup|FIFA U–20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1985 FIFA World Youth Championship|1985 Soviet Union]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[South American Youth Football Championship|South American U-20 Championship]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1985 South American U-20 Championship|1985 Paraguay]]|}}
}}

'''Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel''' ({{IPA|pt-BR|ˈklawdʒu tafaˈɾɛw|lang}}; born 8 May 1966) is a Brazilian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. He is the current goalkeeping coach of both {{English football updater|Liverpoo}} club [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], and the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]].

Taffarel began his senior career in 1985 with [[SC Internacional|Internacional]] in his native Brazil and then played in [[Parma AC|Parma]], [[AC Reggiana|Reggiana]], [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]] and [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]. He retired in 2003 after a second spell at Parma.

The recipient of more than 100 international [[Cap (sport)|cap]]s, Taffarel played a key role in Brazil's victorious [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]] campaign and also appeared in eight other major international tournaments over the course of one full decade, most notably winning two [[Copa América]] titles in [[1989 Copa América|1989]] and [[1997 Copa América|1997]], as well as a World Cup runners-up finish in [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]. He also won a silver medal at the [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics]] in South Korea.

==Club career==
[[File:Tafarel playing for Internacional in the 1980s.jpg|thumb|left|Taffarel playing for [[SC Internacional|Internacional]] in the 1980s.]]
Born in [[Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul]] with [[Italian Brazilian]] ancestry, Taffarel began his career playing for [[SC Internacional|Internacional]] but only appeared in 14 [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]] games during his five-year spell, being however awarded the [[Bola de Ouro|Golden Ball]] award for the [[1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1988 season]].

In 1990, he played for [[Parma AC|Parma]] in Italy, a club which had just been [[1989–90 Serie B|promoted]] to [[Serie A]] for the first time in their history; according to a 2003 article by Andrea Schianchi of ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]'', Taffarel's move to Parma was also carried out for commercial reasons, as at the time, [[Calisto Tanzi]], the then–owner of [[Parmalat]] – the company that owned the club –, was looking to have the Brazilian goalkeeper become the face of the corporation's new advertising campaign following its recent expansion into Brazil. Taffarel became the first non–Italian goalkeeper to play in Serie A, and proceeded to appear in all 34 league games in [[1990–91 Serie A|the following campaign]] under manager [[Nevio Scala]], as the [[Emilia-Romagna]] side finished in sixth position and [[1991–92 UEFA Cup|qualified]] to the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]. He won the [[Coppa Italia]] in [[1992 Coppa Italia final|1992]] and the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup]] in [[1993 European Cup Winners' Cup final|1993]] during his first spell with the club, although following a series of unconvincing performances, and the regulations at the time that only allowed three non–Italian players in the team's starting XI (with [[Faustino Asprilla]], [[Tomas Brolin]], and [[Georges Grün]] usually being selected to start by Scala), he was relegated to the bench over the course of the next two seasons, initially behind [[Marco Ballotta]] and later [[Luca Bucci]].<ref name="mano di Dio">{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/luglio/09/Taffarel_mano_Dio_che_para_co_0_9807093979.shtml |title=Taffarel, la mano di Dio che para i rigori |work=Il Corriere della Sera |page=43 |language=it |last1=Franco |first1=Melli |date=9 July 1998 |access-date=8 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110513/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/luglio/09/Taffarel_mano_Dio_che_para_co_0_9807093979.shtml |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="docet">{{cite news |url=https://forza-parma.blogautore.repubblica.it/2011/01/20/taffarel-docete-te-lo-do-io-il-portiere-brasiliano/ |title=Taffarel docet, te lo do' io il portiere brasiliano |trans-title=Taffarel docet, I'll give you the Brazilian goalkeeper |work=La Repubblica |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="hands up">{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/17/taffarel-in-alto-le-mani.html |title=TAFFAREL, IN ALTO LE MANI |trans-title=Taffarel, Hands Up |access-date=8 May 2020 |language=it |work=La Repubblica |date=17 July 1994 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2003/dicembre/29/Cosi_prese_Taffarel_per_vendere_ga_0_0312297366.shtml |title=Così prese Taffarel per vendere il latte |trans-title=And so he acquired Taffarel to sell milk |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Schianchi |first1=Andrea |date=29 December 2003 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="non solo Nakata">{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2001/luglio/06/Parma_non_solo_Nakata_ga_0_0107062000.shtml |title=Parma, non solo Nakata |trans-title=Parma, not only Nakata |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Schianchi |first1=Andrea |last2=Cecchini |first2=Massimo |last3=Curino |first3=Luca |last4=Agus |first4=Giampietro |last5=Ghisleni |first5=Sergio |last6=Stella |first6=Silvano |date=6 July 2001 |access-date=9 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name="One mistake"/>

