- Joined
- Jun 28, 2002
On this day, 4 December 2011, Brazilian footballer, medical doctor and activist Sócrates died in São Paulo aged 57.
Widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he scored 22 goals for the Brazilian national team, captaining the side during the 1982 world cup. While playing for Corinthians, Sócrates helped organise Corinthians' Democracy: both a body through which the players collectively took control of management of the team, and also a powerful protest against the right-wing military dictatorship governing Brazil.
Sócrates later gave the regime an ultimatum, saying he would go to play in Italy if they refused to hold elections. They did not pass a proposed constitutional amendment granting elections, so he moved to Fiorentina.
When he arrived he was asked which Italian player he respected most, Rivera or Mazzola. He replied "Never heard of them. I'm here to read Gramsci in the original language and to study the history of the Italian working class." Antonio Gramsci was a prominent Italian Marxist who died in captivity under Mussolini's dictatorship.
On the day of Sócrates' death, Corinthians had a match against Palmeiras, and before kick-off, the team marked his passing with Sócrates' classic celebration: a raised fist. They held out to a 0-0 draw, winning them one point which ensured their victory in the Campeonato Brasileiro for the first time in 6 years.
His boyhood heroes were Fidel, Che and John Lennon.
BIG G
Widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he scored 22 goals for the Brazilian national team, captaining the side during the 1982 world cup. While playing for Corinthians, Sócrates helped organise Corinthians' Democracy: both a body through which the players collectively took control of management of the team, and also a powerful protest against the right-wing military dictatorship governing Brazil.
Sócrates later gave the regime an ultimatum, saying he would go to play in Italy if they refused to hold elections. They did not pass a proposed constitutional amendment granting elections, so he moved to Fiorentina.
When he arrived he was asked which Italian player he respected most, Rivera or Mazzola. He replied "Never heard of them. I'm here to read Gramsci in the original language and to study the history of the Italian working class." Antonio Gramsci was a prominent Italian Marxist who died in captivity under Mussolini's dictatorship.
On the day of Sócrates' death, Corinthians had a match against Palmeiras, and before kick-off, the team marked his passing with Sócrates' classic celebration: a raised fist. They held out to a 0-0 draw, winning them one point which ensured their victory in the Campeonato Brasileiro for the first time in 6 years.
His boyhood heroes were Fidel, Che and John Lennon.
BIG G
