Zico

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. 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.

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, he would leave this political assignment to face an even more challengeable 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 lead the most glorious period of the team history. Along with many other titles, in his first period at Flamengo he would lead the team to conquer the Copa Libertadores in 1981, the Intercontinental Cup in 1981, and three national titles, among several other titles. In the field, Zico has 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 would pass and kick with both legs and was an expert on free kicks.

In a multi-million dollar transaction, he was hired to play for Udinese, in Italy, from 1983 to 1985. Though leaving several Brazilian fans in sadness, he would lead Udinese to be among the best Italian teams. Unhappily, though, Udinese hasn’t conquered any important title and Zico would eventually come back to Brazil and Flamengo, sponsored by a group of companies.

In his return, he has suffered from a knee injury, which would interrupt his career for several months. After a very difficult time in the Template:Wc, when he, still injured, lost a penalty kick against France, he would come back in 1987, when he led Flamengo to its fourth national title. Overall, he scored 52 goals in 72 matches for Brazil, and also played in the 1978 and Template:Wcs.

After the first presidential election in many years, Brazilian new president Fernando Collor de Mello would appoint Zico as his ministry of sports. Zico has stayed at this political assignment for about a year and his most important contribution was a 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 would interrupt his political assignment to accept a much more rewarding job, both financially and in joy: 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 would fit very well with the Japanese culture. He has oriented the Japanese in all aspects of the team development and, as a player, would rapidly become a national idol after some of his career most fantastic goals and assistances. In his third and also very impacting commemorative farewell game, in 1994 he retired as a player and became the technical adviser of Kashima Antlers. As he would stay only part-time in Japan, in 1995 Zico founded his own football team in Brazil, called Clube de Futebol Zico (Zico Football Club).

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 Winning Eleven Asia's edition, since July of 2002 Zico is 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 have, as of February 2005, the best campaign among all Asian teams in the Preliminaries for Germany World Cup in 2006.

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

Flamengo: 568 - 765 - 0,74 / Udinese (ITA): 57 - 79 - 0,72 / Kashima Antlers (JAP): 54 - 88 - 0,61 / Brazilian soccer 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" (VEN) (1977), Best soccer player in the world chosen by "Guerin Esportivo" (ITA), "El Balón" (ESP), "El Mundo" (VEN) e "Placar" magazine (1981), Best soccer player of the Americas chosen by "El Gráfico" (ARG) and "El Mundo" (VEN) (1982), Major 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 best scorer of the Italian Championship, right after Platini, having played 6 matches less than the French player and in a much weaker team - Udinese (1983).

For more information, it is worthy paying a visit to Zico’s official website (http://www.ziconarede.com.br), where Zico usually writes and post pictures at his own weblog, which is a complete must for his fans worldwide.de:Zico he:זיקו ja:ジーコ pt:Zico sv:Zico