Soccer great Socrates dies, aged 57

Former Brazil great Socrates, who captained Brazil at the 1982 World Cup, died today. He was 57.

Known for his elegant style on the field and his deep involvement with Brazilian politics, Socrates died of septic shock resulting from an intestinal infection, according to a statement by the Albert Einstein hospital.

He had been rushed to hospital yesterday – the third time in four months – and had been in critical condition in an intensive care unit, breathing with the help of a ventilator.

Socrates was twice admitted to intensive care in the last few months, most recently in September.

Both times he was admitted for haemorrhage caused by high pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

Socrates acknowledged being a heavy drinker, even when he starred as a player in the 1980s, but said he stopped drinking earlier this year after his stints in the hospital.

Socrates was above average both on and off the field. He became a doctor after retiring from soccer and later became a popular TV commentator and columnist, always with unique and controversial opinions. He never denied his fondness for drinking, from the time he was a player until his final days.

Since his time as a player, Socrates never kept his political ideas to himself and often wrote about the subject in his newspaper columns. Known as Dr Socrates because of his practice of medicine, he was the main commentator on a weekly TV sports program and was constantly in demand from local media for interviews on varied subjects.

With Brazilian club Corinthians, Socrates spearheaded a movement called the Corinthians Democracy, in which players protested against the long periods of confinement required by the club before matches.

It quickly became a broader protest that coincided with Brazil’s fight to overturn a military regime in the 1980s.

Socrates, whose full name is Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, starred for Corinthians in the early 1980s, but he also played for Flamengo, Santos and Fiorentina in Italy.

The tall full-bearded playmaker captained Brazil in the 1982 World Cup in Spain and was a member of the squad in 1986 in Mexico. The 1982 Brazilian team became widely known as the best not to win a World Cup. With players like Zico and Falcao, it fell to Italy 3-2 in the second round despite needing a draw to advance to the semi-finals.

Socrates was included in FIFA’s list of the best 125 living soccer players in the world, a list compiled by countryman Pele. Socrates played 63 matches with the national team, scoring 25 goals.

He was known for his great vision on the field. Always clever with the ball on his feet, his trademark move was his back-heel pass, and he set up and scored many goals with it throughout his career.

Socrates briefly coached and played for Garforth Town in England in 2004.

Socrates’ younger brother Rai was another great Brazilian midfielder, and he helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Socrates is survived by his wife and six children.

Factfile:

1954: Born Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira on February 19 in Belem do Para, Brazil.

1974: Makes professional debut for Botafogo.

1978: Joins Corinthians, going on to play almost 300 games for the club.

1979: Makes Brazil debut, going on to win 60 caps and score 22 goals.

1982: Captains Brazil in 1982 World Cup but they fail to make it past the second round.

1984: Joins Italian side Fiorentina.

1986: Returns to Brazil to play for Flamengo. Plays for Brazil in World Cup but they lose in the quarter-fnals to France on penalties.

1989: Returns to Botafogo.

2004: More than a decade after retiring from action, agrees to a one-month player-coaching deal with Northern Counties East side Garforth Town. Comes on as a substitute 12 minutes from time in a 2-2 draw against Tadcaster Albion – his only appearance for the club, watched by a club record crowd of more than 1,000 at Wheatley Park.

2008: Inducted into the Pacembu Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.

2011: Dies in Sao Paulo, according to reports in his home country.