In 1993, Taffarel, now only a back-up at Parma, signed for fellow Serie A team [[AC Reggiana|Reggiana]], where he was first-choice throughout the following season in a [[1993–94 Serie A|narrow escape from relegation]]. However, he was subsequently dropped from the first team in 1994, and remained without a professional club in the run up to and following that year's World Cup in the United States, playing instead at amateur level with his local church team, and even featuring as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] on occasion. Afterwards, he returned to his home country in 1995 and played three years with [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]].<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="docet"/><ref name="hands up"/><ref name="One mistake"/><ref name="A letter from... Parma">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/osm/story/0,,1072696,00.html |title=Highway to heaven |work=The Guardian |last1=Eve |first1=James |date=2 November 2003 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1993/07/04/stoichkov-libero-un-obiettivo-samp.html |title=Stoichkov è libero, un obiettivo Samp |trans-title=Stoichkov is free, a Samp target |work=La Repubblica |language=it |last1=Ferrara |first1=Benedetto |date=4 July 1993 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref>

On 24 June 1998, when still appearing for ''Seleção'' at [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] tournament in France, Taffarel signed a two-year deal with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] at [[Disneyland Paris]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Taffarel imzayı attı |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/taffarel-imzayi-atti-39025663 |website=Hürriyet.com.tr |date=25 June 1998 |language=tr |publisher=Hürriyet |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Les histoires secrètes du Mondial |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/les-histoires-secretes-du-mondial_629628.html |language=fr |website=Lexpress.fr |date=8 July 1998 |access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> Galatasaray paid a transfer fee of around $1.5&nbsp;million to his former club [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]]. At Galatasaray, he has won six major trophies during his three-year stint, most notably two [[Süper Lig]] titles and the [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup]] and [[2000 UEFA Super Cup]]; in the [[2000 UEFA Cup final|final]] of the former competition – a 4–1 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]] victory over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] following a 0–0 draw after 120 minutes – he was chosen as [[Man of the match]].<ref>[http://www.galatasaray.org/tarih/pages/tarih_unut_tafi.php Andre Claudio Taffarel (1966–)]; at Galatasaray S.K. {{in lang|tr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/752751.stm|title=Penalty heartbreak for Arsenal |publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2000|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref>

He closed out his career with former club Parma, joining the team in 2001;<ref name="non solo Nakata"/> he mainly featured as a second-choice keeper behind [[Sébastien Frey]] during his second spell with the club,<ref name="passato">{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2001/luglio/07/Riecco_Taffarel_tuffo_nel_passato_ga_0_0107072030.shtml |title=Riecco Taffarel, un tuffo nel passato Risuona la filastrocca della memoria |trans-title=Here comes Taffarel again, a dive into the past The memory's nursery rhyme resounds |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |date=7 July 2001 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref> but started in both legs of the [[2002 Coppa Italia final]], which saw Parma triumph over the newly crowned [[2001–02 Serie A|Serie A champions]], [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/coppaitalia/coppaitalia/coppaitalia.html |title=La Juventus non fa il bis la Coppa Italia al Parma |trans-title=Juveneuts does not make it two the Coppa Italia goes to Parma |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=10 May 2002 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref> He retired in 2003, after one-and-a-half seasons with the club, at the age of 37, and after having refused an offer from [[Empoli FC|Empoli]]: his car broke down on the way to sign the contract and finalise the deal, which he later described as a "sign of God".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2003/settembre/25/Taffarel_dice_all_Empoli_Colpa_co_0_030925086.shtml|title=Taffarel dice no all' Empoli Colpa di un guasto all' auto|trans-title=Taffarel says no to Empoli due to car malfunction|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|language=it|date=25 September 2003|access-date=29 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="GOD">{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football:+God+gave+Taff+a+sign:+The+big+interview%3B+%60You+need+to+hit...-a0108382287|title=Football: God gave Taff a sign: The big interview; 'You need to hit the darkest point to be able to appreciate the.|publisher=The Free Library |date=1 October 2003|access-date=29 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/09/26/taffarel.quits.reut/index.html |title=World Cup winner Taffarel retires |work=CNN |date=26 September 2003 |access-date=9 May 2020 }}</ref>

