Iconic Brazil captain Carlos Alberto dies aged 72
The captain of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup winning side passed away on Tuesday morning after suffering a fatal heart attack.
World Cup icon Carlos Alberto dies aged 72
Carlos Alberto Torres, the captain of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup winning side, died on Tuesday morning after suffering a fatal heart attack, according to Brazilian media reports. He was 72 years old.
The last player to lift the Jules Rimet trophy, Carlos Alberto netted one of the most iconic goals in World Cup history, finishing off a magnificent team move involving eight different players to score Brazil’s fourth in a 4-1 final win over Italy in Mexico City.
An illustrious career that spread over two decades
Over the course of a twenty-year career he played for both Fluminense and Flamengo in Rio, the city where he was born, and in the NASL alongside Pele and Franz Beckenbauer at the New York Cosmos. But it was for his spell at Santos between 1965 and 1975 that he was best known. The club today released a statement on its website:
“Santos FC regrets the death of the idol Carlos Alberto Torres, who was 72 years old. He played in 445 matches and scored 40 goals between 1965 and 1975 and is considered the best right-back in the history of Praiano Alvinegro. The club has decreed official three days of mourning.”
A successful manager and well-known pundit
Upon retiring, Carlos Alberto moved into management and coached a number of Brazil’s big sides, including Corinthians and former clubs Fluminense and Flamengo, as well as the national teams of Oman and Azerbaijan.
Known for his strong character and opinions, ‘O Capita’ had recently been working as a commentator for Brazilian channel SporTv, making his final appearance this Sunday.
