Former Brazil national coach Tele Santana
has died at the age of 74.
Santana coached Brazil at the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals and also
led Sao Paulo to the Copa Libertadores in 1992 and 1993.
He had spent 28 days in hospital in Belo Horizonte, in the south-east of
the country, after being admitted complaining of an intestinal infection.
Santana's Brazilian teams at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and at the 1986
edition in Mexico were regarded as favourites for the title boasting the
mercurial talents of Zico and Socrates.
In particular, the 1982 side, which also included Junior, Cerezo and
Falcao, was considered one of the finest Brazilian teams ever to take
part in a World Cup.
But they were beaten 3-2 by eventual champions Italy in their final pool
game which denied them a place in the semi-finals with Paolo Rossi
grabbing all three goals.
As a player, Tele Santana spent most of his career at Fluminense.
He had been in precarious health since 1996 when he suffered a stroke
and in 2003, he had part of his left leg amputated.
Santana, born on June 26, 1931 in Itabirito, began his career as a
goalkeeper before becoming a left-winger.
His career as a club manager started in 1967, coaching Fluminense before
progressing to Atletico Mineiro, Gremio, Palmeiras, Al Ahly in Saudi
Arabia, Flamengo and Sao Paulo. In 1992 and 1993, he also led Sao Paulo
to the Intercontinental Cup. |
