Sócrates

Sócrates was born in Belém do Pará. He began playing football professionally in 1974 for Botafogo-SP in Ribeirão Preto, but spent the majority of his career (1978 to 1984) with Corinthians, scoring 41 goals in 59 Brazilian Série A games, and 172 goals in 297 matches in total.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/04/socrates?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |title=Sócrates: Formidable captain of the Brazilian team in the 1982 World Cup|work=The Guardian|last=Glanville|first=Brian|location=London|date=4 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}}

In 1984–85, aged 30, Sócrates had his first experience abroad, playing in Italian Serie A with Fiorentina. He returned to his country after that sole season, representing Flamengo, Santos and former club Botafogo-SP, and retiring in 1989. During his period in Flamengo, he played 20 games, scoring 5 goals and won Campeonato Carioca: 1986. In 2004, more than a decade after retiring, 50-year-old Sócrates agreed to a one-month player-coaching deal with Garforth Town of the Northern Counties East Football League in England.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/3957519.stm|title=Samba stars to join Garforth Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 October 2004|access-date=4 December 2011}} He made his only appearance for the club on 20 November, against Tadcaster Albion, coming on as a substitute twelve minutes from time.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/04/brazil-midfielder-socrates-dies?intcmp=239|title=Brazil World Cup captain Sócrates: a factfile|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=4 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}}[http://www.nonleagueyorkshire.com/2020/04/25/the-day-brazil-legend-socrates-played-for-garforth-town/ The day Socrates played for Garforth]

Sócrates was capped 60 times for Brazil between May 1979 and June 1986, scoring 22 goals. He captained the national team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and also appeared in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In the latter edition, he scored twice, starting with the game's only goal against Spain in the group stage.[http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1986/groupd_spa_v_bra.html Spain – Brazil 0–1 (0–0)]; Planet World Cup, 1 June 1986 he added another in the round-of-16 4–0 win over Poland, shooting his penalty kick without running; in the following game, against France, he tried to convert it in the same fashion, but had his shootout attempt saved by goalkeeper Joël Bats; France ultimately progressed to the semi-finals.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/21/seven-deadly-sins-socrates-brazil|title=Seven deadly sins of football: Socrates, the smoking supremo|work=The Guardian|last=Henderson|first=Jon|location=London|date=21 May 2009|access-date=4 December 2011}} Sócrates also represented his country at the 1979 and 1983 Copa América tournaments. In the latter he appeared in only one game, the second leg of the final against Uruguay (1–1 home draw, 3-1 aggregate loss).[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/83safull.html "Copa América 1983"]. RSSSF. Retrieved 28 March 2013.

File:Panel of Sócrates at Corinthian-Casuals.jpg

A former centre-forward, who later made a name for himself as a midfielder, playing in either an attacking or central midfield role, Sócrates was an elegant, talented, and technical playmaker, known for his great through passes, precise long balls, link-up play, and his vision on the field, as well as his physical strength; he was also a two-footed player. While he was mainly known for his ability to orchestrate attacking plays, he was a prolific goal scorer himself, courtesy of his powerful and accurate shot with his right foot, and his ability to make attacking runs into the area from behind. He was also an accurate penalty taker, while his height, heading ability, and elevation allowed him to excel in the air. He was also known, however, for often not taking part in his teammates' celebrations whenever he scored a goal. Although he was not the quickest of players, and preferred to play the game at a slower tempo, he possessed good acceleration. His intelligence and ability to read the game were also highly valued, and his signature move was the blind or "no-look" back-heel pass.{{cite web|url=http://www.xtratime.org/forum/showthread.php?t=246965|title=The Greatest Offensive Midfielders of All-Time – Xtratime Community|publisher=Xtratime|access-date=4 December 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/04/socrates |title=Sócrates obituary |work=The Guardian |author1=Brian Glanville |date=4 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/18621/6120878/brazils-greatest-midfielders |title=Brazil's greatest midfielders |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.tuttobolognaweb.it/news/un-ricordo-del-dottore/ |title=Un ricordo del "Dottore" |publisher=www.tuttobolognaweb.it |language=it |date=4 December 2013 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2011/12/05/sport/addio-a-socrates-dottore-dai-piedi-buoni-segno-per-la-democrazia-VkJyuqKGghmuevpcxOfOfO/pagina.html |title=Addio a Socrates, Dottore dai piedi buoni: segnò per la democrazia |publisher=La Stampa |language=it |author1=Paolo Manzo |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/198182_albumond82.html |title=MONDIALI IN SPAGNA 1982 |publisher=www.magliarossonera.it |language=it |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2011/12/04/sport/addio-socrates-campione-laureato-bVi7CqXs493uhVMYKUUXmM/pagina.html |title=Addio Socrates, campione laureato |publisher=La Stampa |language=it |date=4 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}

