| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricardo Rogério de Brito | ||
| Date of birth | (1961-11-22)November 22, 1961 (age 63) | ||
| Place of birth | Lavras, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980 | Fabril | ||
| 1981–1987 | Botafogo | 62 | (7) |
| 1987–1988 | Atlético Madrid | 35 | (6) |
| 1988–1992 | Napoli | 93 | (9) |
| 1992–1994 | Atalanta | 40 | (2) |
| 1994–1996 | São Paulo | 31 | (1) |
| 1996 | Volta Redonda | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 1983–1990 | Brazil | 39 | (6) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007 | Tupynambás | ||
| 2008 | América-MG | ||
| 2010 | Nacional-AM | ||
| 2011 | Central | ||
| 2017 | Rio Negro | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 29, 2008 ‡ National team caps and goals as of August 29, 2008 | |||
Ricardo Rogério de Brito, better known by his nicknameAlemão (born November 22, 1961),[1] is a former Brazilian professionalfootballer who played as adefensive midfielder.[2] His nickname meansGerman in thePortuguese language. A tenacious and physical yet technically gifted player, Alemão was a strong, consistent, hard-working, and versatile midfielder, who excelled in a holding role as either a defensive midfielder ordeep-lying playmaker, due to his tactical intelligence, energy, tackling, and his ability to read the game, as well as his capacity to start attacking plays after winning back possession.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
The nickname, "Alemão" ("the German"), was attributed to his blond hair and fair complexion, making him similar in appearance to the manyGerman immigrants in Brazil.[8]
Born inLavras,Minas Gerais,[1] Alemão started his career playing for a Minas Gerais' club calledFabril in 1980.[9] In 1981, he moved toBotafogo, ofRio de Janeiro, where he stayed until 1987, winning theBola de Prata award ofPlacar Magazine in 1985.[9] In 1987, and in 1988, he played forAtlético Madrid, of Spain,[10] scoring six goals in 35 games,[11] and won theEFE Trophy as best South American player and theLa Liga Foreign Player of the Year in 1988.[9] Between 1988, and 1992, he played 93 games and scored nine goals forNapoli of Italy,[11] playing alongside star offensive players likeDiego Maradona andCareca as a defensive foil.[10] With Napoli, he won theUEFA Cup in 1989, scoring a goal in the final, followed by theSerie A title and theSupercoppa Italiana in 1990.[12] In 1992, he signed withAtalanta of Italy, scoring two goals in 40 games, until he left the club in 1994.[11] In 1994, he returned to Brazil, playing 77 games and scoring two goals forSão Paulo,[2] winning two international titles with the club in 1994, theCopa CONMEBOL, and theRecopa Sudamericana;[9] he remained with the club until 1996, when he moved toVolta Redonda and retired from football.[9]
Alemão was capped 39 times for theBrazil national football team, between June 1983, and June 1990, scoring six goals, and he was part of the national team squad for the1986 FIFA World Cup and the1990 FIFA World Cup.[2][13] He was also part of the Brazilian team that won the1989 Copa América. He played his last game for the Brazil national team on June 24, 1990, when his team was defeated byArgentina in the second round of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.[2]
Alemão started his managerial career in 2007, atTupynambás, then in 2008, he was hired as manager ofAmérica Mineiro, which was, on that season, on second division of theMinas Gerais State League,[14][15] but was promoted to thefirst level under his management.[2]
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