Roberto Rivellino (; born 1 January 1946), known mononymously as Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player who was one of the key members of Brazil's 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team.
The son of Italian immigrants from Macchiagodena, Isernia, Rivellino played as an attacking midfielder and was renowned for his iconic moustache, powerful long-range shooting, accurate passing, vision, close control, dribbling and ability to bend free kicks.Roberto Rivelino from Planetworldcup.com In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
Rivellino currently works as a pundit for TV Cultura.Rivellino assina com a TV Cultura at TV Cultura
Club career Rivellino was born in São Paulo, and started as a futsal player at Clube Atlético Barcelona. After that, he tried his luck with Barcelona's biggest rival, Corinthians, where he moved on to professional football and quickly became a favourite of the fans—and was therefore nicknamed "O Rei do Parque" (King of the Park) (after the club's home ground, Parque São Jorge). However, the late 60s and early 70s were one of the most troubled periods in the history of the club, which did not win a single São Paulo state league title between 1954 and 1977.
In 1974, after Corinthians was defeated by arch-rivals Palmeiras in the São Paulo league finals, as the star player Rivellino was singled out by most fans as one of the most responsible for not winning. He moved on to Rio de Janeiro, where he defended Fluminense until the end of the 1970s. Rivellino was undoubtedly the greatest star in the excellent Fluminense of the mid 70s, dubbed "the tricolor machine", among Doval, Pintinho, Gil and Carlos Alberto Torres. He won the Rio de Janeiro league championship in 1975 and 1976. By the end of the decade, he moved on to play for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia; he retired from professional football in 1981.
International career
Rivellino was a key member of Brazil's 1970 FIFA World Cup winning team, which is often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team. Wearing the number 11 jersey, Rivellino was deployed on the left side of midfield and scored three goals, including the powerful bending free-kick against Czechoslovakia, which earned him the nickname "Patada Atómica" (Atomic Kick) by Mexican fans. Rivellino also played in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups, finishing in fourth and third place respectively."Dutch take plaudits but Germany take the prize". FIFA. Retrieved 27 December 2014"Kempes key as Argentina are crowned with confetti". FIFA. Retrieved 27 December 2014
Style of play
Rivellino has been called one of the greatest players of all time. He played as an attacking midfielder and was known for his ability to bend free kicks, long-range shooting, accurate long passing, vision, close ball control and dribbling skills.Roberto Rivelino from Planetworldcup.com He also claimed to have perfected the flip flap, which was later adopted by players including Romário, Mágico González, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.David Goldblatt (2009). "The Football Book". p. 129. D Kindersley Ltd, Known for his close control, feints and left-footed ability, Rivellino was named by Diego Maradona as one of his greatest childhood inspirations."Football's Greatest – Rivelino". Pitch International LLP. 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2014
After retirement After his professional retirement, Rivellino started a career as a football commentator and coach (he has managed Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan's J. League). Rivellino further represented Brazil in the 1989 edition of the World Cup of Masters, scoring in the final against Uruguay. Rivellino is sometimes 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.Football Legends: The Midfielders at soccerlens.com
Regarding the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in his country, Rivellino criticized the inclusion of the Amazonian city of Manaus with its stadium Arena da Amazônia in the hosting venues, saying "it’s absurd to play in Manaus. You start sweating the moment you leave the locker room".Rivelino: 'Manaus an absurd venue'. Football Italia. 14 June 2014
Career statistics International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsBrazil196510196817619691119708519717119725019739319741561976811977123197880Total9126
Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rivellino goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Rivellino No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition110th-Anniversary Stadium, Warsaw, Poland2–26–3Friendly26–33Estádio da Machava, Matola, Mozambique–2–0Friendly4Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico1–11–2Friendly5Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima, Peru1–04–0Friendly6Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFIFA World XI1–02–1Friendly7Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5–16–21970 FIFA World Cup qualification8Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –2–1Friendly9Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–01–0Friendly10Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico1–14–11970 FIFA World Cup11Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico 1–04–21970 FIFA World Cup 12Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico 3–13–11970 FIFA World Cup 13Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–12–2Friendly14Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –5–0Friendly15–16Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria–2–0Friendly17 Estádio Governador Hélio Prates da Silveira, Brasília, Brazil–4–0Friendly18Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2–02–1Friendly19Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –2–0Friendly20Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany2–03–01974 FIFA World Cup21Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany1–01–01974 FIFA World Cup22Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany 1–02–11974 FIFA World Cup23Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –2–11976 Taça do Atlântico24Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 6–06–01978 FIFA World Cup qualification25Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –1–1Friendly26Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil–3–1Friendly
Managerial J.League Data Site TeamFromToRecordGWDLWin %Shimizu S-Pulse19941994Total
Honours Corinthians Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1966
Fluminense Campeonato Carioca: 1975, 1976
Al Hilal Saudi Premier League: 1978–79 King Cup: 1980
Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1970
Individual FIFA World Cup All-Star Team player: 1970; third place: 1978 Bola de Prata Brazilian Championship All-Star Team: 1971 World Soccer World XI: 1971 World Soccer: 38th Greatest Player of the 20th Century CONMEBOL All-Star Team: 1973CONMEBOL All-Star Team Retrieved on 17 November 2015 Bronze ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1973,"South American Player of the Year 1973" Retrieved on 17 November 2015 1976"South American Player of the Year 1976" Retrieved on 17 November 2015 Silver ball South American Footballer of the Year: 1977"South American Player of the Year 1977" Retrieved on 17 November 2015 FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004 Premio Golden Foot Award (Football Legend Award): 2005 The Best of The Best – Player of the Century: Top 50"The Best of The Best" Retrieved on 17 November 2015 IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (12th place)IFFHS' Century Elections Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame International Football Hall of Fame: 20th place (1997)
See also List of FIFA World Cup top goalscorers
References
External links
Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame Rivellino Sport Center Rivellino from the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol IMNO Interviews Rivelino Corinthians All Time Best XI Placar Magazine