==International career==
Taffarel made his debut for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] on 7 July 1988 in the [[Australia Bicentenary Gold Cup]], playing all four games and conceding two goals as his team won the tournament. He was also in goal for [[1989 Copa América|the following year's Copa América]], which Brazil also won (during his ten-year international career, he appeared in five editions of the latter tournament, winning the title for a second time in [[1997 Copa América final|1997]], and collecting runners-up medals in [[1991 Copa América|1991]] and [[1995 Copa América final|1995]]). At the [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics]] in Seoul, he won a silver medal, saving three penalties against [[Germany Olympic football team#Olympiaauswahl (1984–1988)|West Germany]] in the semi-finals of the tournament: one in regulation time, and two in [[Brazil national under-23 football team|Brazil]]'s successful shoot-out.<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="One mistake">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2000/m=8/news=claudio-taffarel-one-mistake-and-get-all-the-blame-74374.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528022431/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2000/m=8/news=claudio-taffarel-one-mistake-and-get-all-the-blame-74374.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 May 2015|title=Claudio Taffarel: "One mistake and I get all the blame" |publisher=FIFA |last=Setyon |first=Ricardo |date=1 August 2000|access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> He was also a member of the Brazilian team that took part at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] in Italy, where Brazil were eliminated in the round of 16 following a 1–0 defeat to [[Argentina–Brazil football rivalry|rivals]] and defending champions [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], with Taffarel conceding only two goals in total throughout the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Nick |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-world-cup-1990-was-tournament-great-goalkeeper |title=Why World Cup 1990 was the tournament of the great goalkeeper |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=4 June 2014 |access-date=10 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/watch-1990-world-cup-flashback-replay-brazil-v-argentina |title=WATCH: 1990 World Cup flashback replay - Brazil v Argentina |publisher=The World Game |date=9 April 2020 |access-date=10 May 2020 }}</ref>

Taffarel was the starter for the nation during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] in the United States, only allowing one goal in the first round and two in the knock-out phases, excluding two [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kicks]] in [[1994 FIFA World Cup final|the final]] shootout victory against [[Italy national football team|Italy]].<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="docet"/><ref name="A letter from... Parma"/> [[1998 FIFA World Cup|Four years later]], in France, he helped his national team to a second consecutive [[1998 FIFA World Cup final|World Cup final]], which proved to be&nbsp;his final international appearance; on this occasion, however, Brazil lost out 3–0 to the [[France national football team|hosts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world_cup_98/results_and_reports/newsid_107000/107581.stm |title=France Triumph |work=BBC Sport |date=13 July 1998 |access-date=19 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991110184909/http://www.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world_cup_98/results_and_reports/newsid_107000/107581.stm |archive-date=10 November 1999 }}</ref> In the run-up to the final, Taffarel had notably saved two penalties in the team's 4–2 shootout victory over the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the semi-finals.<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/11/25/greatness-without-glory-the-holland-at-france-98/|title=Greatness without glory: the story of Holland at France 98|work=These Football Times|date=25 November 2016|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.repubblica.it/online/sport/braola/braola/braola.html?ref=search |title=Strepitoso Taffarel Il Brasile è in finale |trans-title=Exceptional Taffarel Brazil are in the final |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=7 July 1998 |access-date=10 May 2020 }}</ref> He was also a member of the Brazilian side that finished in third place at the [[1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup]].

