Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira[1] (19 February 1954 – 4 December 2011), simply known asSócrates[ˈsɔkɾat͡ʃis], was a Brazilianfootballer who played as amidfielder. Hismedical degree and his political awareness, combined with style and quality of his play, earned him the nickname "Doctor Socrates". Easily recognizable for his beard and headband, Sócrates became the "symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters".[3] In 1983, he was namedSouth American Footballer of the Year. In 2004, he was named byPelé in theFIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.[4] He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time.[5][6][7]
Sócrates was born inBelém do Pará.[3] He began playing football professionally in 1974 forBotafogo-SP inRibeirão Preto, but spent the majority of his career (1978 to 1984) withCorinthians, scoring 41 goals in 59 BrazilianSérie A games, and 172 goals in 297 matches in total.[13]
In1984–85, aged 30, Sócrates had his first experience abroad, playing in ItalianSerie A withFiorentina. He returned to his country after that sole season, representingFlamengo,Santos and former club Botafogo-SP, and retiring in 1989.[13] During his period in Flamengo, he played 20 games, scoring 5 goals and wonCampeonato Carioca:1986. In 2004, more than a decade after retiring, 50-year-old Sócrates agreed to a one-month player-coaching deal withGarforth Town of theNorthern Counties East Football League in England.[14] He made his only appearance for the club on 20 November, againstTadcaster Albion, coming on as asubstitute twelve minutes from time.[15][16]
Sócrates was capped 60 times forBrazil between May 1979 and June 1986, scoring 22 goals.[15] Hecaptained the national team at the1982 FIFA World Cup, and also appeared in the1986 World Cup inMexico.[13] In the latter edition, he scored twice, starting with the game's only goal againstSpain in the group stage.[17] he added another in theround-of-16 4–0 win overPoland, shooting hispenalty kick without running; in the following game, againstFrance, he tried to convert it in the same fashion, but had hisshootout attempt saved bygoalkeeperJoël Bats; France ultimately progressed to the semi-finals.[18] Sócrates also represented his country at the1979 and1983 Copa América tournaments. In the latter he appeared in only one game, the second leg ofthe final againstUruguay (1–1 home draw, 3-1 aggregate loss).[19]
Panel about Brazilian footballer Sócrates (1954–2011), who played in a friendly for Corinthian-Corinthians in 1988, at the club's home ground at King George's Field in Tolworth, Surrey.
A formercentre-forward, who later made a name for himself as amidfielder, playing in either anattacking orcentral midfield role, Sócrates was an elegant, talented, and technicalplaymaker, known for his great through passes, precise long balls, link-up play, and his vision on the field, as well as his physical strength; he was also a two-footed player. While he was mainly known for his ability to orchestrate attacking plays, he was a prolific goal scorer himself, courtesy of his powerful and accurate shot with his right foot, and his ability to make attacking runs into the area from behind. He was also an accurate penalty taker, while his height, heading ability, and elevation allowed him to excel in the air. He was also known, however, for often not taking part in his teammates' celebrations whenever he scored a goal. Although he was not the quickest of players, and preferred to play the game at a slower tempo, he possessed good acceleration. His intelligence and ability to read the game were also highly valued, and his signature move was the blind or "no-look" back-heel pass.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Sócrates was a key member of the Brazil national team of the early to mid-1980s;Jonathan Wilson said that "Socrates was the brain of Brazil. He might not quite have had the flair ofZico, but he was the central intelligence".[27] Former coach at Fiorentina,Giancarlo De Sisti, said: "Socrates was a very intelligent man, he had great class."[28] In addition to his playing ability and intelligence, he was known for his correct behaviour and charismatic presence on the pitch, as well as his leadership in the dressing room, which made him a respected figure among his teammates, while his height, headband, hairstyle, and beard made him a highly recognisable figure on the pitch. He also often stood out for his outspokenness, humour, eccentric personality, his strong, rebellious character, and hisleft-wing political views, often speaking out against political issues in his home-country. He was equally notorious for not being particularly hard-working or disciplined in his personal life, as he smoked and drank large quantities of beer, once commenting: "I am an anti-athlete. I cannot deny myself certain lapses from the strict regime of a sportsman. You have to take me as I am."[21][23][29][30]
