Nílton Santos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography

Nílton dos Santos (Script error: No such module "IPA".; 16 May 1925 – 27 November 2013) was a Brazilian footballer who primarily played as a wingback.[1] At international level, he was a member of the Brazil squads that won the 1958 and 1962 World Cups.

Regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, Nílton Santos is a member of the World Team of the 20th Century, and was named by Pelé one of the top 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA Awards ceremony in 2004.[2] In 2009, he was the recipient of the Golden Foot Legends Award.[3] He was unrelated to his frequent defensive partner Djalma Santos.

Club career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a pioneering attacking left back, being one of the first full backs to make runs down the wing to participate in the offensive game. Once he said: "I have never envied today's players the money but the freedom they have, to go forward".[4] He played all his professional club career for Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas.

He was called "The Encyclopedia" because of his knowledge of the sport of football. He was world class both at defending and attacking and possessed very good technique.

International career

Nílton was a key player in defence during the 1954, 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals (he was also in the Brazilian squad for the 1950 finals, but made no appearances) and became famous for scoring a goal in the 1958 tournament when Brazil played Austria. Dribbling his way through the whole field, he finished with a shot that drove his coach Vicente Feola crazy (he kept on insisting for Nílton to retreat to the defensive field, but was ignored until the goal was scored).[5]

Nílton Santos played for only two teams in his professional career; Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and the Brazil national team collecting 75 caps and scoring 3 goals.[6]

Death

Santos died of a lung infection on 27 November 2013, aged 88, in Rio de Janeiro.[7] He was not only the last surviving member of the Brazil 1950 FIFA World Cup squad, but also the fourth 1958 World Cup champion to die in a few months, after Djalma Santos died in July 2013, Gilmar and De Sordi both in August 2013 and all of them within a year of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in their native Brazil.

Legacy

Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas's home, and 2016 Summer Olympics host stadium, the Estádio Olímpico Nílton Santos, also called Engenhão, is named after him.

Honours

Botafogo

Rio de Janeiro State Team

Brazil

Individual

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Retrieved on 26 November 2015
  9. ↑ IFFHS' Century Elections
  10. ↑ "The Best of The Best" Retrieved on 17 November 2015

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

World Cup-winners status
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Oldest living player
16 June – 27 November 2013 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:1958 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament Template:1960 World Soccer World XI Template:1961 World Soccer World XI Template:World Team of the 20th Century Template:South American Team of the 20th Century Template:IFFHS Men's South American Team of the 20th Century Template:FIFA 100 Template:Golden Foot Legends Award Template:Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame Template:Botafogo FR Hall of FameScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:Brazil squad 1949 South American Championship Template:Brazil Squad 1950 World Cup Template:Brazil squad 1953 South American Championship Template:Brazil Squad 1954 World Cup Template:Brazil squad 1957 South American Championship Template:Brazil Squad 1958 World Cup Template:Brazil squad 1959 South American Championship (Argentina) Template:Brazil Squad 1962 World CupScript error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Nílton_Santos&oldid=5042010"