Sócrates facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sócrates

Sócrates in 2005
Personal information
Full name	Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira
Date of birth	(1954-02-19)19 February 1954
Place of birth	Belém, Pará, Brazil
Date of death	4 December 2011(2011-12-04) (aged 57)
Place of death	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.92 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1973–1978	Botafogo-SP	99	(35)
1978–1984	Corinthians	135	(74)
1984–1985	Fiorentina	25	(6)
1986–1987	Flamengo	12	(3)
1988–1989	Santos	25	(7)
1989	Botafogo-SP	6	(0)
2004	Garforth Town	1	(0)
Total		303	(125)
National team
1979–1986	Brazil	60	(22)
Teams managed
1994	Botafogo-SP
1996	LDU Quito
1999	Cabofriense
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira (born February 19, 1954 – died December 4, 2011) was a famous Brazilian footballer. People simply called him Sócrates. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both attack and defense.

Sócrates was also a doctor and cared deeply about politics. These things, along with his amazing playing style, earned him the nickname "Doctor Socrates". He was easy to spot on the field because of his beard and headband. Many people thought he was a symbol of cool for football fans.

He is seen as one of the best midfielders of his time. In 1983, he was named the South American Footballer of the Year. Later, in 2004, the legendary player Pelé included Sócrates in the FIFA 100 list. This list featured the world's greatest living players.

Sócrates played for the Brazilian national team for seven years. He scored 22 goals and played in two World Cups. He was the captain of the team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. That team, with players like Zico and Falcão, is often called one of Brazil's best ever. He also played in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América tournaments.

For his club career, Sócrates played for Botafogo-SP. Then he joined Corinthians in 1978. He later moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina. After that, he returned to Brazil to finish his career.

Sócrates' Football Journey

Playing for Clubs

Sócrates was born in Belém do Pará, Brazil. He started playing professional football in 1974 for Botafogo-SP. This club was in Ribeirão Preto. Most of his career, from 1978 to 1984, was spent with Corinthians.

At Corinthians, he scored 41 goals in 59 games in Brazil's top league, the Série A. Overall, he scored 172 goals in 297 matches for the club.

In the 1984–85 season, when he was 30, Sócrates played in Italy for Fiorentina. He came back to Brazil after just one season there. He then played for Flamengo and Santos. He also returned to his first club, Botafogo-SP, before retiring in 1989. While at Flamengo, he helped them win the Campeonato Carioca in 1986.

In 2004, more than ten years after he retired, Sócrates, at 50 years old, made a surprise return. He signed a one-month deal to be a player-coach for Garforth Town in England. He played one game for them on November 20, coming on as a substitute late in the match.

Playing for Brazil

Sócrates played 60 games for the Brazilian national team. He scored 22 goals between May 1979 and June 1986. He was the captain of the national team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

In the 1986 World Cup, he scored two goals. One was the only goal in a game against Spain. He scored another in the round-of-16 against Poland. He was known for taking penalty kicks without a run-up. In the next game against France, he tried the same style in a penalty shootout, but the goalkeeper saved it. France won that game.

Sócrates also played for Brazil in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América tournaments. In the 1983 final, he played in the second game against Uruguay. Brazil drew that game but lost overall.

Sócrates' Unique Playing Style

Sócrates started as a centre-forward but became famous as a midfielder. He could play as an attacking or central midfielder. He was a very elegant and skilled playmaker. He was known for his great passes, long balls, and excellent vision on the field. He was also strong and could use both feet well.

While he was great at setting up goals, he also scored many himself. He had a powerful and accurate shot with his right foot. He was also good at heading the ball because of his height. One of his special moves was the "no-look" back-heel pass. He was not the fastest player, but he was very smart and could read the game well.

Jonathan Wilson, a writer, said that "Socrates was the brain of Brazil." His coach at Fiorentina, Giancarlo De Sisti, called him "a very intelligent man." Besides his skills, he was respected for his good behavior and leadership. His height, headband, and beard made him easy to recognize.

Sócrates was also known for speaking his mind. He had strong opinions and was very funny. He was also known for his political views. He often spoke out about political issues in Brazil.

Sócrates' Life Outside Football

Sócrates was the first child of Raimundo and Guiomar Vieira. He was born in Belém, Pará. In 1960, his family moved to Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. His father's new job allowed Sócrates to go to a good school.

When Sócrates was 10, he saw his father destroy many books. This happened because of the military takeover in 1964. Sócrates later understood that this was due to the government's censorship. This event deeply affected him.

Sócrates was married four times and had six children. He wrote for newspapers and magazines. He wrote about sports, politics, and money. He also appeared on Brazilian TV as a football expert. When he passed away, he was writing a book about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Sócrates was also a physician, which is rare for a professional footballer. He earned his medical degree while playing football! After he stopped playing, he worked as a doctor in Ribeirão Preto. His younger brother, Raí, was also a famous footballer. Raí was part of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup in 1994.

Sócrates and Politics

While playing for Corinthians, Sócrates helped start the Corinthians Democracy movement. This group was against the military government that ruled Brazil at the time. Sócrates and his teammates protested how the government treated footballers. They also supported the larger movement for democratisation. They wore shirts with "Democracia" (Democracy) written on them during games.

On April 16, 1984, Sócrates spoke publicly to support Diretas Já (Free Elections Now). This was a big movement that asked for direct presidential elections. A journalist named Juca Kfouri remembered Sócrates saying that if the government didn't allow direct elections, he would go play in Italy. By linking his football career to this political goal, Sócrates showed how much he cared about Brazil's future. His fight against the military government made him a hero beyond the football field.

Sócrates said that three of his childhood heroes were Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and John Lennon. He was also a member of the Brazil Workers' Party. He believed that Lula, a former president, did a good job leading Brazil.

Sócrates' Passing and Tributes

In 2011, Sócrates' health began to get worse. He was admitted to the hospital several times for liver problems. On December 1, 2011, he was hospitalized with food poisoning. This led to a serious infection, and he was put on life support. He passed away on December 4, 2011, at 57 years old. He was survived by his wife and six children.

President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, honored him. She said Brazil had lost "one of its most cherished sons." She added that he was a genius on the field and active politically, caring about his people and country.

Corinthians fans held up signs and had a moment of silence before their game. Corinthians won their first Brazilian title in six years that day. This matched something Sócrates once wished for: "to die on a Sunday when Corinthians won a trophy." Fiorentina also held a minute of silence and wore black armbands.

Many famous footballers paid tribute. Former Brazil striker Ronaldo tweeted, "Sad start to the day. Rest in peace Dr. Socrates." Zico called him "unique." Italy's Paolo Rossi said his death was "a piece of our history that's broken off."

Sócrates' Lasting Impact

Pelé included Sócrates in the FIFA 100 list in March 2004. This list recognized the world's greatest living players. World Soccer magazine also named him one of the 100 best footballers in history. In October 2008, he was honored in the Pacaembu Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.

Images for kids

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  Sócrates in 2005

See also

In Spanish: Sócrates (futbolista) para niños