Roberto Rivellino

Roberto Rivellino (b. January 1st, 1946 - São Paulo) is a Brazilian football player, famous for his extremely potent left foot shot, thunderous long-range free kicks and his large moustache.

Rivellino, as he is most commonly known in Brazil, started as a futsal player in Clube Indiano, São Paulo. His first professional club was Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, one of the most important Brazilian soccer teams. Unfortunately for him, when he played for Corinthians, the club was in one of the worst state of its history. After losing the 1974 São Paulo State championship to Corinthians' arch-rival, Palmeiras, Rivellino was ostracized by the majority of Corinthians' supporters, and left the club to play for Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro. Among the cariocas, Rivellino was also an idol, winning the Carioca State Championship in 1975 and 1976. Towards the end of the seventies, Rivellino went to play in Saudi Arabia; he retired in 1981.

He scored 165 goals for Corinthians.

Rivellino is also one of the players that have more than 100 caps for the Brazilian national team. He was a starter in most games in the successful Brazilian campaign in Football World Cup 1970, scoring 3 goals, including the powerful free-kick against Czechoslovakia, which earned him the nickname "patada atomica" by Mexican fans. Rivellino also played in the 1974 Germany World Cup and 1978 Argentina World Cup, although with less success (4th and 3rd places respectively).

After his professional retirement, Rivellino started a career as a soccer commentator and coach (he has directed the Japanese national team).

External Links

• IMNO Interviews Rivellino