Sócrates was a key member of the Brazil national team of the early to mid-1980s; Jonathan Wilson said that "Socrates was the brain of Brazil. He might not quite have had the flair of Zico, but he was the central intelligence".{{cite web|title=Top 10: Players of Spain '82|work=FourFourTwo|date=2 June 2014|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/top-10-players-spain-82#:dCHb_133GXTY3A|access-date=4 November 2015}} Former coach at Fiorentina, Giancarlo De Sisti, said: "Socrates was a very intelligent man, he had great class."{{cite web|title=Brazil's tears at death of 'Doctor' Socrates|date=4 December 2011 |publisher=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8934764/Brazils-tears-at-death-of-Doctor-Socrates.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8934764/Brazils-tears-at-death-of-Doctor-Socrates.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=5 November 2015}}{{cbignore}} In addition to his playing ability and intelligence, he was known for his correct behaviour and charismatic presence on the pitch, as well as his leadership in the dressing room, which made him a respected figure among his teammates, while his height, headband, hairstyle, and beard made him a highly recognisable figure on the pitch. He also often stood out for his outspokenness, humour, eccentric personality, his strong, rebellious character, and his left-wing political views, often speaking out against political issues in his home-country. He was equally notorious for not being particularly hard-working or disciplined in his personal life, as he smoked and drank large quantities of beer, once commenting: "I am an anti-athlete. I cannot deny myself certain lapses from the strict regime of a sportsman. You have to take me as I am."{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2011/dicembre/05/Ciao_Socrates_Colpi_tacco_politica_ga_10_111205037.shtml |title=Ciao Socrates. Colpi di tacco e politica: ha vinto fuori dal coro |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |page=19 |language=it |author1=Germano Bovolenta |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://sport.ilmessaggero.it/calcio/socrates_firenze_film_calopresti-207030.html |title=Calopresti, lo sfondo di Firenze in un film per ricordare Socrates |publisher=Il Messaggero |language=it |author1=Giacomo Perra |date=4 December 2011 |access-date=13 September 2018 }}

Sócrates was the firstborn child of Raimundo and Guiomar Vieira. He was born in Belém, Pará, and relocated with his family to Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, in January 1960 after his father Raimundo earned an important position as revenue supervisor. This job earned Sócrates' father the status of a small-town hero in Igarapé-Açu, where the family lived at the time. His father's new salary allowed Sócrates to attend the best school in Ribeirão Preto, Colégio Marista. In a biography written by the journalist Tom Cardoso, it is revealed that the small library Sócrates' father had built in his home, containing philosophy books and other works, came under threat as of the 1964 Brazialian coup d'état. Sócrates watched his father rid himself of books that he so loved. He recalled: "In 1964, I saw my father tear many books, because of the coup d'état. I thought that was absurd, because the library was the thing he liked best. That was when I felt that something was not right. But I only understood much later, in college." At age 10, Sócrates was exposed to the repercussions of the military dictatorship's censorship. His childhood was marked by this event which he came to comprehend as an adult later in life.{{cite news|url=http://socratesbrazilianfootballer.weebly.com/|title=Socrates: brief overview of how childhood experiences led to his later politics|work=Weebly|last=Argueta|first=Laura|location=US|date=2016|access-date=20 April 2016}}{{cite book |last= Cardoso |first= Tom |date= 11 January 2014 |title= Sócrates |url= http://www.objetiva.com.br/livro_ficha.php?id=1481 |language= pt |location= São Paulo |publisher= Objetiva |isbn=978-85-390-0621-2}}

Sócrates married four times, divorced three times, and died in his fourth marriage. He had six children. He was a columnist for a number of newspapers and magazines, writing not only about sports, but also politics and economics. He frequently appeared on Brazilian TV programmes as a football pundit. At the time of his death, Sócrates was writing a fictional book about the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2010/jun/13/socrates-brazil-football-world-cup|title=Sócrates: 'Everyone who comes to Brazil falls in love with someone'|work=The Guardian|last=Bellos|first=Alex|location=UK|date=13 June 2010|access-date=7 June 2011}} Sócrates was a physician, a rare achievement for a professional footballer (he held a bachelor's degree in medicine from the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, the medical school of the University of São Paulo).{{cite web|title=Greatest Who Never Won a World Cup|url=http://www.life.com/gallery/43621/image/1555549/greatest-who-never-won-a-world-cup#index/20|publisher=Life|access-date=4 December 2011|archive-date=7 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207001204/http://www.life.com/gallery/43621/image/1555549/greatest-who-never-won-a-world-cup#index/20|url-status=dead}} Even rarer is the fact that he earned the degree while concurrently playing professional football. After retiring as a player, he practised medicine in Ribeirão Preto. He was also noted for being an intellectual, a heavy drinker and a smoker.

