| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronaldo Soares Giovanelli | ||
| Date of birth | (1967-11-20)20 November 1967 (age 57) | ||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1979–1986 | Corinthians | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1998 | Corinthians | 602 | (0) |
| 1998 | Fluminense | 9 | (0) |
| 1999 | Internacional-SP | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Cruzeiro | ||
| 2000–2001 | Portuguesa | 2 | (0) |
| 2001 | Gama | 26 | (0) |
| 2002 | Ponte Preta | 0 | (0) |
| 2003 | Portuguesa Santista | ||
| 2003 | ABC | ||
| 2004 | Metropolitano | ||
| 2004–2005 | Portuguesa Santista | ||
| International career | |||
| 1993 | Brazil | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ronaldo Soares Giovanelli (born 20 November 1967) is a Brazilianfootball pundit and formergoalkeeper. He was a long-standing player ofCorinthians in the late 1980s and into the 1990s.
Ronaldo began his career in 1979. Originally a forward, he was intimidated by the large pool of youths fighting for attacking positions that day and decided to try his luck as a goalkeeper, as he had already brought gloves with him. After impressing at junior levels, Ronaldo was eventually brought to the first team originally as a backup. He made his professional debut in a goalless friendly againstSão José EC in 1988. During that year'sCampeonato Paulista, he saved apenalty kick fromDarío Pereyra inthe derby againstSão Paulo FC, cementing his place as the starting goalkeeper for the team.[2]
As a player, Ronaldo was notorious for his physicality and for not being afraid of charging an incoming attacker.[3]
A fundamental player in the1990 Corinthians'Campeonato Brasileiro title win, and in1994's defeat in the finals againstSE Palmeiras, Ronaldo earned theBola de Plata award fromPlacar magazine for best goalkeeper in both of these years. He left the club in 1998, by the order of then coachVanderlei Luxemburgo, who sought to "renew" the club after the near relegation in1997.[4] Ronaldo played 602 times for Corinthians, being the team's third most capped player.[5]
After being released by Corinthians, he played for many other clubs with nowhere near the success he enjoyed with Corinthians. He was a part of theFluminense squad that was relegated fromSérie B toSérie C in1998. He retired from professional football in 2005.
While still playing for Corinthians, Ronaldo was the lead singer of the band Ronaldo e os Impedidos ("Ronaldo and the Offsiders"). After releasing two records, the band broke up.[6] They returned in 2010 for the Corinthians' 100th anniversary festivities, and have been active since, playing both original music and covering songs from bands such asMegadeth, and artists likeRaul Seixas andElvis Presley.[7] Ronaldo is also a radio host forKiss FM.[8]
Ronaldo is married and a father of two sons.
He suffers fromalopecia areata, which caused him to lose most of his hair.[9]
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
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