Brazilian footballer
Amarildo Tavares da Silveira, also known as Amarildo (Portuguese pronunciation: [amaˈɾiwdu]; born 29 July 1939), is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a striker. He is now the last surviving Brazilian player who participated in the 1962 World Cup final.
Club career
Amarildo began his career at in the youth teams at Goytacaz, being described at the best player Goytacaz have helped produce by Brazilian newspaper O Globo in 2017.[1] In 1958, Amarildo joined Flamengo, playing six times in the Torneio Extra in June 1958, scoring once.[2] Later that year, Amarildo joined Botafogo, scoring 136 goals in 201 appearances in all competitions, with his form at Botafogo gaining the attention of Brazil national team manager Aymoré Moreira.[3]
In 1963, Amarildo was the subject of a transfer away from Brazil. Everton chairman John Moores identified Amarildo as a potential signing, willing to pay a transfer fee of £200,000, however Football League restrictions on the signing of foreign players meant the transfer fell through.[4] Amarildo eventually signed for Italian club Milan, scoring 14 goals in 31 league appearances in his first season in Italy, as Milan finished third. Amarildo scored the only goal in the 1967 Coppa Italia Final against Padova; Milan's first Coppa Italia victory. Over the course of four seasons at Milan, Amarildo scored 32 league goals in 107 outings. In 1967, Amarildo signed for Fiorentina, winning Serie A with Fiorentina in his second season with the club, scoring six goals en route to the title. After three seasons at Fiorentina, Amarildo signed for Roma in 1970, scoring ten league goals in 32 appearances in the Italian capital. At the end of his career, Amarildo enjoyed a short stint at Vasco da Gama in the early 1970s, helping Vasco da Gama to win the 1974 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.[5]
International career
In April 1961, Amarildo made his debut for Brazil.[5]
At the 1962 FIFA World Cup, after an injury to Pelé in a group game against Czechoslovakia, Amarildo was chosen by Brazil manager Aymoré Moreira to replace him. On 6 June 1962, in Amarildo's first appearance in the tournament, he scored two second half goals in Brazil's final group game against Spain to ensure Brazil's qualification into the knockout phase. After retaining his place in the side for Brazil's quarter and semi-final victories, Amarildo started for Brazil in the final, equalising the scores at 1–1 in the 17th minute after Czechoslovakia had taken the lead two minutes earlier via Josef Masopust's strike. On 69 minutes, Amarildo assisted Zito's header to put Brazil 2–1 up, before Vavá sealed victory with twelve minutes remaining, confirming Brazil as World Cup winners.[6] Amarildo's exploits at the 1962 World Cup gained him the nickname o possesso (the possessed) by Brazilian journalist Nelson Rodrigues.[7]
In total, Amarildo appeared 22 times for Brazil, scoring seven goals.[5]
Coaching career
Following his retirement, Amarildo moved back to Italy, coaching Fiorentina's youth teams from 1974 to 1978. In 1978, Amarildo returned to another of his former clubs, Botafogo, coaching their youth teams until 1981. In 1981, Amarildo was named manager of Italian club Sorso, managing the club for two years. In 1984, Tunisian club Espérance de Tunis appointed Amarildo. In 1987, following his departure from Espérance, Amarildo was named manager of Italian side Rondinella. In 1988, after a year at Rondinella, Amarildo took up the reins at Turris for two years, before returning to Fiorentina as assistant manager to compatriot Sebastião Lazaroni. From 1991 to 1992, Amarildo had a brief spell at Pontedera as manager.[8]
On 24 January 2008, Amarildo was hired as America's head coach.[9] On 26 January 2008, in his first match as America's head coach, Volta Redonda beat América 4–2 at the Estádio Giulite Coutinho.[10] He was sacked by America's board after managing the team for just a week.[11]
Personal life
In September 2011, Amarildo was diagnosed with throat cancer, before announcing he was cancer-free nine months later.[7]
