Carlos Mozer

Mozer in 2005
Personal information
Full name	José Carlos Nepomuceno Mozer[1]
Date of birth	(1960-09-19) 19 September 1960 (age 63)[1]
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil[1]
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980–1987	Flamengo	89	(8)
1987–1989	Benfica	61	(8)
1989–1992	Marseille	89	(4)
1992–1995	Benfica	59	(3)
1995–1996	Kashima Antlers	17	(0)
Total		315	(23)
International career
1983–1994	Brazil	32	(0)
Managerial career
2006–2008	Interclube
2009	Raja Casablanca
2011	Naval
2011–2012	Portimonense
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José Carlos Nepomuceno Mozer (born 19 September 1960) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central defender, and is a manager.

In his career, he was mainly associated with Benfica in Portugal, which he represented in two separate spells. He also spent three years with French club Marseille.

Mozer appeared for Brazil at the 1990 World Cup.

Club career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Mozer starting playing for local Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, which he helped win the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, both in 1981.^[2] After well more than 100 official appearances he left for Portugal and S.L. Benfica, being an undisputed starter from the beginning and helping the club to the Primeira Liga in 1988–89 while scoring more than ten overall goals in his first stint; also that season, he partnered compatriot Ricardo Gomes in the heart of the defence.^[3]

Mozer was sold to Olympique de Marseille in 1989 for a transfer fee of 25 million francs, with his agent Manuel Barbosa reportedly securing a commission of up to 15%.^[4] He faced his former side in the campaign's European Cup semifinals, a 2–2 controversial aggregate exit – again, he rarely missed a game, and helped L'OM to three consecutive Ligue 1 conquests.^[5]

Subsequently, the 32-year-old Mozer returned to Benfica, where he still managed to amass more than 75 overall appearances until his departure in 1995, after which he saw out his career in Japan at Kashima Antlers. He was the first player to score in penalty shootouts in two European Cup finals, in 1988 and 1991.

After working some years as a sports commentator for Sport TV – he resided in Portugal^[6]– Mozer eventually became a manager. On 24 October 2006 he signed a two-year contract with Angolan club G.D. Interclube,^[7] leading them to the 2007 Girabola title^[8][9] but being dismissed from his post in April 2008 after a 0–3 away defeat against Zamalek SC in the second round of the CAF Champions League.^[10]

On 6 July 2009, Mozer agreed to a one-year deal with Raja Casablanca of Morocco,^[11] being sacked shortly after. In December 2010 he returned to Portugal, becoming Associação Naval 1º de Maio's third coach in only 14 matches,^[12] with the Figueira da Foz team eventually ranking last in the league; in early November 2011 he was appointed at the other side that had suffered top-level relegation, Portimonense SC.^[13]

International career

Mozer played 32 times for Brazil, over roughly ten years. After missing the 1986 FIFA World Cup through injury, he was picked for the 1990 edition in Italy; he was booked in the first two group stage matches (both wins), and did not appear in the round of 16 against Argentina, a 0–1 elimination.

Originally selected for the 1994 World Cup as well, Mozer was diagnosed with jaundice, left out of the squad and replaced with Aldair.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

^[15][16]

International

Honours

Player

Flamengo

• Campeonato Carioca: 1981, 1986
• Copa Libertadores: 1981
• Intercontinental Cup: 1981
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1982, 1983

Benfica^[17]

• Primeira Liga: 1988–89, 1993–94
• Taça de Portugal: 1992–93; Runner-up 1988–89
• European Cup runner-up: 1987–88

Marseille^[5]

• Ligue 1: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92
• Coupe de France runner-up: 1990–91
• European Cup runner-up: 1990–91

Kashima Antlers

• J1 League: 1996

Manager

Interclube

• Girabola: 2007^[8]