| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Fantoni | ||
| Date of birth | (1905-06-24)24 June 1905 | ||
| Place of birth | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | ||
| Date of death | 19 July 1982(1982-07-19) (aged 77) | ||
| Place of death | Belo Horizonte, Brazil | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1922–1931 | Palestra Itália-MG | 110 | (164) |
| 1931–1935 | Lazio | 113 | (39) |
| 1935–1938 | Palestra Itália-MG | 17 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1937 | Palestra Itália-MG | ||
| 1943–1944 | Cruzeiro | ||
| 1959 | Cruzeiro | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 February 2024 | |||
João Fantoni (24 June 1905 – 19 July 1982), better known asNinão orFantoni I, was a Brazilian professionalfootballer andmanager, who played as aforward.
One of the first great idols in the history of Cruzeiro EC, Ninão is one of the greatest goalscorers in the club's history, with 167 goals in 127 matches (1.41 per game). He was runner-up for the club in 1922, 1923 and 1924, and three-times champion in 1928, 1929 and 1930, being top scorer in these three editions, with emphasis on 1928 with 43 goals.[1] Some sources credit him with scoring 10 goals in a single match, against Alves Nogueira, a feat that would equal that ofDadá Maravilha in theSport Recife 14–0Santo Amaro match.[2]
Alongside his brother (Niginho), he was hired by the SS Lazio in 1931, remaining until 1934 when he returned to Brazil with the increase in political tension in Italy due to theAbyssinia Crisis. Ninão returned to Cruzeiro and ended his career in 1938. He was also a member of the club's board and coach on three occasions: 1937, 1943–1944, when he was state champion, and 1959.[3][4][5]
Ninão was inducted into the Cruzeiro EC Hall of Fame in 2012.[6]
Ninão is brother os also footballersNiginho (Leonídio Fantoni) andOrlando Fantoni, cousin ofNininho Fantoni, and father ofBenito Fantoni andFernando Fantoni.