File:Socrates (futebolista) participando do movimento político Diretas Já.jpg

During his time at Corinthians, Sócrates co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, in opposition to the then-ruling Brazilian military government.{{cite web|url=https://soundsandcolours.com/articles/brazil/the-role-of-the-corinthians-democracy-in-brazils-re-democratization-director-pedro-asbeg-discusses-black-and-white-democracy-26284/|title=The Role of the Corinthians' Democracy in Brazil's Re-democratization: Director Pedro Asbeg discusses Black and White Democracy|date=26 November 2014|website=Sounds and Colours}} Sócrates and his teammates protested against the regime's treatment of footballers, and showed support to the wider movement for democratisation by wearing shirts with "Democracia" written on them during games.{{cite web|url=http://libcom.org/library/s-crates-midfielder-anti-dictatorship-resister|title=Sócrates – midfielder and anti-dictatorship resister|publisher=Libcom|date=12 July 2007|access-date=7 June 2011}} Corinthians Democracy was meant to be the voice of Brazilian sport in the struggle to re-democratize the country. Sócrates and his teammates believed they could model how society was supposed to function by making all of the club's decisions through voting. It was believed that debate, swapping ideas, and voting could function as an example for the general public.{{cite book|last1=Correia |first1=Mickaël |title=A People's History of Soccer |date=20 October 2023 |publisher=Pluto Press |pages=123–33 |doi=10.2307/jj.7583921.12 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.7583921.12}}

On 16 April 1984, Sócrates spoke out in support of Diretas Já (Free Elections Now), a popular movement that called for direct presidential elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=63627/profile.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910154916/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=63627/profile.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2015|title=Socrates, Brazil's swaggering revolutionary|work=FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)|access-date=19 April 2016}} In Socrates and the Corinthians' Democracy,{{Cite web |last=Rebels |first=Football |title=Socrates and the Corinthians' Democracy |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/program/football-rebels/2013/5/3/socrates-and-the-corinthians-democracy |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}} Juca Kfouri, a Brazilian journalist, recalls how "Socrates took the risk of saying, in front of two million people gathered on the cathedral square, that if direct presidential elections weren't accepted by the regime, he'd go play in Italy."{{cite serial |title=Football Rebels |series=Socrates and the Corinthians' Democracy |last1=Perez |first1=Gilles |last2=Rof |first2=Gilles | publisher=Al Jazeera |date=11 July 2012}} By hinging his transfer abroad on the outcome of a constitutional amendment, Socrates' political legacy began to form. His denunciation of the military dictatorship and fight to redemocratize Brazil extended his legacy beyond the football field. Sócrates stated that three of his childhood heroes were Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and John Lennon.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1193868_andy_mitten_column|title=Andy Mitten Column: Interview with Socrates|work=Manchester Evening News|last=Mitten|first=Andy|date=25 February 2010|access-date=4 December 2011}} He was also a member of the Brazil Workers' Party,{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Ryan |title=Carlos Valderrama and 10 Footballers Turned Politicians |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1874070-carlos-valderrama-and-10-footballers-turned-politicians |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} and said that "Lula was good" but that he had "earned a mere seven or so out of ten" for his way of governing Brazil.{{cite news |title=Sócrates |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21541371 |newspaper=The Economist |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=30 August 2012}}

In 2011, Sócrates' health started to deteriorate. His use of alcohol has been linked to this.In the last four months, Socrates has been taken into intensive care three times, mainly due to his alcohol abuse.{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/brazil-football-legend-socrates-dies-aged-57-6272174.html | title=Brazil football legend Socrates dies aged 57 | website=Independent.co.uk | date=4 December 2011 }} On 19 August 2011, he was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo with gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to portal hypertension and was discharged nine days later.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14602583.stm|title=Former Brazil captain Socrates discharged from hospital|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 August 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}} The following month he spent 17 days in hospital with a liver ailment.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/04/brazil-socrates-dies-hospital-57?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|title=Former Brazil captain Sócrates dies in hospital at the age of 57|work=The Guardian|agency=Reuters|date=4 December 2011|access-date=11 January 2012}} On 1 December 2011, he was hospitalised with food poisoning which developed into septic shock and he was put on life support.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/03/socrates-life-support-hospital-shock|title=Sócrates on life support in hospital after suffering from septic shock|work=The Guardian|date=3 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011 |location=London}} He died on 4 December 2011 at the age of 57.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/584/brazil/2011/12/04/2787074/breaking-news-brazil-legend-socrates-dies-aged-57|title=Breaking news: Brazil legend Socrates dies aged 57|work=Goal.com|date=4 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}} He was survived by his wife and six children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=381947|title=Former Brazil Soccer Captain Socrates Dies at 57|publisher=TSN|date=4 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}} Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff paid tribute, saying Brazil had lost "one of its most cherished sons". She added: "On the field, with his talent and sophisticated touches, he was a genius. Off the pitch [...] he was active politically, concerned with his people and his country."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16017071.stm|title=Brazil football legend Socrates dies at 57|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 December 2011|access-date=4 December 2011}}