In total, Taffarel played 101 times with the ''Seleção'', making him Brazil's most capped goalkeeper of all time, and one of the few Brazilian players to have made at least 100 caps for the national side.<ref name="A letter from... Parma"/><ref name="RSSSF">[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/taffarel-intl.html Claudio André Mergen Taffarel – Century of International Appearances]; at [[RSSSF]]</ref> Upon his retirement in 2003, coach [[Carlos Alberto Parreira]] offered to arrange a farewell match but the player refused, stating that he was not interested in such fanfare; he did return to play alongside [[Romário]] in late 2004 against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]], to commemorate the 1994 World Cup victory at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]].

==Style of play==
Regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian goalkeepers of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/18621/6120885/brazils-greatest-goalkeepers|title=Brazil's greatest goalkeepers|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2 July 2010|access-date=16 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Atkins |first=Christopher |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1478781-ranking-brazils-10-best-goalkeepers-of-all-time |title=Ranking Brazil's 10 Best Goalkeepers of All Time |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=21 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.90min.com/it/posts/2782669-i-10-migliori-portieri-brasiliani-della-storia |title=I 10 migliori portieri brasiliani della storia |trans-title=The 10 greatest Brazilian goalkeepers in history |publisher=90min.com |language=it |last=Martini |first=Davide |date=9 December 2015 |access-date=20 March 2022 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320200445/https://www.90min.com/it/posts/2782669-i-10-migliori-portieri-brasiliani-della-storia |url-status=dead }}</ref> Taffarel was known to be a rational, effective, and generally consistent keeper, with good fundamental goalkeeping technique, who favoured an efficient rather than spectacular playing style.<ref name="treccani">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/claudio-andre-taffarel_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/|title=TAFFAREL, Cláudio André |work=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport|date=2002|language=it|last=Pastorin|first=Darwin|access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="90min">{{cite web|url=http://www.90min.com/it/posts/2782669-i-10-migliori-portieri-brasiliani-della-storia|title=I 10 migliori portieri brasiliani della storia|trans-title=The 10 greatest goalkeepers of all time|publisher=www.90min.com|language=it|last=Martini|first=Davide|date=9 December 2015|access-date=28 November 2017|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029233220/https://www.90min.com/it/posts/2782669-i-10-migliori-portieri-brasiliani-della-storia|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Portieri stranieri">{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/cards/portieri-stranieri-ma-perche-quei-campioni-che-italia-hanno-fallito-90-ad-oggi/taffarel-disoccupato-che-vinse-mondiale-ai-rigori.shtml|title=Portieri stranieri, ma perché? Quei campioni che in Italia hanno fallito dal '90 ad oggi – 2: Taffarel, il disoccupato che vinse un Mondiale (ai rigori)|trans-title=Foreign goalkeepers, but why? Those champions who failed in Italy from 1990 until today – 2: Taffarel, the unemployed who won a World Cup (on penalties)|work=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|last=Radogna|first=Fiorenzo|date=2 November 2016|access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> His main attributes were his explosive reflexes, positional sense, and calm composure in goal, as well as his penalty-stopping abilities; due to the muscle power in his legs that he developed while playing [[beach volleyball]] in his youth, he was known for his surprising spring and elevation from a standstill position, despite his modest stature, which gave him significant hang time and aided him in stopping penalties.<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="docet"/><ref name="treccani"/><ref name="90min"/><ref name="Portieri stranieri"/> Furthermore, he was known to be [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|quick when coming off his line]], and was also highly regarded for his flair and skill with the ball at his feet, having played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] in his youth.<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="docet"/><ref name="hands up"/><ref name="One mistake"/><ref name="90min"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/nato-oggi/claudio-taffarel-dal-mondiale-col-brasile-alle-esperienze-con-parma-e-reggiana-968026|title=Claudio Taffarel, dal Mondiale col Brasile alle esperienze con Parma e Reggiana|trans-title=Claudio Taffarel, from the World Cup with Brazil to his spells with Parma and Reggiana|publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com|language=it|last1=Bernabei|first1=Simone|date=8 May 2017|access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> Due to his lack of height, however, as well as his poor handling and decision-making, he struggled at times when dealing with crosses, and was not particularly confident or decisive when coming off his line to catch high balls;<ref name="hands up"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/13/sports/13iht-sweden_2.html|title=Chance of a Lifetime Is in Their Hands|work=The New York Times|last1=Hughes|first1=Rob|date=13 July 1994|access-date=29 January 2018}}</ref> as such, critical reception of Taffarel was often divided throughout his career. While he drew praise from the Brazilian fans and media for his decisive performances with the Brazil national team, which even earned him the nickname "Saint Taffarel" in the Brazilian media, he also drew criticism at times from Italian pundits over the mental aspect of his game, and his lack of development during his time in Serie A, which made him unreliable and prone to technical errors on occasion, despite his shot-stopping ability and generally high-quality gameplay, as well as his capacity to produce excellent saves. Moreover, his struggles to cope with his nerves are thought to have impeded him from succeeding consistently at the highest level with top European clubs throughout his career, despite his success and reputation. Ahead of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup final]], Mike Penner of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' speculated that Taffarel, and the goalkeeping position more broadly, was the "weak link" of an otherwise world class Brazil national side, due to the lack of top goalkeepers in Brazilian football at the time; indeed, prior to the tournament, ''Reuters'' had dismissed Taffarel as: "One of around a dozen goalkeepers in Brazil of roughly the same standard."<ref name="mano di Dio"/><ref name="docet"/><ref name="A letter from... Parma"/><ref name="One mistake"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-10-sp-2516-story.html |title=Keeping the Faith |work=The Los Angeles Times |last1=Penner |first1=Mike |date=10 July 1998 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Primo_Piano/2007/04_Aprile/30/PORTIERI.shtml |title=Brasiliani, portieri d'Italia |trans-title=Brazilians, goalkeepers of Italy |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Pratesi |first1=Riccardo |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref> Beyond his playing ability, Taffarel often made a name for himself as a key dressing room personality for his teams.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/03/20/nevio-scala-il-non-maestro-i-giovani-bisogna-lasciarli-liberi-di-esprimersi-senza-indottrinarli-con-troppi-discorsi-tattici/6530332/ |title=Nevio Scala, il non-maestro: "I giovani? Bisogna lasciarli liberi di esprimersi, senza indottrinarli con troppi discorsi tattici" |trans-title=Nevio Scala, the non–master: "Youngsters? We need to let them be free to express themselves, without indoctrinating them with too many tactical discussions" |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |language=it-IT |date=20 March 2022 |access-date=23 May 2024 }}</ref>

