 Saldanha in 1973 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Alves Jobin Saldanha | ||
| Date of birth | (1917-07-03)3 July 1917 | ||
| Place of birth | Alegrete, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 12 July 1990(1990-07-12) (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | Rome, Italy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Botafogo | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1957–1959 | Botafogo | ||
| 1969–1970 | Brazil | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
João Alves Jobin Saldanha (3 July 1917 – 12 July 1990)[1] was a Brazilianjournalist andfootball manager.[2] He coached theBrazil national football team during the South American Qualifying to the1970 FIFA World Cup. NicknamedJoão Sem Medo (Fearless João) byNelson Rodrigues, Saldanha played forBotafogo. He then started a career in journalism and became one of Brazil's most prolific sports columnists. He often criticised players, managers and teams, and was a member of then-illegalBrazilian Communist Party (Partido Comunista Brasileiro – PCB).[3]
In 1957, Botafogo appointed him as their coach, despite his lack of managerial experience. The club won the Rio state championship that season,[3] but Saldanha resigned from the club in 1959.[4] In 1969, he was invited to take charge of thenational team, and led them to a perfect 6-0 record. It is alleged thatfootball federation presidentJoão Havelange appointed him in the hope that journalists would be less critical of the national team if one of their own was in charge.[3]
Saldanha was publicly criticised byDorival Yustrich, coach ofFlamengo. Saldanha responded by confronting him while brandishing a revolver. Saldanha was said to have fallen out of favour because of his unwillingness to select players who were personal favourites of PresidentEmílio Garrastazu Médici, in particular strikerDario (Brazil was then a military dictatorship).[3] It is reported that Saldanha, after being told that President Médici would be pleased to see Dario in the team, answered, "well, I also have some suggestions to give in the President's ministry choices". The last straw came when the assistant manager resigned, saying that Saldanha was impossible to work with.[3]
Afterwards, Saldanha went back to his journalistic career, even covering the 1970 and 1974 World Cups forTV Globo[5][6]and the 1986 and 1990 World Cups forTV Manchete.[7][8] The day after commenting on the second round match between Italy and Argentina, Saldanha was admitted into theSant'Eugenio Hospital, in Rome, with respiratory problems, and died eight days later.[7]
Botafogo
Starting from 2004, the winners of the second turn of theCampeonato Brasileiro Série A, are awarded with the "Troféu João Saldanha", given by the Brazilian newspaperLance!.[9]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