Sócrates was the firstborn child of Raimundo and Guiomar Vieira. He was born in Belém, Pará, and relocated with his family to Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, in January 1960 after his father Raimundo earned an important position as revenue supervisor. This job earned Sócrates' father the status of a small-town hero in Igarapé-Açu, where the family lived at the time. His father's new salary allowed Sócrates to attend the best school in Ribeirão Preto, Colégio Marista. In a biography written by the journalist Tom Cardoso, it is revealed that the small library Sócrates' father had built in his home, containing philosophy books and other works, came under threat as of the1964 Brazilian coup d'état. Sócrates watched his father rid himself of books that he so loved. He recalled: "In 1964, I saw my father tear many books, because of the coup d'état. I thought that was absurd, because the library was the thing he liked best. That was when I felt that something was not right. But I only understood much later, in college." At age 10, Sócrates was exposed to the repercussions of the military dictatorship's censorship. His childhood was marked by this event which he came to comprehend as an adult later in life.[31][32]
Sócrates married four times, divorced three times, and died in his fourth marriage. He had six children. He was a columnist for a number of newspapers and magazines, writing not only about sports, but also politics and economics. He frequently appeared on Brazilian TV programmes as a football pundit. At the time of his death, Sócrates was writing a fictional book about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.[33] Sócrates was aphysician, a rare achievement for a professional footballer (he held a bachelor's degree in medicine from theFaculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, the medical school of theUniversity of São Paulo).[34] Even rarer is the fact that he earned the degree while concurrently playing professionalfootball. After retiring as a player, he practised medicine inRibeirão Preto.[3] He was also noted for being an intellectual, a heavy drinker and a smoker.[18]
Brazilian soccer player Mr. Socrates participating in the political movement for democracy in Brazil - 1984
During his time at Corinthians, Sócrates co-founded theCorinthians Democracy movement, in opposition to the then-rulingBrazilian military government.[35] Sócrates and his teammates protested against the regime's treatment of footballers, and showed support to the wider movement fordemocratisation by wearing shirts with "Democracia" written on them during games.[36] Corinthians Democracy was meant to be the voice of Brazilian sport in the struggle to re-democratize the country. Sócrates and his teammates believed they could model how society was supposed to function by making all of the club's decisions through voting. It was believed that debate, swapping ideas, and voting could function as an example for the general public.[37]
On 16 April 1984, Sócrates spoke out in support ofDiretas Já (Free Elections Now), a popular movement that called for direct presidential elections.[38] InSocrates and the Corinthians' Democracy,[39]Juca Kfouri, a Brazilian journalist, recalls how "Socrates took the risk of saying, in front of two million people gathered on the cathedral square, that if direct presidential elections weren't accepted by the regime, he'd go play in Italy."[40] By hinging his transfer abroad on the outcome of a constitutional amendment, Socrates' political legacy began to form. His denunciation of the military dictatorship and fight to redemocratize Brazil extended his legacy beyond the football field. Sócrates stated that three of his childhood heroes wereFidel Castro,Che Guevara, andJohn Lennon.[41] He was also a member of theBrazil Workers' Party,[42] and said that "Lula was good" but that he had "earned a mere seven or so out of ten" for his way of governing Brazil.[43]
In 2011, Sócrates' health started to deteriorate. His use of alcohol has been linked to this.[44][45] On 19 August 2011, he was admitted to the intensive care unit of theAlbert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo withgastrointestinal bleeding secondary toportal hypertension and was discharged nine days later.[46] The following month he spent 17 days in hospital with a liver ailment.[47] On 1 December 2011, he was hospitalised with food poisoning which developed intoseptic shock and he was put on life support.[48] He died on 4 December 2011 at the age of 57.[49] He was survived by his wife and six children.[50] Brazilian presidentDilma Rousseff paid tribute, saying Brazil had lost "one of its most cherished sons". She added: "On the field, with his talent and sophisticated touches, he was a genius. Off the pitch [...] he was active politically, concerned with his people and his country."[51]
Corinthians fans held up signs in tribute and there was a moment of silence before the team's match against Palmeiras (a 0–0 draw which secured Corinthians their first Brazilian title for six years).[51] The result matched a professed desire of Sócrates, who had once stated his wish "to die on a Sunday when Corinthians won a trophy".[52] Fiorentina held a minute's silence before their league match againstRoma, and the players wore black armbands in tribute.[51] Former Brazil strikerRonaldo tweeted: "Sad start to the day. Rest in peace Dr. Socrates."[51] Zico called him "unique".[51] Italy'sPaolo Rossi described the death as "a piece of our history that's broken off and gone away".[51] Garforth chairman Simon Clifford paid tribute to the "great grace" of Sócrates.[2]
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