==Post-retirement ==
[[File:ClaudioTaffarel.JPG|180px|thumb|Taffarel with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] in 2012]]

Taffarel and his former Atlético Mineiro teammate [[Paulo Roberto Curtis Costa|Paulo Roberto]] started up a player agency, with the focus mainly on promising youngsters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid=825983.html|title=Fledgling careers in safe hands|publisher=FIFA|date=16 July 2008|access-date=16 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916160806/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid%3D825983.html|archive-date=16 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During the 1998 World Cup, when the Brazil national team was training at Trois-Sapins stadium in [[Ozoir-la-Ferrière]], a suburb southeast of Paris, the town's [[mayor]] proposed renaming the stadium after him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/1998/07/10/1998-07-10_coach_certain_brazil_will_ru.html |title=Coach certain Brazil will rule|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=10 July 1998|access-date=12 April 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2004, Taffarel rejoined Galatasaray as goalkeeping coach – under former teammate [[Gheorghe Hagi]] – returning to the club for the [[2011–12 Süper Lig|2011–12 season]], again with [[Fatih Terim]] as manager.<ref name="Taffarel leads Galatasaray to victory">{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/brasilglobaltour/en/news/5457/brasil-global-tour/2014/12/01/6676851/taffarel-leads-galatasaray-to-victory |title=Taffarel leads Galatasaray to victory |publisher=Goal.com |date=1 December 2014 |access-date=9 May 2020 }}</ref> Taffarel had two short spells as interim manager before leaving the Turkish side in 2019.<ref name="goal.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/liverpool-brazil-legend-taffarel-goalkeeping-coach-alisson/blt057aabd08c1d167d|title= Liverpool appoint Brazil legend Taffarel as goalkeeping coach to work alongside Alisson |website=www.goal.com|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>

