94: What happened to Brazil's World Cup winners?
Monday 31 May 2010 11:55
They may not have boasted the household names of the 1982 squad, but who got the winner's medals?
Goalkeeper: CLAUDIO TAFFAREL
The penalty-saving keeper remained No.1 for another four years – and in France 98 against Holland, he stopped two penalties to put Brazil in another final. Retired in 2003 with 108 caps and is now goalkeeping coach at Galatasaray.
Right-back: JORGINHO
The rampaging right-back left Bayern Munich for Kashima Antlers in 1995, where he played alongside Zico and earned Best J-League Player kudos in 1996. Since 2006, he has worked as Dunga’s assistant coach of the national team – a mild-mannered wingman to the ill-tempered gaffer.
Centre-back: ALDAIR
The defensive rock became a hero at Roma, where he played for 13 years, and was known as ‘Pluto’ for his resemblance to Mickey Mouse’s dog. Retired in 2004, but returned to play for San Marino minnows Murata in 2007, aged 41.
Centre-back: MARCIO SANTOS
The nomadic centre-back – he played for 16 clubs – enjoyed a fine tournament and later owned a shopping mall in Brazil. Recovered from a life-threatening brain disease in 2008 and can now be seen playing in the odd charity match.
Left-back: BRANCO
Already rather portly when he scored the crucial winner against Holland in the quarters, he has gained even more timber since his retirement in 1998. Has worked as the Selecao youth-team co-ordinator and then Fluminense technical co-ordinator – from where he was fired in 2009.
Taffarel, Jorginho, Aldair, Mauro Silva, Marcio Santos, Branco;
Mazinho, Romario, Dunga, Bebeto, Zinho
Midfielder: MAURO SILVA
The Deportivo La Coruna ace who almost left the Rose Bowl as the World Cup final hero – his blast from outside the box hit the post, after Pagliuca’s blunder – now works in the real estate business in Sao Paulo and plays exhibition matches.
Midfielder: DUNGA
Nicknamed after one of Snow White’s seven dwarfs – Dunga is Portuguese for ‘Dopey’ – the much-maligned midfielder was a colossus in ’94. Brazil’s current coach also models his daughter’s ‘fashion creations’ from Brazil’s bench – to the horror of anyone watching.
Midfielder: MAZINHO
The Palmeiras right-back turned midfielder – who replaced Rai – retired in 2001 and went off the radar, returning only for a brief stint as Greek side Aris Thessaloniki’s coach in 2009. His son, Thiago Alcantara, has recently been called up to Barcelona’s first team.
Midfielder: ZINHO
Considered a symbol of Parreira’s lack of creativity, ‘the waxing machine’ – a nickname referring to Zinho’s habit of running in circles with the ball – was actually much better than that. One of Brazilian domestic football’s most decorated players, he is now coach of Miami FC.
Striker: ROMARIO
What didn’t happen next? If we take out the quest for the 1,000th goal, the women, the jail time, the polemics with Pele and the countless farewells, ‘Shorty’ merely became president of Rio’s America – the club of which his late father, Edevair, was a devoted fan.
Striker: BEBETO
After combining effectively with Romario – including the ‘rocking the baby’ celebration – Bebeto partnered Ronaldo at France 98 with similar results... until the infamous final debacle. Last year, the Romario partnership was resumed when he was asked to coach America.
Substitute: CAFU
Came on early in the ’94 final and went on to captain Brazil to victory in 2002 on the way to a Selecao appearance record.
Substitute: VIOLA
Hot-headed striker came on in extra-time but only won a handful of caps.
Manager: CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA
Since ’94 he’s coached, among others, Valencia, Fenerbahce, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil again, for the unsuccessful 2006 World Cup campaign. Now in his second spell in charge of South Africa, he will lead the hosts at this summer’s World Cup.
Feature: Boring, boring... Brazil?!?
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About Celso de Campos Jr
Celso de Campos Jr is a São Paulo born writer and journalist. Back in 2002, he wrote his first piece for
FourFourTwo - a small Brazilian Championship preview. Unsurprisingly, the team he picked as champion ended up in the relegation zone. With such awesome football knowledge, he has been
FourFourTwo's man in Brazil for the past eight years.