 Neto in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Ferreira Neto | ||
| Date of birth | (1966-09-09)9 September 1966 (age 59) | ||
| Place of birth | Santo Antônio de Posse, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft8+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder,Second striker,Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1979–1980 | Ponte Preta | ||
| 1980–1983 | Guarani | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1986 | Guarani | 73 | (59) |
| 1986 | Bangu | 9 | (1) |
| 1987 | São Paulo | 33 | (7) |
| 1988 | Guarani | 44 | (15) |
| 1989 | Palmeiras | 25 | (9) |
| 1989–1993 | Corinthians | 227 | (120) |
| 1993 | Millonarios | 9 | (5) |
| 1994 | Atlético Mineiro | 9 | (2) |
| 1994 | Santos | 18 | (3) |
| 1995 | Matsubara | 10 | (10) |
| 1995 | Guarani | 13 | (2) |
| 1996 | Araçatuba | 13 | (2) |
| 1996–1997 | Corinthians | 19 | (1) |
| 1997 | Osan | 22 | (5) |
| 1998–1999 | Etti Jundiaí | 11 | (6) |
| 1999 | Deportivo Italchacao | 5 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 1983 | Brazil U23 | 9 | (0) |
| 1988–1993 | Brazil | 16 | (7) |
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
José Ferreira Neto (born 9 September 1966), commonly known asCraque Neto or simplyNeto, is a Brazilian former professionalfootballer and currentsports broadcaster. After retiring from the game he has been active in the media. He's been working forBandeirantes since 1999, and currently presentsOs Donos da Bola.
Anattacking midfielder, he played 470 games and scored 184 goals in his entire career.
Neto was born inSanto Antônio de Posse, a small town nearCampinas, in theState of São Paulo.
Neto began his football career very early in life, playing for Campinas-based teamGuarani at youth level, before being promoted to the senior side. In the mid-1980s he also played forBangu (inRio de Janeiro) andSão Paulo, before returning to Guarani once again. In 1988, he brought more attention upon himself by scoring a goal from a bicycle-kick in theSão Paulo State Championship finals againstCorinthians.
In 1989 Neto played forPalmeiras and was subsequently transferred to Corinthians, where he remained for a good part of his career, wearing club's the number 10 shirt, and becoming an idol with the club's fans in the beginning of the nineties. With his precise passing game and strong personality, he was the key player during the 1990National Championship in Brazil, when Corinthians won the finals against São Paulo.
After almost five years and 114 goals for Corinthians, his time with the club came to a close. However, even todayNeto is remembered as one of the most iconic players in the club's history. After his spell with Corinthians, he played for many other clubs, in Brazil (Araçatuba,Atlético Mineiro,Matsubara,Santos) and abroad (Millonarios of Colombia). He is one of the few players to have played for all four major teams in the state of São Paulo.
Neto's career was always plagued by weight problems and disagreements with referees and club managers, due to his strong character. His most famous episode was when he spat in referee José Aparecido de Oliveira's face, earning himself a 4-month suspension from the games. Neto says this is the only regrettable thing he did in his career.[1]
Neto retired from professional football at the end of the nineties.
Neto was a member of theBrazilian under-23 team that won a bronze medal at the1983 Pan American Games. Following his performances in the São Paulo State Championship throughout the season, in 1988, Neto was named to theBrazil national team that went toSeoul to play in theSummer Olympic Games. In the final against theSoviet Union, Neto helped set upRomário's opening goal of the match from a corner-kick, however, the Soviets came from behind to defeat Brazil 2–1 in extra-time to capture the gold medal. Neto was later also included in theBrazilian squad that finished second in the1991 Copa América in Chile; under managerFalcão, he was named the team'scaptain, and wore thenumber 10 shirt throughout the tournament. He scored his only goal of the competition from a penalty in a 2–1 win overBolivia on 9 July, in the first round group stage.[2][3] In total, he made 26 appearances for Brazil at international level between 1988 and 1993, scoring 7 goals; 9 of his appearances came with the Olympic youth side, and 16 with the senior team, including one appearance and one goal in an unofficial friendly.
A set-piece specialist, in Brazil Neto is commonly considered to be one of the greatestfree kick takers ever,[4][5] and one of the best Brazilian players of the early 1990s.[5] A versatilemidfielder, he was capable of playing in several offensive midfield positions, but was usually deployed as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards, due to his technique, range of passing, and excellentplaymaking skills; he was also occasionally used as asecond striker or as awinger. In addition to being known for his accuracy from dead ball situations, he was also noted for his precise long passing, and his ability to act as a leader for his teammates on the field.
After the conclusion of his footballing career, Neto briefly served as the manager of Guarani.
He later became a commentator and sports pundit forTV Bandeirantes. Neto's simple way of speaking, and his blunt, "ogre-like" behavior have made him a famous broadcaster in Brazil.[6] Working alongside names such asJosé Luiz Datena andMilton Neves, Neto has, however, clashed against fellow sports journalists such asTiago Leifert and various footballers.[7]
The son of a former military policeman, Neto is a father of two children. After his retirement from professional football, Neto underwent agastric bypass surgery to help with his excess weight. The surgery was a success, and the footballer, who was once plagued by weight problems, has since ran in marathons.[8]
Brazil squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