He currently works as a goalkeeper coach for both [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], having joined in 2021,<ref name="goal.com"/> and the Brazil national team, having taken up the role in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rodrigo Viga Gaier |title=Dunga names former team mates as Brazil assistants |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-brazil-coaches/dunga-names-former-team-mates-as-brazil-assistants-idUKKBN0FS2DL20140723/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=8 March 2024 |date=July 23, 2014}}</ref> He briefly left the role with Brazil at the end of the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]], but returned to the national team in January 2024 at the request of new Brazil head coach [[Dorival Júnior]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mario Cortegana |title=Liverpool goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel returns to role with Brazil |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5240457/2024/01/31/claudio-taffarel-brazil-liverpool/ |work=The New York Times|access-date=21 August 2024 |date=31 January 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Born in Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Taffarel is of [[German Brazilians|German]] and [[Italian Brazilian|Italian]] descent.<ref name="One mistake"/>

Taffarel is a [[Born again (Christianity)|born-again Christian]] who has actively shared his faith in numerous venues. He was a member of the [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]] since 1988,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/08/sports/world-cup-98-goalie-has-answers-for-brazil-fans.html?pagewanted=1|title=World Cup '98; Goalie has answers for Brazil fans|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Christopher|last=Clarey|date=8 July 1998|access-date=11 April 2010}}</ref> and has 17 children, 15 of them [[Adoption|adopted]].<ref name="GOD"/>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[SC Internacional|Internacional]]
|[[1985 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1985]]
|rowspan="6"|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|[[1986 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1986]]
|2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
|[[1987 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1987]]
|10||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0
|-
|[[1988 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1988]]
|14||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0
|-
|[[1989 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1989]]
|12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
|[[1990 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1990]]
|11||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!50!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!50!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Parma AC|Parma]]
|[[1990–91 Serie A|1990–91]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Serie A]]
|34||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||36||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Serie A|1991–92]]
|34||0||3||0||1||0||38||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Serie A|1992–93]]
|6||0||1||0||1||0||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!74!!0!!6!!0!!2!!0!!82!!0
|-
|[[AC Reggiana|Reggiana]]
|[[1993–94 Serie A|1993–94]]
|Serie A
|31||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]]
|[[1995 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1995]]
|rowspan="4"|Série A
|22||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||0
|-
|[[1996 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1996]]
|27||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||0
|-
|[[1997 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1997]]
|24||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||0
|-
|[[1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1998]]
|colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!73!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!73!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
|[[1998–99 1.Lig|1998–99]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Süper Lig|1.Lig]]
|32||0||8||0||8||0||48||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 1.Lig|1999–2000]]
|30||0||3||0||16||0||49||0
|-
|[[2000–01 1.Lig|2000–01]]
|27||0||3||0||14||0||44||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!89!!0!!14!!0!!38!!0!!141!!0
|-
|rowspan="3"|Parma
|[[2001–02 Serie A|2001–02]]
|rowspan="2"|Serie A
|6||0||8||0||colspan="2"|—||14||0
|-
|[[2002–03 Serie A|2002–03]]
|0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!6!!0!!10!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!16!!0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!323!!0!!32!!0!!40!!0!!395!!0
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="11"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]<ref name="RSSSF" />
|1988||7||0
|-
|1989||16||0
|-
|1990||7||0
|-
|1991||10||0
|-
|1992||2||0
|-
|1993||15||0
|-
|1994||9||0
|-
|1995||5||0
|-
|1996||0||0
|-
|1997||15||0
|-
|1998||15||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!101!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Parma'''<ref>{{cite book|author=The Greatest Ever|title=Greatest Ever Footballers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8pWWBAAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=Headline|isbn=978-1-4722-2705-8|pages=2058–2059}}</ref>
* [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1991–92 Coppa Italia|1991–92]],<ref name="Portieri stranieri"/> [[2001–02 Coppa Italia|2001–02]]<ref name="treccani"/>
* [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup|1992–93]]<ref name="Portieri stranieri"/>

