Zezé Procópio facts for kids
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Personal information | |||||||||||||
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Full name | José Procópio Mendes | ||||||||||||
Date of birth | August 12, 1913 | ||||||||||||
Place of birth | Valença, Brazil | ||||||||||||
Date of death | February 8, 1980 | (aged 66)||||||||||||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||
1932–1936 | Villa Nova | ||||||||||||
1937–1938 | Atlético Mineiro | ||||||||||||
1938–1942 | Botafogo | 305 | (34) | ||||||||||
1942–1943 | Palmeiras | ||||||||||||
1944 | São Paulo | ||||||||||||
1945–1948 | Palmeiras | ||||||||||||
National team | |||||||||||||
1938–1946 | Brazil | 20 | (0) | ||||||||||
Honours
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José Procópio Mendes, known to many as Zezé Procópio, was a famous Brazilian football player. He was born on August 12, 1913, in Varginha, Minas Gerais State. Zezé Procópio played as a midfielder, a key position in the middle of the field. He passed away on February 8, 1980, in Valença, Rio de Janeiro State, at the age of 66.
Contents
Who Was Zezé Procópio?
Zezé Procópio was a talented football player from Brazil. He played professional football for 16 years, from 1932 to 1948. During his career, he became known for his skills in the midfield. He played for several big clubs in Brazil and also represented his country on the national team.
Early Life and Football Start
Zezé Procópio began his football journey in the early 1930s. His first professional club was Villa Nova. He played there from 1932 to 1936. This was where he started to show his great potential as a midfielder.
Playing for Top Teams
Zezé Procópio played for some of Brazil's most important football clubs. His career took him to different states, where he won many titles.
Villa Nova and Atlético Mineiro
After playing for Villa Nova, Zezé Procópio joined Atlético Mineiro in 1937. He played there for two years, until 1938. With Atlético Mineiro, he helped the team win a major national championship.
Botafogo, Palmeiras, and São Paulo
Later in his career, Zezé Procópio played for other famous clubs. He was with Botafogo from 1938 to 1942. Then, he moved to Palmeiras in 1942, staying until 1943. In 1944, he played for São Paulo. He returned to Palmeiras for a second time, playing there from 1945 to 1948.
Winning Championships
Zezé Procópio was a very successful player. He won many important championships during his career.
- He won a Brazilian Championship in 1937. This was a big achievement for him and his team, Atlético Mineiro.
- He also won five Minas Gerais State Championships. These wins happened in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1938.
- Additionally, he helped his teams win two São Paulo State Championships. These victories were in 1942 and 1947.
Playing for Brazil
Zezé Procópio also had the honor of playing for the Brazilian national team. He represented Brazil from 1938 to 1946. He played 20 matches for his country. He was part of the Brazilian team that played in the 1938 FIFA World Cup in France. During this World Cup, he played in four matches. Brazil finished in third place in that tournament.
His Legacy
Zezé Procópio is remembered as a key player of his time. His skills as a midfielder and his many championship wins made him a respected figure in Brazilian football history. He contributed greatly to the success of the clubs he played for and to the national team.