Jairzinho
Encyclopedia
Jair Ventura Filho, better known as Jairzinho (ʒaˌiʁˈzĩɲu; born December 25, 1944), is a former association footballer. A quick, powerful forward or winger, he was a member of the legendary Brazilian national team
that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup
, during which he scored in every game Brazil played. In doing so, he became one of only 3 players – the others being Alcides Ghiggia
and Just Fontaine
– in the history of the World Cup to have scored in every game of the tournament. He was listed at number 27 in World Soccer Magazine
's list of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century, one place ahead of Zinedine Zidane
.
Due to the economic and political situation of the time, as well as the Sport Legislation, he played most of his club football in South America where he spent eleven years at Rio de Janeiro
club Botafogo
. He went on to play in Europe during the final years of his career, a common pattern for South American players until the 1980s, when the economic and political situation changed. Jairzinho replaced his footballing idol Garrincha
in both the Botafogo and Brazil teams, and played in three consecutive World Cups.
, where he went through the youth setup at local club Botafogo. He made his professional debut with the club as a striker at the age of fifteen. His hero Garrincha
, whom he would eventually replace for both club and country, also played at Botafogo, albeit in Jairzinho's preferred position on the right wing. This resulted in Jairzinho spending most of his early games playing on the left wing or as a centre forward. However, he would fill in as a right winger, by far his strongest position, when Garrincha was injured.
He made his international debut as a 19 year old in 1964 against Portugal
, again when Garrincha was injured. He played in the 1966 FIFA World Cup
in England, however, and with Garrincha back in the side, he played as a left winger. Jairzinho struggled to be effective in this position, and he couldn't prevent Brazil from exiting the competition at the first round. When, after the tournament, Francis Pascual announced his retirement from international football, Jair Ventura finally took over his idol's role for Brazil on the right wing.
Now in his favourite position, Jairzinho became a far more effective and consistent performer for country. At the 1970 FIFA World Cup
in Mexico, Jairzinho was one of Brazil's star players, and made history by scoring in every game for the Seleção, for which he received the epithet "Furacão da Copa" (World Cup Hurricane). He scored his seventh goal of the tournament in Brazil's 4–1 world cup win over Italy in the final. However, his impressive goals tally at the finals were not enough to win the Golden Boot, which went to Germany
's Gerd Müller
, who scored ten goals. Jairzinho has claimed that FIFA awarded him a "best body on the planet" prize for his athleticism; however, FIFA has no record of this award. Following his display in Mexico
, Jairzinho moved to Europe to play for French side Marseille
. However, he struggled with Marseille and soon returned to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro
, with whom he won the Copa Libertadores
in 1976. The Cruzeiro team at the time included the likes of Nelinho
and Dirceu Lopes
.
Jairzinho scored two goals in the 1974 FIFA World Cup
, which would prove to be his last World Cup for Brazil. The 3rd-Place Final was his last match for Brazil until he was given a one-off farewell cap against Czechoslovakia
on March 3, 1982 in a game which Brazil drew 1–1. He scored 33 goals in 82 games during his international career.
Jairzinho finished his career playing for Portuguesa
in Venezuela, making it one of the greatest teams in Venezuelan history, helping Portuguesa win a record 16 games in a row and their fourth of five championships. Following his retirement Jairzinho became a coach and coached the Gabon national team
. However, Jairzinho was sacked by Gabon's Football Federation after a crushing defeat against Angola
in a World Cup 2006 Qualifier held in Luanda
. Perhaps his greatest achievement as a coach was spotting Ronaldo as a 14 year old whilst he was coaching São Cristóvão
. He kick-started the career of the future three-time FIFA World Player of the Year
by recommending him to Cruzeiro, his former side, and the Brazil youth team.
Jairzinho is currently the manager of Esprof Atletico futebol Clube, a team based in Cabo Frio
, Rio de Janeiro state
who play in the Campeonato Carioca
.
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
, during which he scored in every game Brazil played. In doing so, he became one of only 3 players – the others being Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia is a former Italian Uruguayan football player. He achieved lasting fame for his decisive role in the final match of the 1950 World Cup...
and Just Fontaine
Just Fontaine
Just "Justo" Fontaine is a former French football player.-Football career:He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958...
– in the history of the World Cup to have scored in every game of the tournament. He was listed at number 27 in World Soccer Magazine
World Soccer Magazine
World Soccer is an English language football magazine published by IPC Media. It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery. World Soccer is a member of the European Sports Magazines , an umbrella group of...
's list of the 100 greatest players of the 20th century, one place ahead of Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
.
Due to the economic and political situation of the time, as well as the Sport Legislation, he played most of his club football in South America where he spent eleven years at Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
club Botafogo
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
. He went on to play in Europe during the final years of his career, a common pattern for South American players until the 1980s, when the economic and political situation changed. Jairzinho replaced his footballing idol Garrincha
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
in both the Botafogo and Brazil teams, and played in three consecutive World Cups.
Biography
Jairzinho was born in Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where he went through the youth setup at local club Botafogo. He made his professional debut with the club as a striker at the age of fifteen. His hero Garrincha
Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
, whom he would eventually replace for both club and country, also played at Botafogo, albeit in Jairzinho's preferred position on the right wing. This resulted in Jairzinho spending most of his early games playing on the left wing or as a centre forward. However, he would fill in as a right winger, by far his strongest position, when Garrincha was injured.
