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Garrincha Biography |
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (1933-1983), known as Garrincha, was a Brazilian footballer who played in the World Cup winning teams of 1958 and 1962. He is considered among the sport's greatest exponents, and is remembered for his dribbling skills and 'banana kick'.
Garrincha was born in Pau Grande, Rio de Janeiro on 28 October 1933. He was born with his left leg bent inwards and his right leg six centimetres shorter and curved outwards. His name comes from the Portuguese word for 'songbird'.
He played sixty international matches for Brazil between 1955 and 1966. He played in only one losing international side (a 3-1 loss to Hungary at the 1966 World Cup. His accomplishments at international level include scoring the first two goals of the 1958 World Cup final.
At club level, he played 581 games and scored 232 goals for Rio club Botafogo. He also played for Corinthians, Flamengo and Olaria of Brazil, Atletico Junior of Colombia and Red Star Paris of France. His professional career stretched from 1953 to 1982.
Garrincha died a forgotten hero in 1983, aged 49, of alcohol abuse, after a series of taxation and marital problems. |
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