Greatest Names
TELÊ SANTANA
Coach
Telê had two different moments in Tricolor (in 1973 and 1990–1996) and is the most successful coach in the team’s history.
He was responsible for a total of ten official titles, including two-time Copa Libertadores and Club World Cup, which raised São Paulo FC’s name to unprecedented heights.
An eternal idol among fans, who still chant his name in the team’s matches, the discipline imposed towards players was his trademark. All for the sake of technical perfection, achieved through constant training and strict conduct.
Matches coached for the club: 411
Date of birth: 07/26/1931
Deceased: 04/21/2006
/ TITLES /
- Club World Cup of 1992 and 1993
- Copa Libertadores of 1992 and 1993
- Supercopa Sudamericana of 1993
- RecopaSudamericana of 1993 and 1994
- Brazilian Championship of 1991
- Paulista Championship of 1991 and 1992
MURICY RAMALHO
Coach
Homegrown, Muricy was Telê Santana’s assistant in the 1990s. In 1994, he commanded the Expressinho team of young players, champion of the Conmebol Cup that year. When Telê had to take medical leave, he took over the principal team and was champion of the Master Conmebol Cup of 1996.
He left in 1997, returning 9 years later to lead São Paulo on an unprecedented feat in the club’s history — a three-peat with a very special flavor because it was a Three-peat of the Brazilian National Championship (2006, 2007 and 2008). In 2013, acclaimed by the fans, he returned to assume command of the Tricolor again, where he remained until 2015, achieving the second place at Brazilian championship of 2014.
474 games as São Paulo’s head coach, with more than 200 wins. He is the second coach with more games for São Paulo FC, only behind Vicente Feola.
Date of birth: 11/30/1955,
in São Paulo, SP
/ TITLES /
- Brazilian Champion of 2006, 2007 and 2008
- Conmebol Cup Champion of 1994
- Master Conmebol Cup of 1996
RAÍ
Midfielder
Raí started off slowly in São Paulo FC. Revealed by Botafogo of RibeirãoPreto, and after a quick time in Ponte Preta, on a loan, the midfielder arrived under the burden of being the brother of a great player: Socrates.
He transited from team captain to bench player until Telê Santana’s arrival in 1990. With Telê, Raí was made a key player in the team that conquered it all in the early 1990s.
Decisive in important matches, such as the 1990 Paulista championship finals and the Libertadores championship qualifying games, even playing with an arm cast, Raí earned the nickname “Terror do Morumbi” [“The Morumbi Monster”].
Matches played for the club: 395
Debut: 10/18/1987Last match: 7/22/2000
Goals scored for the club: 128
Date of birth: 5/15/1965, in Ribeirão Preto, SP
/ TITLES /
- Paulista Championship of 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998 and 2000
- Brazilian Championshipof 1991
- Copa Libertadores of 1992 and 1993
- Club World Cup of 1992.
/ TOP SCORER /
- 1991 Paulista Championship
KAKÁ
Midfielder
An authentic Tricolor gemstone, Kaká was groomed by the club’s junior categories at a young age to become a true master among athletes.
Good character, intelligent, strong, agile, fast…. he has most positive traits an athlete needs.
Kaká was champion after only a few matches in Tricolor’s professional team, scoring two goals in the final match of the 2001 Rio-São Paulo Tournament.
He won the 2002 World Cup with the Brazilian team and was elected the best Player in the World in 2007 by FIFA, ahead of Milan.
Matches played for the club: 155
Debut: 2/1/2001
Last match: 11/30/2014
Goals scored for the club: 51
Date of birth: 4/22/1982,
Brasília, DF
/ TITLES /
2001 Rio-São Paulo Tournament
LUIS FABIANO
Striker
LU-IS FA-BI-A-NO!!! There is no São Paulo fan who has not shouted that name, at Morumbi Stadium or in front of the TV. Scorer.
Luis Fabiano is the exact definition of the word. Until the printing of this book, he was the 3rd greatest goal scorer in the history of São Paulo FC, with 212 goals.