He made his international debut as a 19 year old in 1964 against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, again when Garrincha was injured. He played in the 1966 FIFA World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
in England, however, and with Garrincha back in the side, he played as a left winger. Jairzinho struggled to be effective in this position, and he couldn't prevent Brazil from exiting the competition at the first round. When, after the tournament, Francis Pascual announced his retirement from international football, Jair Ventura finally took over his idol's role for Brazil on the right wing.
Now in his favourite position, Jairzinho became a far more effective and consistent performer for country. At the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
in Mexico, Jairzinho was one of Brazil's star players, and made history by scoring in every game for the Seleção, for which he received the epithet "Furacão da Copa" (World Cup Hurricane). He scored his seventh goal of the tournament in Brazil's 4–1 world cup win over Italy in the final. However, his impressive goals tally at the finals were not enough to win the Golden Boot, which went to Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
's Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller
Gerhard "Gerd" Müller is a former German football player and one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time.With national records of 68 goals in 62 international appearances, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, he was one of the...
, who scored ten goals. Jairzinho has claimed that FIFA awarded him a "best body on the planet" prize for his athleticism; however, FIFA has no record of this award. Following his display in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Jairzinho moved to Europe to play for French side Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. However, he struggled with Marseille and soon returned to Brazil to play for Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
, with whom he won the Copa Libertadores
Copa Libertadores de América
The Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
in 1976. The Cruzeiro team at the time included the likes of Nelinho
Nelinho
Nelinho, real name Manoel Rezende de Mattos Cabral, is a former association footballer who played right back...
and Dirceu Lopes
Dirceu Lopes
Dirceu Lopes, full name Dirceu Lopes Mendes, was a Brazilian footballer.He was attacking midfielder and forward who played mainly with Cruzeiro....
.
Jairzinho scored two goals in the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
, which would prove to be his last World Cup for Brazil. The 3rd-Place Final was his last match for Brazil until he was given a one-off farewell cap against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
on March 3, 1982 in a game which Brazil drew 1–1. He scored 33 goals in 82 games during his international career.
Jairzinho finished his career playing for Portuguesa
Portuguesa Fútbol Club
Portuguesa Fútbol Club, usually known simply as Portuguesa, is a Venezuelan football club.-Titles:*Primera División Venezolana: 5*Segunda División Venezolana: 1*Segunda División B Venezolana: 0*Tercera División Venezolana: 0...
in Venezuela, making it one of the greatest teams in Venezuelan history, helping Portuguesa win a record 16 games in a row and their fourth of five championships. Following his retirement Jairzinho became a coach and coached the Gabon national team
Gabon national football team
The Gabon national football team, nicknamed Azingo Nationale, is the national team of Gabon and is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football...
. However, Jairzinho was sacked by Gabon's Football Federation after a crushing defeat against Angola
Angola national football team
The Angola national football team, nicknamed Palancas Negras , is the national team of Angola and is controlled by the Federação Angolana de Futebol. Angola reached 45th in the FIFA Rankings in July 2002...
in a World Cup 2006 Qualifier held in Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
. Perhaps his greatest achievement as a coach was spotting Ronaldo as a 14 year old whilst he was coaching São Cristóvão
São Cristóvão de Futebol e Regatas
São Cristóvão de Futebol e Regatas, or São Cristóvão as they are usually called, is a traditional Brazilian football team from Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, founded on February 2, 1943. Their home stadium is the Figueirinha stadium, capacity 8,000. They play in white shirts, white shorts and...
. He kick-started the career of the future three-time FIFA World Player of the Year
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award given annually to the male and female player who were thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams...
by recommending him to Cruzeiro, his former side, and the Brazil youth team.
Jairzinho is currently the manager of Esprof Atletico futebol Clube, a team based in Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio
Cabo Frio is a Brazilian municipality in Rio de Janeiro state, founded by the Portuguese on November 13, 1615.The city's economy is mainly based on tourism, as most of the cities situated in the called Região dos Lagos . The city is usually visited by people from Minas Gerais, Brasília and Rio de...
, Rio de Janeiro state
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
who play in the Campeonato Carioca
Campeonato Carioca (lower levels)
The Campeonato Carioca lower levels are the football tournaments for the Rio de Janeiro clubs that do not play in the Campeonato Carioca First Division. The competitions are organized by the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation...
.
Honours
- BrazilBrazil national football teamThe Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
:- 1970 FIFA World Cup1970 FIFA World CupThe 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
- Mini World Cup: 1972
- 1970 FIFA World Cup
- BotafogoBotafogo de Futebol e RegatasBotafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
:- World Cup of Clubs: 1967, 1968 and 1970
- Brazilian Champion: 1964, 1966
- Brasil Trophy: 1968
- Rio-São Paulo Tournament: 1964 and 1966
- State ChampionshipState ChampionshipNew Zealand has had a domestic first-class cricket championship since the 1906–07 season. It is currently known as the Plunket Shield, reintroducing the name used in the early stages for the 2009–10 season.-Plunket Shield:...
: 1967 and 1968 - Guanabara Cup: 1967 and 1968
- Tournament Home: 1967
- State Championship Juvenile: 1961, 1962 and 1963
- La Paz Football Association Golden Jubilee Tournament: 1964
- Paramaribo Cup: 1964
- Ibero-American Tournament: 1964
- Carranza Cup: 1966
- Cup Circle Journals & Outdoors: 1966
- Mexico Hexagonal: 1968
- CruzeiroCruzeiro Esporte ClubeCruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
- 1 Copa Libertadores de AméricaCopa Libertadores de AméricaThe Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
: 1976
- 1 Copa Libertadores de América
External links
- Jairzinho & Gordon Banks reminisce about Mexico 70, FourFourTwo magazine, 2002