'''Atlético Mineiro'''
* [[Campeonato Mineiro]]: 1995<ref name="treccani"/>
* [[Copa CONMEBOL]]: [[1997 Copa CONMEBOL|1997]]<ref name="treccani"/>

'''Galatasaray'''
* [[Süper Lig]]: [[1998–99 1.Lig|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 1.Lig|1999–2000]]<ref name="treccani"/>
* [[Turkish Cup]]: 1998–99,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mackolik.com/Mac/682582/Galatasaray-Besiktas|title=Galatasaray 0–0 Beşiktaş|publisher=Mackolik|language=tr|date=14 April 1999|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609055235/http://www.mackolik.com/Mac/682582/Galatasaray-Besiktas|archive-date=9 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[1999–2000 Turkish Cup|1999–2000]]<ref name="treccani"/>
* [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]: [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|1999–2000]]<ref name="treccani"/>
* [[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2000 UEFA Super Cup|2000]]<ref name="treccani"/>

'''Brazil'''
* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]];<ref name="treccani"/> runner-up [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]
* [[Copa América]]: [[1989 Copa América|1989]], [[1997 Copa América|1997]];<ref name="treccani"/> runner-up [[1991 Copa América|1991]], [[1995 Copa América|1995]]
* [[Summer Olympic Games]] Silver Medal: [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]
* [[FIFA World Youth Championship]]: [[1985 FIFA World Youth Championship|1985]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Toulon Tournament]] Best Goalkeeper: [[1987 Toulon Tournament|1987]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toulon.html|title=Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon: Official Player Awards|publisher=rsssf|date=12 October 2022|accessdate=12 October 2022}}</ref>
* [[Bola de Prata (Brazil)|Bola de Prata]]: 1987, 1988
* [[Bola de Ouro]]: 1988
* [[FIFA XI]]: 1998<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|date=17 November 2015}}; at RSSSF</ref>
* [[Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame]]
* Man of the Match: [[2000 UEFA Cup final]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Association football|Brazil}}
{{Authority control}}
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|List of footballers with 100 or more caps]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/mens/staff/claudio-taffarel Profile] at the Liverpool F.C. website
* {{TFF player}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}

{{navboxes
| title=Brazil squads
| bg = #FEDF00
| fg = #009B3A
| bordercolor = #002776
| list1=
{{Brazil football squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{Brazil squad 1989 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1991 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1993 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1995 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1997 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| bordercolor = blue
| list =
{{Bola de Ouro}}
{{1987 Bola de Prata}}
{{1988 Bola de Prata}}
{{Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Galatasaray SK managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taffarel, Claudio}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Brazilian Pentecostals]]
[[Category:Brazilian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Brazilian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:People from Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:Footballers from Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:Brazilian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:SC Internacional players]]
[[Category:Parma Calcio 1913 players]]
[[Category:AC Reggiana 1919 players]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. footballers]]
[[Category:Clube Atlético Mineiro players]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Brazil men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Brazil]]
[[Category:Brazil men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1989 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1991 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1993 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1995 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1997 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil]]
[[Category:Pan American Games footballers for Brazil]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in football]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Brazil]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Copa América–winning players]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Brazilian football managers]]
[[Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches]]
[[Category:Brazil national football team non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. (football) non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. (football) managers]]
[[Category:Süper Lig managers]]
[[Category:Brazilian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:20th-century Brazilian sportsmen]]