Roberto Rivelino

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Rivellino
Personal information
Full name	Roberto Rivellino
Date of birth	January 1, 1946 (1946-01-01) (age 62)
Place of birth	São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth clubs
1962 1963-1965	Palmeiras Corinthians
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1965-1974 1974-1978 1978-1981	Corinthians Fluminense Al-Hilal	471 (141) 158 (53)
National team
1965-1978	Brazil	122 (43)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Roberto Rivellino (born January 1, 1946 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian football player. Native of Macchiagodena (Isernia), he was famous for his extremely potent left-foot shot, thunderous long-range free kicks, excellent long passes, quick thinking, distinct way of handling the ball and large moustache. He also invented a football move called the "Elastico", also known as "flip flap", famously copied by Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Christiano Ronaldo in recent years. He is widely regarded as one of the most graceful footballers ever, and is usually ranked as the 4th best ever Brazilian, after Pelé, Garrincha and Zico, as well as one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen. He is, for many footbal experts, the greatest player in Corinthians and Fluminense history.

Rivellino started as a futsal player at Clube Atletico Indiano, São Paulo. After that he tried his luck with their biggest rival, Corinthians, where he got nicknamed "O Rei de Parque" (King of the Park). Unfortunately for him, when he played for Corinthians, it were in one of the troubled eras of their history in São Paulo League. After losing the 1974 São Paulo State championship to Corinthians' arch-rivals, Palmeiras, Rivellino was ostracised 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 for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia; he retired from professional football in 1981.

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 the 1970 FIFA World Cup, scoring 3 goals, including the powerful free-kick against Czechoslovakia, which earned him the nickname "Patada Atómica" (Atomic Kick) by Mexican fans. Rivellino also played in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, although with less success (4th and 3rd places respectively).

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

Rivellino further represented Brazil in the 1989 edition of the World Cup of Masters, scoring in the final against Uruguay.

Rivellino was one of the players named by Pelé in 2004 as the 125 Greatest Living Footballers.

Rivellino is unofficially credited with scoring the fastest goal in football history when he supposedly scored a goal direct from the kick-off after noticing the opposition goalkeeper on his knees finishing off pre-match prayers. ^[1]

[edit] External links

• Rivellino Sport Center
• Profile from Rivellino Sport Center
• Profile from Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol
• IMNO Interviews Rivelino
• Youtube: Rivelino teaches his son the elastico or flip-flap
• [1]

v • d • e Brazil squad - 1970 FIFA World Cup Winners (3rd Title) 1 Félix • 2 Brito • 3 Piazza • 4 Carlos Alberto • 5 Clodoaldo • 6 Marco Antônio • 7 Jairzinho • 8 Gérson • 9 Tostão • 10 Pelé • 11 Rivelino • 12 Ado • 13 Roberto • 14 Baldocchi • 15 Fontana • 16 Everaldo • 17 Joel • 18 Paulo César • 19 Edu • 20 Dario • 21 Zé Maria • 22 Leão • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place 1 Leão • 2 Luís Pereira • 3 Marinho Peres • 4 Zé Maria • 5 Piazza • 6 Marinho Chagas • 7 Jairzinho • 8 Leivinha • 9 César • 10 Rivelino • 11 Paulo César • 12 Renato • 13 Valdomiro • 14 Nelinho • 15 Alfredo • 16 Marco Antônio • 17 Carpegiani • 18 Ademir da Guia • 19 Mirandinha • 20 Edu • 21 Dirceu • 22 Valdir Peres • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad - 1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place 1 Leão • 2 Toninho • 3 Oscar • 4 Amaral • 5 Toninho Cerezo • 6 Edinho • 7 Zé Sérgio • 8 Zico • 9 Reinaldo • 10 Rivelino • 11 Dirceu • 12 Carlos • 13 Nelinho • 14 Abel • 15 Polozzi • 16 Rodrigues Neto • 17 Batista • 18 Gil • 19 Jorge Mendonça • 20 Roberto Dinamite • 21 Chicão • 22 Valdir Peres • Coach: Coutinho