Alemão (footballer, born 1961)

Alemão

Personal information
Full name	Ricardo Rogério de Brito
Date of birth	(1961-11-22) November 22, 1961
Place of birth	Lavras, Brazil
Height
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980	Fabril
1981–1987	Botafogo	62	(7)
1987–1988	Atlético Madrid	35	(6)
1988–1992	Napoli	93	(9)
1992–1994	Atalanta	40	(2)
1994–1996	São Paulo	31	(1)
1996	Volta Redonda
International career‡
1983–1990	Brazil	39	(6)
Managerial career
2007	Tupynambás
2008	América-MG
2010	Nacional-AM
2011	Central
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 29, 2008 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 29, 2008

Ricardo Rogério de Brito, better known by his nickname Alemão (born November 22, 1961), is a former Brazilian football player who played as a defensive midfielder. He was born in Lavras, Minas Gerais. His nickname means German in the Portuguese language. A tenacious and physical player, Alemão was a strong, consistenty and versatile midfielder, who excelled as a defensive midfielder due to his tactical intelligence and his ability to read the game.

Nickname

The nickname, "Alemão" ("the German"), was attributed to his blond hair and fair complexion, making him similar in appearance to the many German immigrants in Brazil.

Playing career

Alemão started his career playing for a Minas Gerais' club called Fabril in 1980. In 1981 he moved to Botafogo, of Rio de Janeiro, where he stayed until 1987. In 1987 and in 1988, he played for Atlético Madrid, of Spain, scoring six goals in 35 games. Between 1988 and 1992, he played 93 games and scored nine goals for Napoli of Italy, playing alongside star offensive players like Diego Maradona and Careca as a defensive foil. With Napoli, he won the UEFA Cup in 1989, scoring a goal in the final, followed by the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1990. In 1992 he signed with Atalanta of Italy, scoring two goals in 40 games, until he left the club in 1994. In 1994 he returned to Brazil, playing 77 games and scoring two goals for São Paulo, winning the Copa CONMEBOL in 1994, and where he stayed until 1996, when he moved to Volta Redonda and retired from football.

National team

Alemão was capped 39 times for the Brazil national football team, between June 1983 and June 1990, scoring six goals, and he was part of the national team squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He was also part of the Brazilian team that won the 1989 Copa América. He played his last game for the Brazilian national team on June 24, 1990, when his team was defeated by Argentina in the second stage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Managerial career

Alemão started his managerial career in 2007 at Tupynambás, then in 2008, he was hired as manager of América Mineiro, which was, on that season, on second division of the Minas Gerais State League, but was promoted to the first level under his management.

Honors

Club

• When he was playing for Napoli, he won the UEFA Cup in 1989 (scoring a goal in the final), and won the Italian Super Cup and Italian Serie A in 1990.
• In 1994, playing for São Paulo, he won two international titles, which were the Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa CONMEBOL.

National

• With the Brazilian national team, he also won the Copa América in 1989.

Individual

• He won the Bola de Prata award of Placar Magazine in 1985, playing for Botafogo.
• won the EFE Trophy as best South American player and La Liga Foreign Player of the Year in 1988, playing for Atlético Madrid.

External links

• Sambafoot
• Alemão at National-Football-Teams.com