Rio de Janeiro - Carlos Alberto, captain of
the great Brazil team that won the 1970
World Cup, died on Tuesday of a heart
attack in Rio at the age of 72, Brazil's Sportv,
for whom he worked, announced.
Carlos Alberto starred alongside Pele, Tostao,
Jairzinho and Rivelino in the Brazil team
that beat Italy 4-1 in the final in Mexico and
is considered as one of the greatest sides of
all time.
A right-back, he scored the last, brilliant,
goal in the final, running onto a Pele pass
and smashing in a thunderous shot with his
right foot.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1944, "Capita" as
he is known in Brazil, also played alongside
Pele at Santos from 1966 to 1974 and at the
New York Cosmos from 1977 to 1980 after
beginning his career with Fluminense.
"Santos mourn the death of idol Carlos
Alberto Torres," said Santos in a statement,
describing him as the club's greatest ever
right-back and decreeing three days of
mourning.
"Thanks for everything", the club added on
Twitter along with a picture of him in their
black and white colours.
The Cosmos tweeted: "We're deeply
saddened by the loss of Carlos Alberto, a
legendary player and wonderful person.
He'll always remain part of the Cosmos
family."
He won more than 50 caps for his country --
missing the ill-fated 1974 World Cup trophy
defence due to injury -- and was later named
by FIFA in a list of the 100 greatest living
players in 2004.
"He was my brother. More than a friend,"
said Clodoaldo, a midfielder in the Brazil
1970 side who also starred for Santos.
"We spoke to each other all the time. When I
heard the news, I was paralysed. He was a
star and the best captain we ever had."
Carlos Alberto hung up his boots in 1982 and
started his coaching career with Rio giants
Flamengo, winning a Brazilian title before
working in the United States, Colombia,
Mexico, Oman and Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijan position was to be his last in
coaching after he was sacked in 2005. He
then became a television pundit, appearing
in Sportv's coverage of last weekend's
Brazilian league action


source - http://www.africanpoint.tk