Bebeto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bebeto
Bebeto in 2010
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro
In office 1 February 2011 – 31 January 2023
Personal details
Born	José Roberto Gama de Oliveira (1964-02-16) 16 February 1964 (age 61) Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Political party	PODE (2017–present)
Other political affiliations	PDT (2009–13; 2016–17) SD (2013–16)
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Spouse	Denise de Oliveira ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	3, including Mattheus
Profession	Former football player and coach
Association football career Position(s) Forward Youth career 1981 Bahia 1981–1982 Vitória Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1982 Vitória (7) 1983–1989 Flamengo 80 (34) 1989–1992 Vasco da Gama 53 (28) 1992–1996 Deportivo La Coruña 131 (86) 1996 Flamengo 15 (7) 1996–1997 Sevilla 5 (0) 1997 Vitória 8 (8) 1997 Cruzeiro 1 (0) 1998–1999 Botafogo 17 (9) 1999 Toros Neza 8 (2) 2000 Kashima Antlers 8 (1) 2000 Vitória 3 (0) 2001 Vasco da Gama 8 (2) 2002 Al-Ittihad 5 (1) Total 342 (178) International career 1996 Brazil Olympic (O.P.) 6 (6) 1985–1998 Brazil 75 (38) Managerial career 2009–2010 America (RJ) Medal record Men's Football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Winner 1994 United States Runner-up 1998 France FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 1997 Saudi Arabia Copa América Winner 1989 Brazil Olympic Games Silver 1988 Seoul Team Bronze 1996 Atlanta Team FIFA U–20 World Cup Winner 1983 Mexico South American U-20 Championship Winner 1983 Bolivia *Club domestic league appearances and goals

José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known to everyone as Bebeto, is a famous Brazilian former football player. He was an amazing forward, scoring many goals for his teams. After his football career, Bebeto also became involved in politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro in 2010 and served until 2023.

Bebeto is one of Brazil's top goal scorers, with 39 goals in 75 games for his country. He helped Brazil win the 1989 Copa América and was the top scorer in that tournament. He also played a key role in Brazil winning the 1994 FIFA World Cup, forming a great team with Romário. Bebeto also won the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil. He earned silver and bronze medals at the Olympic Games in 1988 and 1996. In 1989, he was named the best football player in South America.

In 2013 and 2014, Bebeto was chosen as one of the six ambassadors for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He also represented Rio 2016, helping to promote these big events.

Early Football Days

Bebeto in 2009

Bebeto was born in Salvador, Brazil. He began his football journey in 1983 with a team called Vitória.

Playing for Clubs

Bebeto played for many different clubs during his career. In Brazil, he played for famous teams like Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Cruzeiro, and Botafogo. He also played internationally for clubs in Spain, Mexico, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. He stopped playing professionally in 2002.

Time at Deportivo La Coruña

Bebeto spent four important years playing in Spain for Deportivo La Coruña. He scored an impressive 86 goals in 131 games for the club. In his first season, 1992–93, Bebeto was the top scorer in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league, with 29 goals.

In the 1993–94 season, Deportivo had a chance to win their first-ever La Liga title. They needed to beat Valencia in the very last match. The game was tied 0–0, and Deportivo got a penalty kick near the end. Bebeto usually took penalties, but this time he didn't. Another player, Miroslav Đukić, took the shot but missed. The match ended in a draw, and Barcelona won the league title instead.

Later Club Career

In 1996, Bebeto returned to his home club Flamengo. After a short time there, he went back to Spain to play for Sevilla. In 1997, he joined Cruzeiro for just one match, the 1997 Intercontinental Cup final, which his team lost.

Bebeto found his goal-scoring form again with Brazilian clubs Vitória and Botafogo. This helped him get selected for Brazil's team in the 1998 World Cup. In 2002, at 38 years old, he joined his final club, Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, before retiring.

Playing for Brazil

Bebeto played for the Brazilian national team from 1985 to 1998. He scored 39 goals in 75 games. He played in three World Cups: 1990, 1994, and 1998.

World Cup Success

In the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Bebeto was one of the best players. He scored three goals and helped set up two others for Brazil, who won the tournament. Four years later, in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he again played well as Brazil finished second.

During the 1994 World Cup, Bebeto and Romário formed a fantastic partnership. Even though they were rivals in the Spanish League, they put their differences aside for the national team. Bebeto later said that Brazil never lost a game when he and Romário played together, and at least one of them always scored.

The Famous Baby Celebration

Bebeto became very famous for his goal celebration at the 1994 World Cup. Two days before a quarter-final match against the Netherlands, his wife had given birth to their third child. After scoring a goal in that game, Bebeto ran to the side of the field. He brought his arms together and started rocking them, pretending to cradle a baby. His teammates Romário and Mazinho quickly joined in. That child was a boy named Mattheus, who later became a professional footballer himself.

Bebeto also won a silver medal for Brazil at the 1988 Summer Olympics. In the 1996 Summer Olympics, he scored three goals in the bronze medal match against Portugal, helping Brazil win the bronze.

How Bebeto Played

Bebeto was known as a great goal scorer. He was very consistent and determined throughout his career. Even though he wasn't very tall or strong, he was fast and smart. He used his quickness and clever moves to get away from defenders.

He was also very skilled with the ball and could control it well. Because he had good vision and could pass accurately, he often helped other strikers score goals. Sometimes, he played as a playmaking attacking midfielder or a supporting striker earlier in his career. Later, he became a main striker because he was so good at finding the back of the net.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Bebeto became a coach. On December 16, 2009, he was hired as the head coach for the América Football Club. However, he was let go on February 13, 2010, after the team had an average performance. His coaching record was three wins, one draw, and four losses.

Personal Life

Bebeto is married to Denise Oliveira. She used to play volleyball for Flamengo. They have two sons and one daughter. One of their sons, Mattheus, followed in his father's footsteps and became a professional footballer.

Media Appearances

Bebeto has been featured in EA Sports' FIFA video games. He even appeared on the cover of some versions of FIFA 97.

Honours and Awards

Bebeto won many titles and awards during his football career.

Flamengo

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1983, 1987
• Campeonato Carioca: 1986
• Taça Guanabara: 1984, 1988, 1989

Vasco da Gama

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1989
• Taça Guanabara: 1990

Deportivo La Coruña

• Copa del Rey: 1994–95
• Supercopa de España: 1995

Botafogo

• Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1998

Kashima Antlers

• J League: 2000
• Emperor's Cup: 2000
• J.League Cup: 2000

Brazil U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1983

Brazil U23

• Pan American Games: 1987
• Olympic Games Silver medal: 1988; Bronze medal: 1996

Brazil

• FIFA World Cup: 1994
• Copa América: 1989
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997

Individual Awards

• Campeonato Carioca top scorer: 1988, 1989
• Copa América top scorer: 1989
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1989
• Bola de Prata: 1992
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer: 1992
• Pichichi Trophy: 1992–93 (top scorer in La Liga)
• Olympic Games top scorer: 1996
• Torneio Rio-São Paulo top scorer: 1999
• Named one of the 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time by World Soccer magazine.
• Inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: Bebeto para niños