| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roberto Monteiro | ||
| Date of birth | (1949-07-24)July 24, 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Belo Horizonte,Brazil | ||
| Date of death | May 13, 1976(1976-05-13) (aged 26) | ||
| Place of death | Belo Horizonte,Brazil | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| América-MG | |||
| 1969–1976 | Cruzeiro | 90 | (24) |
| International career | |||
| 1975 | Brazil | 6 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Roberto Monteiro, commonly known by the nicknameRoberto Batata (July 24, 1949 – May 13, 1976), was an association footballforward who played for severalCampeonato Brasileiro Série A clubCruzeiro and for theBrazil national team.[1]
Batata's nickname, meaningRoberto Potato, was given by the head coachJoão Crispim, because of his love forFrench fries (known in Brazil asbatata frita).[2]
Born inBelo Horizonte, capital of the state ofMinas Gerais, Roberto Batata started his professional career playing forAmérica-MG, leaving the club to joinCruzeiro in 1969.[1] Defending Cruzeiro, he won theCampeonato Mineiro in 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974 and in 1975, and theCopa Libertadores in1976.[1] He played 90Série A games for his club, scoring 24 goals.[3] Including other competition games, he played 281 games for Cruzeiro, and scored 110 goals.[2]
Roberto Batata played sixCopa América games in1975, scoring three goals.[4] His first game was played on July 31, againstVenezuela.[4] He scored his first two goals for the national team against that same country, on August 13.[4] His third goal was scored on September 30, againstPeru.[4] His last game for the national team was played on October 4, against Peru.[4]
Batata died on May 13, 1976, in Belo Horizonte, after a car crash atRodovia Fernão Dias when he was traveling toTrês Corações to visit his wife Denize and his eleven-month son Leonardo.[2] The accident happened one day after he played his last game for Cruzeiro, in which he helped his team beatAlianza Lima of Peru 4–0, scoring one of the goals.[2]
Roberto Batata is buried in Cemitério Bonfim - Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