Corinthians fans held up signs in tribute and there was a moment of silence before the team's match against Palmeiras (a 0–0 draw which secured Corinthians their first Brazilian title for six years). The result matched a professed desire of Sócrates, who had once stated his wish "to die on a Sunday when Corinthians won a trophy".{{cite web|url=https://sabotagetimes.com/football/socrates-i-want-to-die-on-a-sunday-corinthians-win-a-trophy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313105127/http://sabotagetimes.com/football/socrates-i-want-to-die-on-a-sunday-corinthians-win-a-trophy|url-status=usurped|archive-date=13 March 2016|title=Socrates: "I Want To Die On A Sunday Corinthians Win A Trophy."|first=Mauricio|last=Savarese|website=Sabotage Times}} Fiorentina held a minute's silence before their league match against Roma, and the players wore black armbands in tribute. Former Brazil striker Ronaldo tweeted: "Sad start to the day. Rest in peace Dr. Socrates." Zico called him "unique". Italy's Paolo Rossi described the death as "a piece of our history that's broken off and gone away". Garforth chairman Simon Clifford paid tribute to the "great grace" of Sócrates.

Pelé named Sócrates in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in March 2004 and World Soccer named him one of 100 best footballers in history. In October 2008, he was inducted into the Pacaembu Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame. In 2022, France Football gave out the first edition of the Sócrates Award.

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sócrates goal.

Botafogo-SP

• Torneio Vicente Feola: 1976[https://web.archive.org/web/20130531190106/http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/tablesrz/sp1976tvf.htm Torneio Vicente Feola in 1976]

Corinthians

• Campeonato Paulista: 1979, 1982, 1983

Flamengo

• Taça Rio: 1986
• Campeonato Carioca: 1986

Brazil

• Copa América runner-up: 1983; third place: 1979
• Brazil-England Cup: 1981[https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/news-photo/brazilian-footballer-socrates-holds-the-trophy-after-brazil-news-photo/135197880 Brazilian footballer Socrates holds the trophy after Brazil beat England 1-0 in a friendly international at Wembley Stadium, London.] gettyimages, 12th May 1981.[https://br.pinterest.com/pin/brazilian-footballer-socrates-holds-the-trophy-after-brazil-beat-england-10-in-a-friendly-international-at-w--789255903420364310/ Brazilian footballer Socrates holds the trophy after Brazil beat England 1-0 in a friendly international at Wembley Stadium, London.] pinterest, 12th May 1981.

Individual

• Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
• FIFA 100
• World Soccer: 61st Greatest Player of the 20th Century
• Campeonato Paulista top scorer: 1976
• Bola de Prata: 1980
• FIFA XI: 1982{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=Matches of FIFA XI|website=RSSSF}}
• South American Footballer of the Year: 1983
• FAI International Football Awards – International Personality: 2007{{cite web |title=18th International Soccer Awards Ceremony |url=http://www.rissc.org/archive/Feb2008/18thIntAwards08.htm |work=rissc.org |publisher=Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club |date=3 February 2008 |access-date=22 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109075611/http://www.rissc.org/archive/Feb2008/18thIntAwards08.htm |archive-date=9 November 2013 }}
• World Soccer: World Team of the Year 1982, 1983, 1984{{cite web |url=https://beyondthelastman.com/2014/03/10/eric-battys-world-xis-the-eighties-and-nineties/ |website=Beyond The Last Man |date=10 March 2014 |title=Eric Batty's World XI's – The Eighties and Nineties |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131120633/https://beyondthelastman.com/2014/03/10/eric-battys-world-xis-the-eighties-and-nineties/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Sócrates}}

• {{FIFA player|63627}}
• {{Sambafoot|105576-socrates|old_id=373_socrates}}
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/photo_galleries/4032397.stm Garforth debut photo gallery] at BBC
• {{NFT player|id=17936}}
• {{Soccerway|socrates-brasileiro-sampaio-de-souza-vieira-de-oliveira/105638}}

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