fantasista legends #1...

Zico

the white Pele

We kick off our series with a player who was at his prime during what was probably the golden age for the fantasista, the 1980’s.

Perhaps the only reason Arthur Antunes Coimbra isn’t held in higher esteem by pundits and fans around the world is the fact that he never played for a European club giant, starring only for modest Udinese in Serie A. However this makes the legend that was Zico, even more remarkable. In a time when there was no internet and very little global TV coverage, everybody knew who Zico was; for a period, the best player on the planet.


He became an idol in the streets and playgrounds around the globe, when millions of school kids would ‘bagsy’ his name – ‘I’m Zico!’ A few of those he inspired went on to become quite handy at football themselves, with Roberto Baggio, Leonardo and Ronaldo all naming Zico as their childhood idol.

Standing at only 5ft 7” and with a body almost waif-like, Zico was far from physically imposing. Very early in his career he was placed on a special diet and had to follow a specific muscle and body development program which helped develop a stronger body that would be deemed suitable for the rigours of the professional game.

His technique however, was never in question. A fantasista who could use both feet, possessed sublime dribbling skills and passing, he is perhaps most famously remembered as one of history’s greatest free-kick experts. Zico developed his unerring accuracy from dead balls by practicing for many hours and by hanging a shirt on the top corner of the goal for target practice.

Like many fantasista’s, he could both create and finish, stating: ‘Being the arrow and the bow came naturally to me’. However like all great playmakers, his primary objective was to provide his team mates with goal scoring opportunities: ‘My philosophy was simple: try to find the strikers first’.

Arguable Brazil’s second greatest number 10, from 1978 – 1986 he starred in the three World Cup’s wearing what is possibly the most iconic shirt in football. Many players would have been worn down by the sheer weight of expectation placed upon them, in wearing the Selecao’s most prized possession, but not Zico who drew praise from its most famous occupant, Pele: ‘throughout the years, the one player that came closest to me was Zico’. Perhaps the greatest fantasista of them all, Diego Maradona had this to say: ‘A director of games. They chucked Pele’s number 10 jersey at him and it fitted like a glove. He had the authority of a great leader. A sensational bloke and a fantastic player’.

Whilst he never reached the heights of Pele in terms of winning a World Cup, he is still part of World Cup history by being part of the infamous 1982 team that many believe was ‘the greatest team never to win the tournament’. The 1986 team wasn’t too bad either but Brazil crashed out the tournament on penalties to France, and his fantasista nemesis throughout the early 80’s - Michel Platini.

At club level he formed his career in his native land with home town club Flamengo from 1971-1983, winning the Copa Libertadores in 1981 and the Intercontinental Cup beating the glorious Liverpool team 3-0, thus establishing his status as a legend in Rio. 1983 saw a personal zenith reached in being crowned World Player of the Year.

It was then to Italy, where he signed for Udinese. Even Zico was unable to fire a mediocre side to success. However he formed a strong rivalry with fellow fantasista’s Platini and Maradona, providing spectacle and excitement whilst battling for the top scoring crown in Serie A. After only two season in Europe he returned to his beloved Flamengo, then ended his career playing in Japan where he remains extremely popular, in no small part to his help in launching the new J-League.

Bio
Born: 3rd March 1953 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Height: 1.72m / 5ft 7 1/2

Career
1971-1983: Flamengo - 212 apps / 123 goals
1983-1985: Udinese - 39 apps / 22 goals
1985-1989: Flamengo - 37 apps / 12 goals
1991-1994: Kashima Antlers - 45 apps / 35 goals
Totals: 334 app / 193 goals

1976-1988: Brazil - 72 caps / 52 goals

Honours
World Player of the Year: 1983
South American Player of the Year: 1977, 1981, 1982
Rio State Championship 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1986
Brazilian Championship 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987
Copa Libertadores 1981
Intercontinental Cup 1981
J.League Suntory Series 1993