Rivelino

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Personal information
Rivelino
Full name	Roberto Rivellino
Date of birth	January 1, 1946 (age 61)
Place of birth	São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Nickname	Rivelino
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Retired
Youth clubs
1962 1963-1965	Palmeiras Corinthians
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1965-1974 1974-1978 1978-1981	Corinthians Fluminense Al-Hilal	471 (141) 158(53)
National team
1965-1978	Brazil	122 (43)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Roberto Rivellino (b. January 1, 1946 - São Paulo) is a Brazilian football player, famous for his extremely potent left-foot shot, thunderous long-range free kicks and large moustache. He also invented a soccer move called the "Elastico", also known as "flip flap". He is widely regarded as one of the most graceful footballers ever, and is usually ranked as the 4th best Brazilian, after Pelé, Garrincha, and Zico, respectively, as well as one of the best midfielders the world's ever seen.

Rivelino, as he is most commonly known in Brazil, started as a futsal player in Clube Indiano, São Paulo. He tried to get in his childhood favorite team, Palmeiras in 1963, but they did not utilize him in the team. After that he tried his luck in their biggest rival, Corinthians, one of the most important Brazilian soccer teams. Unfortunately for him, when he played for Corinthians, the club was in one of the worst eras of its history. After losing the 1974 São Paulo State championship to Corinthians' arch-rival, Palmeiras, Rivelino was ostracized by the majority of Corinthians' supporters, and left the club to play for Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro. Among the cariocas, Rivelino was also an idol, winning the Carioca State Championship in 1975 and 1976. Towards the end of the seventies, Rivelino went to play in Saudi Arabia; he retired in 1981.

Rivelino is also one of the players that have more than 100 caps for the Brazilian national team. He was a starter in most games in the successful Brazilian campaign in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, scoring 3 goals, including the powerful free-kick against Czechoslovakia, which earned him the nickname "Patada Atómica" (Atomic Kick) by Mexican fans. Rivelino also played in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, although with less success (4th and 3rd places respectively).

After his professional retirement, Rivelino started a career as a soccer commentator and coach (he has directed the Japanese national team).

Rivelino was one of the players named by Pelé in 2004 as the 125 Greatest Living Footballers.

Rivelino is unofficially credited with scoring the fastest goal in football history when he supposedly scored a goal direct from the kick-off after noticing the opposition goalkeeper on his knees finishing off pre-match prayers. ^[1]

[edit] References

^ Profile on FIFA World Cup 06 website

[edit] External links

IMNO Interviews Rivelino

	Brazil squad - 1970 FIFA World Cup Champions (3rd Title)
1 Félix \| 2 Brito \| 3 Piazza \| 4 Carlos Alberto \| 5 Clodoaldo \| 6 Marco Antônio \| 7 Jairzinho \| 8 Gérson \| 9 Tostão \| 10 Pelé \| 11 Rivelino \| 12 Ado \| 13 Roberto \| 14 Baldocchi \| 15 Fontana \| 16 Everaldo \| 17 Joel \| 18 Paulo César \| 19 Edu \| 20 Dario \| 21 Zé Maria \| 22 Leão \| Coach: Zagallo

	Brazil squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place
1 Leão \| 2 Luís Pereira \| 3 Marinho Peres \| 4 Zé Maria \| 5 Piazza \| 6 Marinho Chagas \| 7 Jairzinho \| 8 Leivinha \| 9 César \| 10 Rivelino \| 11 Paulo César \| 12 Renato \| 13 Valdomiro \| 14 Nelinho \| 15 Alfredo \| 16 Marco Antônio \| 17 Carpegiani \| 18 Ademir da Guia \| 19 Mirandinha \| 20 Edu \| 21 Dirceu \| 22 Valdir Peres \| Coach: Zagallo

	Brazil squad - 1978 FIFA World Cup Third Place
1 Leão \| 2 Toninho \| 3 Oscar \| 4 Amaral \| 5 Toninho Cerezo \| 6 Edinho \| 7 Zé Sérgio \| 8 Zico \| 9 Reinaldo \| 10 Rivelino \| 11 Dirceu \| 12 Carlos \| 13 Nelinho \| 14 Abel \| 15 Polozzi \| 16 Rodrigues Neto \| 17 Batista \| 18 Gil \| 19 Jorge Mendonça \| 20 Roberto Dinamite \| 21 Chicão \| 22 Valdir Peres \| Coach: Coutinho