In 2011, he returned to the Tricolor with an unforgettable reception that packed Morumbi Stadium. Luis Fabiano is also the player who has won the leading scorer award most often for the club, in 6 competitions!
Matches played for the club: 352
Debut: 2/18/2001
Last match: 11/28/2015
Goals scored for the club: 212
Date of birth: 11/8/1980,
in Campinas (SP)
/ TITLES /
- 2001 Rio-São Paulo Tournament
- 2012 Copa Sudamericana.
LEÔNIDAS DA SILVA
Striker
Leônidas da Silva was Brazil’s greatest player before Pelé. He dominated the national scene between the 1930s and 40s, and more: he was the top 1938 World Cup scorer, with seven goals.
In 1942, he was hired by São Paulo FC from Flamengo, in the most expensive South American football transaction at the time, totaling 200,000 Cruzeiros.
Leônidas had not played for months due to army and military service issues, arriving at São Paulo FC on a low, while rivals teased by saying that Tricolor had bought a train wreck for 200,000.
The arrival and future success of Leônidas can be considered a true landmark in São Paulo FC’s consolidation as a major football club. Leônidas led the team towards winning five Paulista championships in seven years.
He was popularly known as the inventory of the bicycle kick and nicknamed Rubber Man and Black Diamond.
Matches played for the club: 211
Debut: 05/24/1942
Last match: 12/3/1950
Goals scored for the club: 144
Date ofbirth: 9/6/1913.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Deceased: 1/24/2004
/ TITLES /
Paulista championships of 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948 and 1949
FRIED
Striker
Friedenreich was Brazil’s top player in the 1920s. His name was made in Paulistano; but after the club eliminated football from its activities, in 1930, Fried, as he was known, started to wear the São Paulo FC colors, becoming a key player in the 1931 Paulista Championship victory, even at the age of 39.
Fried was part of the Brazilian Team that won the 1919 South American championship (Brazil’s first title), in which he was elected the top scorer and nicknamed “El Tigre”.
The number of goals scored by the center forward is somewhat controversial. Records indicate he scored 1,329 times, but historians beg to differ. It is a well-known fact that Friedenreich played until the age of 43 for Tricolor; to this day the oldest player to ever score a goal for São Paulo FC.
Matches played for the club: 127
Debut: 3/16/1930
Last match: 3/24/1935
Goals scored for the club: 103
Date of birth: 7/18/1892, São Paulo, SP
Died on 6/9/1969
/ TITLES /
1931 Paulista Championship
PEDRO ROCHA
Midfielder
He was nicknamed Verdugo [Executioner], because he “killed” his opponents with skill, very strong kicks and heads, and overall vision of the game. Uruguayan, he came from Peñarol with an impressive resume, including Libertadores and World championship titles.
Arrived in 1971, at the age of 28, and shined with the Tricolor jersey until the age of 34.
Pelé never hid his admiration for Pedro Rocha, saying that he was one of the top five best players in the world. To this day, Rocha is the only Uruguayan player to participate in four World Cups — 1962 to 1974.
Matches played for the club: 393
Debut: 9/27/1970
Last match: 10/2/1977
Goals scored for the club: 119
Date of birth: 12/3/1942,
in Salto (Uruguay)
and died on 12/2/2013
/ TITLES /
- Paulista Championships of 1971 and 1975
- Brazilian Championship of 1977 (on the bench)
ZIZINHO
Midfielder
Master Ziza was almost a “Pelé” of the 1940s and 50s. He was a true master of his craft.
He was the Brazilian Team’s MVP in the 1949 South American Championship and 1950 World Cup. He scored goals, crossed, dribbled, and always led the team with a smile on his face.
He played for Tricolor for slightly over a year, but just enough to make history as the 1957 Paulista champion’s great captain. A team that entered the tournament as an underdog, but reinvented itself thanks to coach Bella Guttman on the sidelines and Master Ziza on the field.
Matches played for the club: 67
Debut: 11/10/1957
Last match: 11/9/1958
Goals scored for the club: 27
Date of birth: 9/14/1921,
São Gonçalo (RJ)
and died on 2/8/2002
/ TITLES /
1957 Paulista Championship
